Introduction
The music of The Gambia is an eclectic mix of Mandinka, Fula, Soninke and Wolof musical genres. While traditional music remains popular in rural areas, the urban population listens to modern African pop and dancehall reggae.
The National Anthem
The Gambia’s national anthem is sung in English and Mandinka, the country’s two official languages. It was composed by Lamin Jallow and written by Joanna Salimon Kebba Sey, who also performed it live for the first time in a ceremony for Independence Day on February 18th, 1965. The lyrics reflect on aspects of Gambian history such as military victories over European powers during colonial times; they also celebrate the country’s culture and people:
“We shall not forget those who have gone before us; They have made our land what it is today.”
Traditional Music
Gambian traditional music is influenced by the culture of the Mandinka tribe, who are the largest ethnic group in The Gambia. Traditional music is played on instruments like the lute, drums and kora. It is performed at ceremonies such as weddings or funerals by a group of musicians called an orchestra.
Popular Music
Gambian popular music is influenced by many different cultures, including Arabic and European. The traditional Gambian drumming style “durbar” has been incorporated into popular dance music genres such as hip hop, salsa and reggaeton.
Gambian popular music has a distinctive sound that blends traditional instruments like the talking drum with modern genres like reggae, hip hop and salsa.
The Gambia is a small country in West Africa, on the Atlantic coast. It’s bordered by Senegal to the north and has the Gambia River running through it. The country was formerly known as British Guinea, but gained its independence from Britain in 1965 and changed its name to The Gambia two years later.
The climate is tropical and humid year-round with two rainy seasons: one from June to September and another from November through January (the “rainy season”). Temperatures vary between 23 degrees Celsius (73 Fahrenheit) during summer months and 16 degrees Celsius (61 Fahrenheit) during winter months; however temperatures can drop below freezing at night throughout much of the year due to strong winds blowing off Lake Niassa which forms part of Mozambique’s border with Malawi and Tanzania.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey through Gambian music. It has been an honor to share some of my favorite artists and songs with you, as well as introduce you to some new ones. I encourage everyone who enjoys this type of music to explore more on their own or even come visit us in person!
