Gambian activist-rapper Killa Ace charged with assault

The popular rapper was arrested by police on Monday following an alleged run-in with the law.

The charges to be faced by the rapper, who was brought to Kanifing Magistrate's Court on 31 October, are assault and breach of peace. He has been accused of assaulting police officer Corp Demba Bah on 28 October at Serekunda Market.

Killa Ace, whose real name is Ali Cham, has denied the charges and was subsequently granted bail, with the case adjourned until 15 November.

In a separate development, the rapper was openly critical of former President Yahya Jammeh. He moved to neighboring country Senegal in an apparent exile during Jammeh's tenure.

Upon his return following Jammeh's departure, Killa Ace continued to speak up about issues affecting ordinary citizens in the Gambia. He recently organised a peaceful demonstration tagged #Defadoy, meaning 'enough is enough'. The slogan was: 'No more police brutality, corruption and environmental exploitation'.

In the midst of widespread corruption allegations against the new government in the Gambia, Killa Ace recorded a song featuring Silky Criss titled 'Combat Corruption'.

"Fighting corruption using the language the youth understand. HipHop, Arts," he posted on social media while promoting the single on 25 October. The song has not been released and the rapper has not made an appearance on his account since that post.