Analyst slams Gambian music body

“GAMPP is a joke," he posted on Facebook. "It is about time we dissolve it and allow the different entities to stand on their own as affiliates or allied associations to the union. That will help us restructure and establish the dream Gambia Music Federation with a functional secretariat.”

Darboe's criticism is not the first time GAMPP has come under fire. Over the years, it has been the focus of disgruntled artists. The disagreement between the body and the Gambia's artists came to a head when the union was said to have contracted a group of artists but failed to pay them, which allegedly led to a physical confrontation. 

“I have heard and seen a lot about the state of Gambian music over years," Darboe, who is also known as Frings, said. "Yes, there are a few things we can celebrate and brag about, but generally our music is not where it should be. That's the hard fact. The bigger question we should be asking is what have we done for our music, not what others did to invade us. Why are we complaining about too much foreign music in our country when we are not ready to take up the challenge of bettering our own?”

Parts of his comments are certain to be seen as a response to the clamour for the regulation of foreign music on Gambian radio, a complaint that has aired repeatedly over the years. 

“Music is not just for fun," Darboe said. "It is a business and the music industry should be seen as an enterprise that has the capabilities of contributing significantly to our GDP and employment capacity. The youth unemployment rate is getting higher and higher while we are sleeping deeper and deeper. Sadly, anyone who drops a single sees him or herself as the best and any dropout who feels there are few opportunities in life chooses music as a career.

"For our government shall continue to slumber and blooper if it continues to neglect the entertainment sector. We need that political will to salvage our so-called industry. Better policies, effective implementation and enforcement of copyright law, and discouraging our public institutions to invest public monies in foreign artists in the name of fundraising. For our musicians, your strength is the music union...Register with the union and empower yourselves. The leadership is not the union. It is the artist instead. Unfortunately, our Uncle Jaliba Kuyateh is not living up to expectations as our union president.”

Kuyateh's tenure as president of the Musicians Union of the Gambia has been rife with controversy. He was heavily criticised for supporting the long-term presidency of the now ousted Yahya Jammeh. He later said he released the song 'President Jammeh' as a shield from the regime's "brutality".