Jalikebba Kuyateh, is undoubtedly another young multi-faceted  talented kora star currently on tourin Europe.His tour will took him to  Holland,Austria, Belgium and Germany to promotes his upcoming albums.

The young Kora star was born and brought up in a griot family in the Gambia and has played the Kora ever since. He is sought for playing on ceremonies, marriages and festivals.

Jalikebba presently was the main performer at the Tanji Village Museum in Tanji -Gambia where he also started to give kora workshops to people from africa and abroad.  The students success is my concern!" is his motto.

The Kora maestro- Jalikebba is the head of the Jalikebba Kuyateh & Group, a band, which fuses traditional and modern African music. The culmination is an exciting, vibrant and soulful genre of modern African music. The band offers exciting and lively entertainment and is a joy to experience live!

They perform throughout the Gambia at festivals, cultural events and tourists' venues.

Particulars

Name: Michael Ballack

DoB: 26 September 1976, Görlitz, DDR

Height: 188cm (6'2")

Weight: 85kg (13st 5lbs)

Position: Midfielder

Little Kaiser

The man dubbed “Little Kaiser” as an 18 year old has always been in the spotlight, even before his teenage years. As early as age 7 he joined local club Chemnitzer in East Germany and began to shine. His talent was obvious early on as young Ballack was showing equal ability with both feet.

He continued to excel and rise through the system and made his professional debut in 1995 in the Bundesliga 2 with his beloved Chemnitz.

One professional season was enough for the youngster to make his mark, and despite his side's being relegated to the country's third division Ballack was selected for the German U-21 side. The season 1996-1997 saw Ballack run out with Chemnitz in a huge bid to regain promotion. Now a first team regular, playing every game and amassing 10 goals in total, and as valiant as his efforts were, Chemnitz were unable to gain promotion and as a result Ballack was forced to move on to ultimately recognize his true potential.

Early Years

It was in the summer of 1997 when now Greek legend Otto Rehhagel signed the “Little Kaiser” to his newly promoted Kaiserslautern. His transition to the Bundesliga was gradual and he was warranted his first starting appearance against a Leverkusen club that he was later to make his name with.

His Kaiserslautern season was one of dreams and one of the most historic and memorable in German Bundesliga history as the Red Devils went on to become the first newly-promoted team to win the championship in their return season. Ballack made a total of 30 appearances the following year and would help guide Kaiserslautern to the Champions League quarter-finals where they were truly punching above their weight: they came up against Bayern Munich and went out 6-0 on aggregate.

Neverkusen

Realising that Kaiserslautern couldn't hold him. In 1999 Michael Ballack agreed personal terms with Bayer Leverkusen and it is here where his potential, and big break through as one of the world’s leading players came to fruition. At Leverkusen Michael Ballack was at the heart of everything, and over his 3 years he bossed the midfield, scored almost 30 goals, and led his team to the 2002 Champions League final before they where undone by the brilliance of Zidane and some spectacular play from Iker Casillas.

That this small club had come so close, yet fallen at the last hurdle, was all but impossible to take. The 2002 season was enough to scar any professional player, even more so the driven and ambitious Ballack, and the events of that year would earn Bayer the title of “Neverkusen”.

Despite playing an attractive quick brand of football that saw Leverkusen reach the heights of Europe and Germany, with players like Oliver Neuville, Carsten Ramelow, Bernd Schneider, Lucio and Ze Roberto, Leverkusen would blow a five point lead in the last 3 games of the season to give Dortmund the title, lose the aforementioned Champions League to Madrid and then fall in the German Cup to Schalke. And, if this, were not enough a Michael Ballack-led Germany would lose to Brazil in the World Cup in Asia.

From Bavaria To London

That year Michael Ballack would sign a contract with Bayern Munich as his thirst for silverware went unquenched. He spent a total of four years with the Bavarian giants and along the way would finally once again get his hands on the Bundesliga title. He won a total of 3 league and cup doubles and would score 47 goals for Bayern in 135 matches.

But after his four seasons, Ballack yearned to test himself abroad and despite interests from Europe’s elite he finally signed for Chelsea on a free transfer after the World Cup in 2006. At Chelsea, Ballack has yet to achieve the one true club trophy that has eluded him over the years: he joined the Blues solely with the Champions League in mind and in his first season in London, Chelsea would fall at the semi-final stage in a penalty shoot out with Liverpool.

This season Chelsea powered through the knock out rounds on the back of some impressive displays from the German and went one further than the previous year, but still came up short as John Terry’s miss in the final kick of the penalty shoot out against Man United handed the initiative back to United and they went on to complete a Premiership and Champions League double over the London club.

Big In (Korea And) Japan

With Germany, Michael Ballack has without doubt been the banner player. Since his debut for the national team against Scotland in 1999 Ballack has since earned 85 caps and has scored 38 goals up to the quarter final in the 2008 Euros over Portugal. Under Erich Ribeck in 2000, Ballack was a bit part player at the Euros, where Germany lost to England and Portugal and where held by Romania. This result signaled the emergence of former great Rudi Voller, who Ballack would flourish under. It was a tough qualifying campaign for Germany to reach the 2002 World Cup, as they fell quite embarrassingly at home to a Michael Owen inspired England 5-1.

This result helped to condemn the Germans into a play-off with Ukraine with the winner over two legs advancing to the Finals. It was Ballack’s stage, he would score in the first leg in Kiev to take a 1-1 back home to Dortmund, here he would score a further 2 goals to give Germany their tickets to the World Cup.

At the 2002 World Cup Ballack would lead his team by example to the finals, later scoring the winning goal in the Semi-final against Korea but would miss the big show itself as a result of a brave challenge to prevent a Korean goal scoring opportunity, he would receive a yellow card and thus earn a suspension for amassing two many yellow cards and would go on to miss the final against the favourites Brazil. Germany would fall 2-0 to Brazil.

Klinsmann Influence

Germany would qualify reasonably well for the Euros in Portugal, but again its short comings were easily exposed and despite scoring a spectacular goal against the Czechs they where to ultimately fall 2-1, combined with a 0-0 against Latvia and a 1-1 with Holland, Germany would timidly limp out of the Euro 2004. This result was in retrospect seen as a blessing as it heralded the appointment of one Jurgen Klinsmann as the new German coach, tasked with leading the national team to success in the World Cup on German soil.

Under the Klinsmann era, Ballack was made National Team captain and thrived in his new role. He would score in every game in the 2005 Confederations Cup as they fell short in the semis against Brazil. But the National team’s new confidence echoed the drive and ambition being displayed by Ballack as he thrived in the new attacking style of football being played by Klinsmann. In the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Ballack would led his team to the Semi-finals once again but will fall at the feet of the wily Italians in the second period of extra time 2-0.

After easily negotiating the qualifying phase to reach the 2008 Euros in Austria and Switzerland Germany came in as heavy favourties to win it all. A poor display in their second game saw the doubters and critics come running to the forefront, but it was Ballack’s goal-scoring captains display against Austria that sent the Germans into a Quarterfinal against new favourties Portugal. Here once again at their time of need, Michael Ballack delivered. He scores the third German and game-winning goal to send the Portuguese packing and Germany into a Semi-final against the Turks.

His rise to stardom has been hard and difficult but as is often the case with Germans, Michael Ballack has thrived under these circumstances. He remains the only player to reach a Champions League quarterfinal with 4 different teams. His drive and ambition have led him to one international final and various semis, and he is more driven than ever before as he is undoubtedly playing the best football of his life to finally land international honours in the white and black of Germany.

Badou Jack, the sole Gambian boxer bound for the Beijing Olympic Games participated in Germany’s Chemistry Cup as his first international warm up event before the August Olympics.

Badou was sponsored by the Anglo-Gambian sports project, Plymouth-Banjul Challenge, through the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC).

“We sought sponsorship for Badou to take part in the Germany competition because he is a great boxer,” GNOC deputy executive director Lawrence Bruce told gambisports.gm.

“We have high hopes in Badou,” he added.

Boxers from all the continents took part in the five-day event held in the German city of Halle from June 18 to June 22.

In the 75kg category Badou made it to the quarter-final where he lost on points to local favourite Kevin Künzel.

Despite an unusually early exit for the 24-year-old former Swedish and European champion, Olympic authorities in his adoptive country are determined to further support their solo boxer for Beijing.

“We are also planning for Badou to take part in another international competition in Spain before the Beijing Olympics,” Bruce disclosed.

Badou sealed his place in the summer Olympic Games after winning all his bouts at the African qualifiers held in Namibia last March, a few months after he changed his Swedish nationality in order to compete for the Gambia.

Badou had planned to visit the Gambia last April, nearly eight years since his only ever trip, but his intentions were not realized.

“Unfortunately, after his plans failed in April, there isn’t much time left to bring Badou home before the Olympics, but it won’t be long after the Beijing Games before Gambians finally get to see and appreciate him,” Bruce explained.

On behalf of the GNOC the deputy executive director thanked Plymouth-Banjul Challenge for sponsoring Badou’s participation in the Germany competition.

“The best way to motivate Badou Jack to do well for the Gambia is to ensure that he gets the best preparation for the Beijing Games, hence the importance of the support of Plymouth-Banjul for which the GNOC is immensely grateful,” Bruce concluded.

Culled from Gambiasports.gm

As part of his annual Europe and US tour, The Gambia’s International reggae-dancehall star is currently warming up for a one-month long tour of Germany.

Singateh, aka Freaky Joe, will be accompanied by two other Gambian young talents, under the sponsorship of Mega Force Records.

The tour is expected to commence on May 16 and is viewed by many music pundits as another positive development in the music industry.

During the tour, the Gambian trio will stage shows in two of Germany’s big cities namely, Bremen and Stuttgart.

Singateh is expected to use the tour to promote his new upcoming album, which will be due in the market in December.

Crafted at Mega Force Records in Germany,  "Wonders & Signs", the CD album comprises 14 sound tracks.

Europe tour

During his last year’s tour of Europe, Singateh entered into a three-year deal with Mega Force Records, which is a Stuttgart-based records company that contract artistes for music production, as well as help in marketing and distribution of the product internationally.

US tour

Each year, Singateh visits the US as part of his promotional tour to promote his new albums. Last year, the young prolific singer toured different states, including Atlanta, Seattle, Minnesota and Maryland and was described by many as an idol for many young budding reggae-dancehall stars.

During the month break in Germany, Singateh will move to US for another period of six months as part of his 2008 US tour, sponsored exclusively by the Gambia Talents Promotions based in Atlanta, Georgia, US.

In an Interview with What’s On, Singateh confirmed that the tour is intended to promote his upcoming album, "Wonders & Signs".

According to him, this tour will also enable him to sell his new CDs, make audio interviews, stage concerts, make new video clips, amongst others.

He revealed that this year’s US tour will see performance in more states, where he is expected to hold concerts with other Gambian US-based artistes.

On the inclusion of his colleagues, in his Germany trip, Singateh went on: "Well, I introduced these artistes to Mega Force and when they listened to their music, they were impressed and have since implanted keen interest in their talents. Later on, they sent them an invitation to accompany me in this year’s Europe tour".

On his new upcoming album, Singateh described "Wonders & Signs" as a wonderful recording as it contains hit tunes full of positive messages.

"I want my fans to expect big things coming from Singateh  this time around. Wonders & Signs album will be out in the market in December," he said.

Meanwhile, Singateh is scouting for a female back-up singer that could back him on stage in all his shows during his Europe and US tour.

"Interested persons should have a good singing voice, fluent in English and should have stage experience amongst other qualities.

For more information log on www.singateh.com.

West Africa German Project e.v has pledged to sponsor Amie Njie, a two year old child with congenital heart disease from Churchills Town, to under heart operation in Germany.

Amie Njie, who was said to be born with congenital heart disease known as Ventricular Septal Defect, was admitted at the RVTH in Banjul.

According to Gabriele Zachau, chairman of the project, the project will cover the travel and operation cost. Upon her return to The Gambia, Amie Njie will also benefit from a six years medical insurance from the project.

He added that the project is looking forward to receiving Amie and her mother in Germany as soon as possible for the heart operation.According to Gabriele Zachau, Amie is the fourth patients that the project has sponsored.

Editor,

I am a Gambian living in Germany. I used to be a freelance journalist for both the Daily Observer newspaper and The Point newspaper from 1998 to 2000 when I left for Germany. I want to be contributing once in a while by sending a few articles to your newspaper if you are interested.

Name and address withheld.


Editor’s Note: You are most welcome. Anything that we think of interest for our readers we will use (free of course!). Send us something, for example, on what life is like in Germany for African immigrants.

After six years of active music in the West, the Gambia’s reggae dancehall sensation, Rebellion D’Recaller is due in the country in mid-February to present his latest album called “Movin On” .

Recorded at IM Music Studios in Germany, Recaller’s new CD album comprises of sixteen sound tracks, which features one of the world’s finest reggae artists, the Jamaican mega-star Chuck Fender.

Basically, the new album boasts of a high quality sound mixed in one of the world’s most renowned recording studios.

Meanwhile, one of the hit-tunes in the album “Is It True” was recorded in Jamaica. The young reggae dancehall hearth-throb left Banjul in February 2002 for France, and since then, has held major concerts in various parts of Europe. Rebellion is also a member of the “Inspired Delegation Crew”, a group based in Brikama comprising of young-talented artists.

In another development, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Super Sonic Sounds, based in Berlin,Germany, Freddy Palzer is also expected in The Gambia on February 5. Watch out for Rebellion D’Recaller’s newest album soon.

Editor,

Hello Awa! How r u? I know you from Leybato Hotel. You used to work there as a waitress. Is that right? Are you the Fulani one? I'd like to get in contact with you. You can reply to my above mentione eMail address or just to my office: Oliver.Ohly@cdn-gmbh.de warm regards from Germany Oliver

Editor’s Note: No, Oliver, it is Fulani-Ethiopian with a big bushy silver beard! Hope you find your Awa’s correct e-mail address, but keep reading Observer.gm anyway!