/ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT/ GAMBIA-MUSIC: Artiste With a Vision

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

Lansana Fofana

BANJUL, Oct 8 1996 (IPS) - The Gambia — a country which has traditionally shown little regard for its pop musicians — now has one whose international reputation makes him difficult to ignore.

And after strong sales in the United States and Europe with recordings done with his Gumbay Dance Band, 36-year-old Abdel Kabir is planning to realise a dream by building a recording studio in the Gambia.

No such facility exists here. Aspiring artistes must travel to Europe and the United States for the purpose. Construction of a studio here would boost musical output in this country of 1.2. million people.

“I have finally come home with a big vision. I am planning to set up a recording studio so that budding Gambian musicians will have the opportunity of being recorded,” he tells IPS.

American music — hip hop and R’n’B — is gradually gaining popularity in the Gambia, challenging the traditional sounds of kora and gumbay. Kabir and the Gumbay Dance Band have made their mark with an interesting blend of American jazz, blues, soul and funk with the Wolof, Mandingo, Fula and Jola ethnic drum beats.

Kabir’s main influences has been the late African-American singer Otis Redding. The Gambian artiste has also been influenced by his own father, who was conductor of the police band.

There is evidnece of these contrasting styles on Kabir’s latest CD with the Gumbay Dance Band. Called ‘Revival’, it is also available on vinyl and tapes. The record is selling well in neighbouring Senegal and is also popular in Guinea and Guinea Bissau.

Managed and promoted by a British outfit called Roots and Culture, Kabir has made a mark on the World Music scene. Chart successes in Europe (number two on the European World Music Chart) and the United States (New World Music Chart on Billboard magazine) were followed by tours to the United states and performance in Europe.

He attributes his success to his modest lifestyle and closeness to his community.

“When I drive around people easily recognise me,” says Kabir. “They say that’s the musician and that doesn’t go to my head at all. I stop and talk to people and socialise with them a lot.”

However, his efforts to use music and his personal influence to heal the country’s political wounds have yet to achieve success. For instance, he failed to get the Gambia’s political heavyweights dancing on one stage to his peace and unity songs at a concert held before the Sep. 26 presidential election.

Gambia’s presidential election on Sep. 26, held in an atmosphere of great tension, were won by the incumbent Yahya Jammeh, who seized power in July 1994 and then resigned from the army to contest the polls. Opposiition candidates said their campaigning was impeded by harassment. The government banned three parties from participating in the election.

“I had the vision of Bob Marley’s ‘One Love Peace Concert’ in Jamaica in 1978, which brought rich-political rivals on the stage to shake hands,” the dreadlocked crooner had told IPS in referring to his efforts at peace and unity.

In that celebrated episode, at Jamaica’s national stadium, the late reggae superstar managed to get then Prime Minister Michael Manley and Oppositiion leader Edward Seaga on stage to hold hands. (Within months of this public gesture or reconciliation, followers of these two leaders resumed fighting, resulting in many deaths.)

Undaunted by the failure of his own gesture, Kabir remains convinced that artistes should be attentive to the political and social problems that affect their societies.

“I don’t believe celebrities should distance themselves from the people. This is why I put out the song refugee on my ‘Revival’ album. I feel for the plight of refugees and I think only music can conquer their difficulties.”