Dr. Olugander
Bio
Dr. Olugander - alias Phada Gander- was born and brought up in The Gambia. This talented, popular and versatile Gambian musician started singing at a tender age through the inspiration of his grandfather, a great musician during his hay days. A fond lover of foundation musicians like, the late South African Reggae singer Lucky Dube, Jamaica's Cocoa Tea, Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Jacob Miller and Peter Tosh, he felt he could use music to bring great changes to the life of young people with his own original style.
Known for his philanthropic gestures for the poor and the less privileged , Olugander was the first Gambian musician of his generation to embark on 'giving back' projects to support the poor and needy through his music performances and charity, by donating cooking items and food to the disaster flood victims of The Gambia, in December 2010 at the office of the vice-president which was aired on national TV news. He also contributed to the rehabilitation of school toilets in Wassu Upper Basic and many other related projects of such nature in The Gambia , including a cash donation to the blind school of the Gambia in January 2013.
In many ways the background of this hardcore, soft-spoken singer could be compared with that of other great singers around the world, but his professional manner of conducting his career is what sets him above the peak. He is flexible and full of confidence in his music, while his stage performances are always entertaining. His voice is sweet, smooth, rich and original. His language is excellent and that's something that the people of his country admired of him so much. He is a role model to the younger generation and a voice for the poor.
The title Doctor (Dr) was given to him by his fans who regard him as a musical doctor. The name Olugander came as a result of his love for the male goose gander, his favorite animal. Abukpapa is derived from his ROOTS, meaning the child of a father, the name his grandfather used to call him. Thus, Dr Olugander, the musical doctor whose favorite pet is the gander!
Olugander Abukpapa the First is indisputably the Gambia's international reggae ambassador. He has toured Europe, the USA and many other African countries over the years. In 2007 he was named Best Reggae Musician by the Njawara Youth and Sports Association. In 2008 he won the Best Reggae Song in the Gambia in an event organised by the Saul Sounds in the UK, in collaboration with Gambian talents USA. In 2009 he was awarded 'HONORARY AWARD' and invited to the USA by the Atlanta Gambians Emergency Relief Association (A.G.E.R.A)
He is currently based in Finland where he is waxing stronger musically in the Finnish music industry.