Gambian choir to release debut album

Established by former presidential affairs minister and youth empowerment expert Momodou Sabally, the SLA Cultural Choir is part of the Sabally Leadership Academy, a foundation aimed at inspiring the Gambian youth to contribute to both community and nation.

The 13-member ensemble includes three drummers, singer-songwriters and a pianist, the last of which composed original songs for the upcoming album.

"The choir runs on Sabally Leadership Academy's ethos of cultural competence, engendered through dynamic and alluring renderings of our heritage to educate and inspire young people," said choir manager Jainaba Teeda Sarr.

In December last year, the choir played its first concert. Pop act ST Brikama Boyo attended the concert and later praised the event on social media: "Shout out to Momodou Sabally [founder of the choir]. You are doing wonders with the SLA Choir. Y’all are on some next level thing. Too much positive energy. We need more of these for the youths. I'm honoured being invited to such a meaningful event."

Speaking about the event, Sabally said, "At a time, in New Gambia, when our diversity is becoming our problem, we are determined to use our very rich ethno-linguistic diversity as a source of strength, a veritable tool, to foster mutual understanding, peaceful coexistence and harmony in our communities.

"We have armed ourselves with our rich cultural heritage to embark on this sacred adventure. We are ready to sing notes of unity, peace, love and harmony anchored on our own tradition. We believe in what our forebears bequeathed to us; and we know that there is no heritage better than ours! We shall approach the world, respecting other traditions and learning from them without any anxiety in displaying our own cultural trophies in the global theater of art and culture."

The SLA Cultural Choir's 8-track debut album, consisting of mostly folk songs, will be released in April.