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Momodou
Denmark
11840 Posts |
 Posted - 08 Feb 2007 : 00:46:45
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WHERE IS THE MUSIC GONE?
In our last issue Ousman Sillah started an interview with Oko Drammeh, the renowned Gambian International Music Promoter. The Foroyaa has been cruising with Oko through the times and exploring such areas of interest as his professional background and the history of music in The Gambia. We stopped at where Oko Drammeh indicated that the music from The Gambia, at the time, was so popular and had reached every where which gave so much pride to Gambians. However, this maestro in the art of music promotion added that notwithstanding this appreciation of Super Eagles music by the throng of fans both at home and abroad, the musicians themselves felt unaccomplished and unfulfilled by virtue of the fact that they were playing imitation music. This sudden realization of their inadequacy in terms of originality, said Oko, was what had led to the formation of Ifang Bondi which marked a complete beginning for the band with a new cultural orientation.
Join us to continue Ousman Sillah’s interview with Momodou Oko Drammeh who was so open, passionate and full of verve in this encounter.
Foroyaa: You mean the Super Eagles musicians were hurt by their music?
Oko Darmmeh: Yeah, Because Super Eagles at that time thought they were playing imitation music and this is not justice to themselves, this is the first point. Secondly, they’ll never make any money because they are copying other people’s texts. So they did a review of themselves.
This was how it transformed into Ifang Bondi whose mission was to undertake a cultural renaissance by playing music through our own languages.
Infact with this rebirth, many Gambians felt offended by the fact that the Ifang Bondi is playing music in Mandinka, Fula, Jola, etc. Haha….. But well arranged music just like the way the Rolling stones and the Beatles arranged theirs.
For me, I was a Disc Jockey (DJ) at the time. And as a DJ I hear Ifang Bondi playing a better music than the ones I play in the Night Club. Being a DJ I was able to have my own independent income, so I could stay in the Arts. I also did not come from a struggling family, as my mother was running a well to do programme for our social, educational and sporting life. This had enabled me to channel myself into the Art and my mother approved of it.
I became the first Gambian to have Rasta hair on my head and you know this was a tough thing to carry at the time giving the social stigma associated with the appearance. I didn’t drink alcohol or do any thing, but I was kind of a social reject. But I was able to have a strong economic life to be able to support other projects, for example, managing the Ifang Bondi, becoming a DJ and a contributor to newspapers. So I became a strong force to say: “Ifang Bondi I can manage you and your concept and I can take it international”.
Foroyaa: So having said all these, seeing the glory days of Gambian music enjoying international appreciation, what is your impression of Gambian music today compared to yesterday? This impetus is no more, it is almost dead. So what is wrong with Gambian music?
Oko Drammeh: I will support you. You say it with your own mouth and I support what you say. It is dead. I asked myself “Where is the Music gone?” Because, the sub-region, from Nigeria to Gambia, we taught them music, basically speaking. We, as Ifang Bondi, taught the sub-region how to tune guitars, how to tune drums and how to choose effects which we learnt from England. Because Gambians were very fanatical and advanced in effects and when we go to Senegal we press our effects and they have to watch. We have been prescribing for bands like Bembeya Jazz, which was among the top in Africa, about P.A system and how to set-up the speakers.
As for Gambian musicians of today, I appreciate one thing that is they are still continuing the art of singing and dancing but at the end of the day it’s a copy of what Gambians are doing now. I would not blame them for it because the Radio and the Television have to set the tone. What the Radio and TV play are what the night clubs play.
See next issue for continuation.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 015/2007, 7-8 February, 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2007 : 20:22:49
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| hi momodou ,just been to a Gambian naming ceremony today ,and i was happy that there was no music played. every naming ceremony i have been to in England there most be music but this one was exceptional. i stop going to ceremonies just because of gambians hiring pubs and halls for all night dancing . this one was good ,i even over spend my free time there .we discuss some good things like unity and strong brotherhood .we also discussed about gambians having chids in europe not forget to reconnect their children with our culture and traditions .at least the family should visit the gambia every two years . no noise ,it was wonderful .lemon time would not have been comfortable .no dancers pls. |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
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