The Indian Council for Cultural Relations and The High Commission of India to The Gambia in association with the Indian community in The Gambia last Saturday presented an evening of classical Indian dance performed by Padmashri Saroja Vaidyanatham, Ganesa Natyalaya, at Jaama Hall entertainment Centre in Kairaba Hotel.

The young and larger-than- life Indian musical team, which performed live, was very popular for their authentic cultural lyrics and wearing typical Indian costumes.

Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest dance forms of India. It was documented as a performing art in the 19th century by the Tanjore Quartet, whose musical compositions for dance form the bulk of the Bharatanatyam repertoire even today. The art was handed down as a living tradition through generations under the Devadasi system under which women were dedicated to temples to serve a particular deity as dancers and musicians forming part of the elaborate rituals. The revival of Bharatanatyam by pioneers such as Ekrishna Lyer and Rukmini Devi Arundale brought the dance out of the temple precincts and onto the proscenium stage though it retained its essentially devotional character.

Speaking shortly after the programme, The Secretary of State for Communication, Information and Technology, Fatim Badjie, thanked the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the High Commission of Indian to The Gambia, for the wonderful performance by the Indian Musical group in showing Indian Culture. SOS Badjie said this would motivate The Gambian artists to do the same. Certificates were awarded to the Indian Musical Team witnessed by the audience and by ‘Entertainment’.

25 students, all from the Norwegian College of Dance, shocked an impressive audience with emotional feelings, at a concert that lasted for several hours. The occasion was held on Monday, at the Sinatra’s Bar and Restaurant in Bakau.

The concert, the 7th of its kind in the course of one year, was organized by education through culture and commnunication organization (ECCO), an organisation that educate and promotes African music and dance through culture. It has also been engaged in a wide range of  developmental activities, in areas of education, sports and among others. 

The concert was a joined African and Norwegian music and dance show, which  featured  Susu, Norwegian folkdance, Jazz dance, Wollof, contemporary, street dance, poetry (I am an African), Fula, as well as Acrobalance.

 The internationally well-known Malian artist  Habib Koïte and his group are opening “la semaine de la francophonie” (the francophone week) at the Alliance Franco Gambienne.

After Dakar, Ziguinchor and Kaolak he will be here for the first time in his carrer.

A concert not to be missed!

Date: Saturday, 15th March 2008
Time: 9:00 pm
Venue: Alliance Franco Gambienne, Kairaba Ave
Entrance free

Jupiter & Massive, a widely known Senegalese Reggae group, is stopping at the Allicance for a one night show.

After their tour through Senegal, the Alliance is proud to be the host of this famous band and is inviting the general public to come and spend a wonderful evening with good quality reggae.

Date: Saturday, 01 March 2008
Time: 10pm
Venue: Allicance Franco Gambienne, Kairaba Ave
Tickets: D100

The Senegambian Mbalax king, Youssou Ndour, will later today arrive in Banjul for a three-day eye-opening musical performances.

The Senegambian music icon will today perform in a gala night at Senegambia Beach Hotel to be followed by dancing at The Independence Stadium. On Sunday, all roads lead to the same venue where the Mbalax guru will excite the senses in a musical show.

The events are organized by Gamtel/Gamcel Staff Association and according to the Secretary General of the association, Mr. Mustapha Conteh, the proceeds realized from the concerts will be used for the empowerment of women as well as to replenish the staff welfare fund and most importantly, contribute to the Operation Save A Baby initiative.  

In line with its objective of providing support to nursery education in The Gambia, Shine Africa, a UK based charity is set to organise a ground breaking fund raising concert with the famous Daliba Buyateh.

The concert is slated to take place tomorrow the 15th of February and aims to raise funds in order to continue the groups work in helping schools. It’s hoped that this will consolidate some of Shine Africa’s already considerable achievements.

The group’s mission is to share knowledge, skills and resources to benefit the children of The Gambia. To achieve these aims the group works very closely with the Department of State for Education by sponsoring professional training for new teachers.

According to Ian and Glynn Jones from Weaverham, Cheshire who are currently coordinating the charity, the initiative began in 1996 when they were on holiday in The Gambia. “We found that a nursery school we visited in Mandinari Village was in desperate need of a new building and resources,” they told The Point.

They added, “the happiness and generosity of the Gambian people, despite living in such poverty, inspired us to raise funds on our return to England for them to build a school.”

Mr. and Mrs. Jones also revealed that the organisation helps to support the health and safety of the pupils by providing suitable toilets, safe drinking water and mosquito protection,

“Every child in our schools is given a mosquito net. This can significantly reduce the number of deaths occurring in children under seven as a result of malaria,” they said.

Meanwhile, Shine-Africa has so far funded and built three nursery schools in The Gambia. These are Mandinary Village Nursery School, Bundung Shine-Africa School and Saaba Shine-Africa Nursery School.

The Senegalese Mbalax super star , Youssou Ndour, will arrive in The Gambia next week – Friday, 15 February - as part of an annual event organised by Gamtel/Gamcel Association.

The Secretary General of the Gamtel/Gamcel Association, Mr. Mustapha Conteh, said the annual event aims to raise money for the Gamtel/Gamcel staff welfare fund, the empowerment of women and most importantly, Operation Save a Baby.

According to him, this fundraising event was started in 2004. Since then, the association has donated over 3.5 million Dalasis to institutions with the bulk of this going to Operation Save a Baby initative.

The secretary general went on to explain that social responsibility should be given priority over any other thing.

“This is why we take responsibility by organising this fundraising event year after year to give back to the community,” he said.

He went on to emphasise the need for Gambians to support Gamtel/Gamcel organized programmes.

Mr Conteh said that besides giving this money to the community, “we realised that the effect of this on the economy is great because Youssou Ndour comes to The Gambia as an internationally celebrated artist and as a result, lots of institutions benefit indirectly.”

“A lot of other artistes will participate during the event and this, combined with the presence of Youssou Ndour himself, will attract thousands of people to the event,” he said

A major benefit of these crowds is that local artistes, who will play alongside the legend, will get to experience the thrill of playing in front of a large excited crowd.

The Senegalese super star will spend three days in The Gambia in total and will perform in a gala evening on both Friday and Saturday.

In addition to Youssou Ndour, other artistes such as Saneex and Pap Chopeh, will also be performing.

Mr. Conteh extended his thanks to the previous management of Gamtel/Gamcel for organising the event.

The renowned Senegalese music super star, Alieu Mbye Nder and his Le Setsima group will storm The Gambia next week for a series of concerts, courtesy, Champion Sounds.

The event, which is geared towards giving music aficionados a special new year treat will be held on the 4, 5, and 6 January 2008, at Willy’s nightclub in Lamin, Jaama Hall and Jokor Westfield respectively.

On top of the sublime live entertainment music lovers in The Gambia can also look forward to getting their hands on Nder’s new album Confiance.

DJ Lamin Cham is therefore  urging  all and sundry to attend the event.