Probably one of the smallest countries in Africa both in size and population, The Gambia can boast of a rich and diverse music culture owing to a multi ethnic and cultural society... More…
AMIE
NGUM
In the long list of great singers and griots from
the Gambia, there are still more talents yet to
be noticed. Among them is a female singer who
descended from one of the most famous griot clans
in the West African state. Like many if not all
griots, Amie Ngum began singing as soon as she
was able to put words together. Amie whose parents
are Alhagie Baboucarr Ngum and Agie Awa Gaye hailed
from the coastal town of Bakau. She completed
her primary and secondary school education in
Banjul, a city which also produced the Gambia’s
finest griots. Amie Ngum began putting her skills
to a test as early as she was going to school.
At every end of term programmes, the young singer
performed in front of pupils and teachers. Her
performances wowed many and since then she was
tipped to become a great singer.
Singing was not a career
for Amie but a proud way of life just like the
many griots would tell you. “I love singing and
I can’t imagine life without it” She said. “Singing
made me what I am today” she posited. Therefore
she continued her way of life, singing in the
many ceremonies she was invited to and continued
to attract a lot of attention among Gambians particularly
women.
Now based in the United
Kingdom, Amie is taking her way of life to the
next stage, becoming a musician in the modern
sense. She is in the process of putting together
a group to boost her music and keep the folklore
heritage alive. The group is already in motion
and the music they play is the raw traditional
style of drums with a smooth modern touch of a
keyboard.
In the not too distant future
Amie plans to put her music to the wider audience
by recording her first album.
