Warms up for weekend festival

The Gambia’s young formidable reggae dancehall artists - Dr Olugander - was recently featured in one of Germany’s most watched TV stations – WDR - as his 2008 tour of European countries intensifies.

What others may view to be a rare opportunity for our youngsters in the music industry was considered by many as the start of yet another milestone in the development of the country’s entertainment industry. 

According to reports, Olugander performed beyond expectations. He was interviewed about his career as a young sprouting singer, music and other issues.

Watched by a large TV audience across Germany and beyond, this TV interview will not only serve as a boost for the young star but also a big plus for The Gambia’s music industry. He is currently warming up for yet another mega concert as part of the Essen festival in Germany this weekend where he was invited as a guest artist.

Dr Olugander, will later proceed to Austria, Finland, Estonia, Holland, Switzerland and other European countries. With his versatile skills and hot stage appearances, there is big optimism that the young sprouting reggae dancehall star will excel in all his upcoming mega shows as he has the potentials to shine. Keep it up Olugander!!!

Upon arrival on Friday 10, Viviane is expected to perform live at a Gala night.The following Saturday, there will be a grand dance and a live show with Viviane Ndour featuring some prominent Gambian artists.

Speaking in an interview with Entertainment shortly before leaving for her home town of Guinea, the experienced Guinean artist briefedthe people within her area encouraged her to venture into the music industry since at her tender age. Seeking advice from her parents before going into music, Binta Laly said at first her parents refused but later accepted but warned her notto use abusive words in her songs.

Binta Laly later emerged to be a popular vocalist and has attract thousands of fans inher first show in the capital Conakry. Binta was then married but was unfortunate to have any child with her first husband. According to her, the husband later died and she was inherited by a relative of her late husband. Binta has been in the music industry for more than 40years and has travelled widely inside as well as outside Gambia.

In what can be described as a positive development for the country’s  Arts and Culture industry, Mr Babucarr Etu Ndow, a renowned Gambian  artist, was awarded by the China Ministry of Culture,  Arts Association and Architectural Society of China.

This somewhat rare artistic award for a Gambian born artist came at the end of his 40-day participation in the  9th edition of the famous Changchun International Sculpture Arts Exhibition and Symposium, held from 26th July to 5th September 2008 in China.

The Changchun International Arts Exhibition, which started in 1997, this year brought together over 42 internationally renowned artists throughout  the world.  A  total of 8 artists were selected from Africa to participate in this global exhibition. All  participants had the golden and unique opportunity to exhibit and permanently place their art works in the Changchun World Sculpture Park.

The erudite artist  had exhibited and placed his   work entitled “Spirit of Hope’’  alongside the Gambian  flag in the famous Changchun World Sculpture Park. This art exhibition centre  is expected to be visited by  millions of visitors.

According to a statement  written on a certificate  issued by the government of China in collaboration with the  Arts Association, Architecture Society of China, and the National Guiding Committee for Urban and Sculpture Institute  of China, Mr Babucarr Etu Ndow’s artist work will be  permanently  displayed  in the Changchun World Sculpture Park. The statement further noted that this  certificate was specially  awarded to Mr Babucarr Etu Ndow.

Reacting to the award, Mr Babucarr Etu Ndow described his participation in the exhibition as a veritable guide to the much talked about issue of promotion, development and preservation of the spirit of arts and culture in The Gambia, Africa and the world at large. He added that the award was a real pride to him, the entire Gambian art industry and to all Gambians and non-Gambians.

“Its a place that calls or engages your sense of sight. Its a real manifestation of the famous saying that “Artist are the conscience of the nation and society”. There was a high spirit and adoration of human creativity, especially in the world of arts and culture.

The exhibition explored the real beauty of artistic work in a more systematic and professional way desirable at both local and international level,’’ Mr Etu Ndow explained.

According to Mr Ndow, this is the first time that a Gambian flag  and  the  work of a Gambian artist  is being permanently  displayed  and exhibited at such an  international artistic  centre.

Mr Etu Ndow, further described the China arts exhibition as a real cutting edge experience for  an artist, as it brought together art critics, experts and other prominent personalities  in the world of arts. As he graphically put it, the art exhibition was held in a very peaceful atmosphere coupled with a deep sense of love for art works and the world  of creativity.

“The programme is geared towards bridging the cultural divide, building on  the much needed  and  talked about spirit of  love, peace  and unity  amongst people of the world. The event was characterised by  extensive  brainstorming on topical issues confronting the world of arts, especially on the need  to share ideas, technology  and other issues,” he said.

He further stated that the next might be  held in the  next three or so years. “I was well received and respected by both the organisers and other participants at the 9th edition of the famous Changchun  arts exhibition. The exhibition was a real testing ground for my  level as a professional and I think, that  reflected to a great extent on where I came from, The Gambia. It was an experience that I will never forget. I met with thousands of other well  established  and sprouting artists. I took or gained a lot and gave a lot. It was a really ideal sharing and  learning ground for all the participants,’’ he said.

The Holland Arts exhibition
In a similar development, Mr Babucarr Etu Ndow, is set to leave Gambian soil this week for Holland, where he will join and participate in yet another international arts exhibition. This arts exhibition is organised by  an organisation called The  Better Future, A  charitable  non-governmental organisation (NGO), which aims for, among other things, poverty alleviation, promotion and strengthening of the spirit  of inter-cultural  exchange  between diverse  cultures throughout the world as well as to promote and build on the much needed and talked about  universal peace and love, among  others.

The Holland-based art  exhibition, is expected to last for 8 weeks. Commenting on this exhibition,  Mr Babucarr Etu Ndow described it as yet another success story for the development, promotion and preservation of the spirit of arts and culture in The Gambia, especially the arts industry of the country. “The organisers of this special arts exhibition have extended an invitation to both me and my  little three-year old son, also called Etu Ndow, to attend and participate in it,” he said.

Mr Etu Ndow added that he was greatly moved by the step taken by the organisers of this arts exhibition in extending invitations to both him and his three-year old son. He described the invitation as a clear manifestation of the love, respect and affection the organisers have developed for his art work.
“I am really touched by the move taken by the organisers and I honor them for that and I will live up to expectations,” he said.

According to the renowned Gambian artist, upon  his return from Holland, he intends to concentrate on his art works, especially his newly established  arts project called the Kindergarten Arts, located  at his Tunbung Arts Village Gallery in Tujereng, Kombo North,Western Region (WR).

The Kindergarten Arts project, Mr Babucarr Etu Ndow noted, is another philosophical approach to the world of artistic work. He  assured the Arts and Culture desk of his determination to do his best for the development, promotion and preservation of the spirit of arts and culture in The Gambia, Africa and the world at  large. He added that the Kindergarten Arts project is geared towards the maximum utilisation of potentials in children. The project aims to catch the children young in the world of arts and tap their potentials for the benefit of all.

Mr Ndow, seized the opportunity to call on the government of The Gambia, the private sector and  individual philanthropists to  extend helping hands to the country’s arts industry. He noted that arts is a profession which contributes significantly in the socio-economic, human and political development of any given country, especially a Third World country like The Gambia. He reassured both Gambians and non-Gambians alike of his resolve to work towards the promotion, development and preservation of the spirit of arts and culture in the Gambia, Africa and the world at large.

According to information reaching Entertainment, 23 artists are expected to continue with the Gamcel Chart Buster immediately after the Ramadan. Sponsored by Gamcel, it aims to focus public attention and the promotion of artists in the country.

Speaking in an interview with Entertainment at the Queen’s Head in Kololi, The administrator of Gamcel Chart Buster, Mr. Abdoulie Jeng, said Gamcel Chart Buster started in May 2007 and officially opened at the Gamcel headquarters with a registration of 130 participants. He said these artists were divided into categories which include reggae dancehall, traditional African Mbalax, Afro- Manding and Hip Hop respectively.

According to Mr. Jeng, this Gamcel Chart Buster is expected to finish in December 2008. He added that during the course of this there has been some elimination’s. He went further to explain that a committee was set up in June to run the whole programme team. Mr. Jeng revealed that this outdoor programme was mainly organised in order to give the artists in the Chart Buster to perform for the public to show themselves.

Tutty Sallah, a provincial and a young talented artist, has promised to surprise the music industry in the country when she gets sufficient financial support either nationally or internationally. Presently, the rising artist has not produced any album due to financial problems but she has released three singles entitled ‘Jammeh Mousa’, ‘Youth of today’ and ‘Gambia our Motherland’ successively.

Speaking to this reporter, the young Bansang artist explained that she has been practising to become an artist since a tender age, adding that music is her hobby .Tutty Sallah who was born at Karantaba in Sami district but now resides in Bansang working as a teacher in Daru Lower Basic school, has called on philanthropists, NGOs and Government to support her both morally and financially.

According to her, with the support, she can launch another album soon.

One of the Senegalese female super mbalax artists, Vivian Ndour, is expected to land on Gambian soil after Ramadan. The Senegalese artist’s visit is organised by The Gambia Ports Authority as Operation Promotion Excellence in Sciences OPES.

Upon arrival on Friday the 10, Vivian Ndour is expected to perform live on Gala night the 11th October, 2008. There will be a grand Dance on the 12th October, 2008; a live show with Vivian Ndour featuring prominent Gambian artists, Entertainment was reliably informed.