Speaking shortly after the opening, Pirjo Vallius and Pirjo Latomaki-Jagne, the general manager and administration manager of the Gepardi cultural Association, said that the association has arranged a six-month pilot project in The Gambia. The pair, who are both lecturers from HelsinkiFinland, said the project is in art education and hand-printing for Gambian youths aged between 18 and 25. In all 16 students are taking part with the group split evenly between the sexes.

According to them, the training programme includes work such as drawing, painting, increased knowledge of colours, murals and hand-printing.

The teachers involved were , Pirjo Vallius and Pirjo Latomaki-Jagne along with Gambians Dawda Secka, Alieu Joof and Abdoulie Bah.

The two Finish lecturers revealed that this is the second phase of a two-year project which will be followed by a three-year training programme. They added that the works at the exhibition are on sale and the proceeds of the sale will be ploughed back into the students and the programme.

Among the co-operative partners involved in the project are Fawegan, TallindingLowerBasicSchool and Timbooktoo Bookshop.

The advisor of the association is Alhagie Ceesay from the National Council of Arts and Crafts.

In his remarks at the occasion, the vice-chairman of the Comrade Ebou Madi Sillah Foundation, Mr. Badou Senghore, said the art exhibition was organised to raise funds for the foundation.

He revealed that the late Ebou Madi Sillah contributed immensely to the development of art in The Gambia. He expressed the foundations readiness to help develop and improve art in Gambian schools.

He praised the late Baboucarr Gaye for his tremendous contribution to the development of art in The Gambia.

For his part, the younger brother of the late Ebou Madi Sillah applauded the guests for accepting their invitation.

He stated that the foundation had organised the exhibition to try and develop art in schools in The Gambia.

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A three-week exhibition was officially opened recently at the Sunbeach Hotel and Resort at Cape Point in Bakau. The exhibition consists of a wide range of Gambian artwork ranging from modern to eccentric and traditional to sacred. The aim of the show is to let tourists have a broader understanding of Gambian art and culture. The architect of the artwork, Mr. Etu Ndou, posited that this show of painting, where art and interesting artwork are displayed, will open a window for tourists to gaze at some contemporary art creations, different from the traditional art available on the tourist market. Mr. Ndow thanked the management of Sunbeach for giving him the opportunity and support they have by hosting the event. He says this backing will greatly help his career. He also paid his regards to a volunteer called Makalale.

Mr. Olivier Petit, the General Manager of the hotel, maintained that his resort believes in responsible tourism. This, he says, is based on harmonizing the relationship between the population of Bakau and those visiting. He said bringing tourists into close contact with the work of local artists is an excellent way of achieving this goal.

He stated that the exhibition is to show that The Gambia is involved in all forms of artistic expression and not just music. In conclusion Mr. Petit confirmed that the exhibition will allow tourists to discover the culture and tradition of The Gambia.

Two Gambian children, Omar Sanyang and Alex Gomez of Old Jeshwang Lower Basic School, received awards on Wednesday for their participation in World Schoolchildren’s Art Exhibition. The event was held from the 16 - 31 October 2007 in Taipei, Taiwan.

Omar Sanyang received the Bronze certificate award while his schoolmate Alex received the selected certificate award.

Presenting the awards to the winners at his office in Kanifing, the Taiwanese Ambassador to The Gambia, Dr Patrick Chang, described the event as significant as it seeks to bring together Taiwan and participant countries. He also congratulated the winners and encouraged more children from The Gambia to take part in the 39th exhibition, which takes place next year.

The Taiwanese envoy also presented cash prizes to the winners and their teacher instructors.
Mr Tu, the Taiwanese Minister of Education, and Mr Long-Rong Wu, the Chairman of the organizing committee signed the awards.

The World Schoolchildren’s Art Exhibition aims to promote cross-cultural understanding among the younger generation. The annual event is organized by the Association for Education through Art, Republic of China and the Association of Formative Art Education for the Republic of China.

To be Eligible for participation in the next event school children must be aged between 6-15 years. Over 70 children have participated worldwide.

The art works presented this year included oil paintings, water color, wood cut prints, pencil sketches, crayon drawings, pastels, collages, etching and graphic designs.

According to the Senegalese press, Mam Penda Seck, younger brother of the famous Senegalese musician Thione Balago Seck, has married singer Fatou Gewel Diouf.

Presently, they are in the USA enjoying their honeymoon.

In another development, the King of mablax Yussou Ndure who divorced his elder wife Mamie Ndoure earlier this year has also reconciled with her.

It would be recalled that the divorce came when Youssou married a second wife.

In the midst of some wild rumours making the rounds that the renowned Senegalese female vocalist, Viviane Ndoure, had got married to a Gambian business tycoon, Hatib Janneh, this paper yesterday managed to track down Mr. Janneh at his Hotel to get the veracity of the story.

In an interview with journalist Alhagie Mbye and Momodou Justice Darboe, Mr. Janneh sharply reacted to the rumour, describing it as not only malicious and unfounded but also a figment of imagination of some unscrupulous elements.   

According to the distraught looking Seaview Hotel boss, he was flabbergasted, perplexed and bewildered when he got wind of the story that he had wedded Viviane Ndoure.

He said: “It is very surprising to hear this story. I don’t understand how people can just get up and make up such a malicious and unfounded story. I am not married to Viviane, I don’t intend to marry her and I will never marry her. She is a sister and her ex-husband is a friend to me.”

Mr Janneh however expressed the suspicion that the rumour mongers might have been deluded into making that inference because of a recent song the musician had dedicated to his mother. “Is it that because she recently sang a song for my mum that is why some people want to use that as a springboard to peddle such a false rumour. This is indeed very unfair to both Viviane and me myself. So I am speaking to the press to set the records straight so that people can go back to work. I want to make it categorically clear that Viviane is only a sister and all along our relationship has been limited to normal professional basis.”

Meanwhile, it would be recalled that Viviane Ndoure broke up with her husband, Producer Bouba Ndoure of Jololi Productions, sometime this year. Since then there have been mountains of rumours alluding to the diva’s marriage with high profile people including football star Salifu Diao.

Salsa mbalax maestro, Leon Prom and the Chameleon Band alongside a handful of Gambian musicians will on Sunday stage live performances at Jacaranda, west field.

The spectacular event, spearheaded by For the Gambia Our Home Land promotion will be a major outdoor live music extravaganza.

Speaking to this paper, Bai Jack, the Talent and Management Coordinator of For The Gambia Our Home Land promotion said that the event is geared towards reviving live band entertainment well as developing the arts and culture sector of The Gambia. He urged all and sundry to attend the event.

Essa Mboob AKA Essay or Mam Bai Trained Soldier is arguably one of the most influential lyricists to emerge from the Smiling Coast of the Gambia. The 32-year-old singer-lyricist-producer started music at a tender age of 11 and since then he has been turning heads in the music world.  Essay who is now domiciling in Sweden has had more ups and downs than a barrel of manic depressives.  For the past five years, Essay has been at loggerhead with producers hence he threw in the towel refusing to tour and to make public performance. However, after meeting with the right industry gurus, Essay could not help but to intensify his musical gears and he is now alive and kicking in music-biz. 

“I have not been performing for the past years because I was on strike. I was having problems with lots of producers in Europe because they found my music to be somewhat critical, they were kind of jealous. So frankly speaking, I went through hardship for the past five years because I don’t trust the people I was working with, but doesn’t, in anyway, dampen my spirit,” he said.

Teaming up with his 26-year-old Swedish producer Jatrix of Nordicsteel, Essay is back on form, causing sensations in Sweden and beyond. Today plenty of his critics have begun to sing the praises of his newly- released hit single titled Bai Nyass.  Well, during his recent sojourn to his homeland, the Point’s Alhagie Mbye met him at his flat in Kerr Serign where he granted us an interview in the presence of his producer. Please read on:

Let’s talk about your life and career?

I am Essa Mboob AKA Essay or Mam Bai Trained Soldier. I count myself as one of the toughest lyricists of this generation.  I was born and schooled in The Gambia before travelling to Europe. I have been living and working in Stockholm, Sweden for the past one decade. I was able to stand and represent my country in the international scene because I’m blessed with the talent.

When did you know that you have talent in music?

The talent starting showing up when I was 9 years old but because I grew up in a family where music is not a favourite, I was kind of hiding. My dad was educated and what he was seeing in the music business did not impressive him at all.

What was that…?

There were a bunch of artists who were drunkards and drug addicts, so he feared me falling in that trap.
And you are an alcoholic now?

No. I’m Bai Nyass Trained Soldier. I don’t drink and I don’t use drug, I believe in doing things in the right way. This is why most of my songs tackle themes like social vices and dishonesty. I believe Gambians in the Europe and elsewhere can earn decent livings using their talents.

 What achievement (s) did you registered since you joined the music arena?

Well, I have recorded and released eight songs but I didn’t do it alone. Without my homeboy, Jatrix, I wouldn’t have gone this far. He is the youngest producer in the world. He is not only my producer but he is my real friend.

When did you meet with Jatrix?

I met him two years back and since we have been working collaboratively to produce beautiful songs for our fans.
We were made to understand that you are in town with ‘bag full of surprises?
Yeah! You’re right my brother. I’m here with my producer to support up-coming local talents. We want to produce some of them so as to give them international recognition. Already we have built a mini studio in The Gambia and this studio is now operational. 

What is your assessment of the state of Gambian music industry?

Lyrically, the industry is moving forward. Honestly the music industry in The Gambia is moving in the right direction and now is the right time that local artist to explore the opportunities.  

 Your last words?

Let all Gambians stay positive and change their laid-back attitude towards work, we must try to develop ourselves to the fullest.

For the first in the history of Senegambia’s showbiz, Sound City, a music promotion company in The Gambia, has concluded arrangements to stage a grand acoustic gala dinner on 24 November 2007 at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Senegambia, to support President Yahya Jammeh’s HIV/AIDS Trust Fund.  The unprecedented mega folklore musical concert will feature highly-acclaimed Senegambian musicians such as Thione Balago Seck, Baba Maal, Yandeh Kodou Saine, Samba Jebereh Samba, and Ma Awa Kuyateh. The Gambia’s Kora maestro Jaliba Kuyateh, Musa Ngum, Kabakel, Batiyai, Jali Saihou Sabo, Jali Mamoudou Suso, Saffie Mbenga, Group Soningkara, Group Chorumbai, and Medina Sabach, also form part of the list of artists, who will perform live on the night to be coordinated by DJ Little Sisqo from Norway.

Dr Alhaji Yahya A.lJ Jammeh, President of the Republic of The Gambia, is the Chief Guest of Honour and the Vice President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs, is the Chief Patroness. Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of State for Communications and Information technology, and Dr Tamsir Mbowe, Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare, are the guest speakers.

 According to the organisers, the fund raising gig is being organized to support President Jammeh’s HIV/AIDS Trust Fund and other treatment programmes, including the asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Mabou Touray, Proprietor of Sound City, said this initiative was inspired by President Jammeh’s ‘Breakthrough’ in finding a therapy for one of the world deadliest diseases, HIV/AIDS. He said the President’s commitment and compassion to restore the health of Gambians and other Africans suffering from HIV/AIDS is indeed laudable, thus worthy to be associated with. “We believe that all hands should be on deck to support him in these processes,” Mr Touray said.

The Sound City boss said the cultural showbiz, themed: Goudi Ndanaan (night of superstars), win serve as a unique opportunity for the revivification of Senegambia folklore music, which is at the brink of extinction. “The erosion of such a class of music in Senegambian showbiz places our cultural heritage at a disadvantage,” he said. Mr Touray thanked the Technical Support Taskforce of Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh’s IDV I AIDS Trust Fund, under the leadership of Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of Sate for Communications and Information Technology, for giving them the approval to stage the event in The Gambia. He therefore, called on all Gambians and non-Gambians to support the event.

Baboucarr Jatta, Co-organiser of the event, said the programme could not have come at a better time than now, when the people of Senegambia are more than eager to see their own artists playing typical Senegambian folklore. However, he entreated government departments, parastals, private sector institutions, NGOs, businessmen and women, and well-meaning Gambians and non-Gambians alike to spare no effort in making this all-important event successful. “We welcome sponsors to come on board to make the event a great success,” he said.