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What is Yaram Arts all about and who are behind it? It is a network of Good Friends and business partners. Yaram Arts is what is left of the Gambian Youth Association (GYA). I was a member of the GYA, working with very clever people who were not only interested in Arts and Entertainment but the welfare of Gambians living in the UK. This was set up in 1994, during which time the only other active Organisation was the Gambia Society, which we believed was not addressing the pertinent issues of the day. Thus the rationale for GYA as we endeavoured to reach the wider community The people involved in GYA were Johny Njie, Dra, James Bahoum, Jibril Faal, Ndey Jobateh Sosseh Sissay, Habib Jeng, the late Sylvia Stapelton, Kebba Jeng, just to name a few, I was elected chair of the organisation and James was our General Secretary. How does the GYA defer from Yaram Arts? The GYA was focusing more on the welfare and the needs of Gambians living in the UK. It had different committees like the fund raising, sports, legal, housing and education. I remember some of the success stories where the education committee secured two scholarships for young students from Gambia, and the welfare committee were also involved in assisting families in bereavements with little money etc… Even when GYA became dysfunctional, we gathered all the remaining funds and gave it to good causes. Some of the funds were allocated to a budding Gambian Entrepreneur who was involved in picking fruits in rural Gambia, before they became rotten and processing it into juice. We also distributed cash to Vocational Centres in the Gambia. In what way was GYA then converted to Yaram Arts which is more known for Promotional Activities? I realised the reason why GYA died was partly because most people were not willing to volunteer their time and are particularly only motivated by social activities. The climate of social functions within our community in London at that time was controlled by other private interests, who would not generally allow GYA to raise the needed funds to accomplish some of their objectives. When inevitably the ship finally sank, mind you I was the last to jump; I was convinced to go private with more focus on social functions and try to incorporate some of the ideals of the defunct Association. That’s when I invited other partners like Barrow, Edi Jah, Aly Dieng, Bun Gaye. Ousai & Sol Njie (BJL) to join me in what now becomes Yaram, trying to make business with a humanitarian angle. Since the born of Yaram Arts, what have you been involved with? We started with a small gig showcasing Galloh Chello and our own Dan Joof at Visions, and then the first Live Show was with Alieune Mbaye Nder in 1998. Since then, we have presented all artists worth their salt within the Senegambian region barring Youssou. The only reason we have not yet added Youssou to our list is owing to certain contractual constraints. Looking at the humanitarian aspect, please give us an example of what you have been doing lately? We are constantly looking at ways to benefit not only our community in the UK but those on the ground as well. I remember we donated 10% of our intake in an Assane Ndiaye project to a Children Hospital in Banjul. We have been financing the London Football Team with great input from Coach kabba Belle, placing them in good local tournaments. We are also hoping to initiate a clothes drive where we will collect second hand clothes and other unused good material from members of the community and beyond to send to The Gambia. Currently we are in Association with Women Friends & Associates Organisation (Ms.Anna Njie) to raise funds for Gambia U20 Football Squad. I am also working on modalities with the Gambia Football Association to explore means of working together in our upcoming Thione Seck event in Gambia to benefit Congo 2007 Campaign. As a Gambian Promoter, what contributions are giving towards the development of Gambian music? The word Promoter has been bandied about so much that at times am ashamed to be called one but anyway I will ride on it. I see Senegambian Culture as a shared heritage. However, I agree that the scale is lopsided at the moment; to try and redress this would involve a holistic approach, where all hands, from government to ordinary Samba Public should be on deck. Nonetheless, am heartened that I gave Gambia’s Da Fugitive Rap Group and Maslabi Band a chance to tour UK. I also brought Musa Ngum along with Omar Pene, couple of years back and will be touring him again during 2007. Jalikeba Suso will also be given as much exposure as possible in the coming future. Also in the recent Jaliba Summer 06 Tour, I worked with the Gambia United Society and contributed immensely to the success of the project. We recently had a very interesting comment in the UkGambians Open Forum about a carnival with no Senegalese act but with only Gambian artist, what is your view on that? The carnival has now been taken to another level and we are now used to getting big acts. In our shared culture, most of the bigger artists belong to what is called Senegal today, so really I hope this is not a pipe dream J Interestingly, I can recall a carnival when we (Those that Promote) all chose to support a Maslabi Project, after all agreed and sealed in principle, one of the parties broke away at the last moment to bring a bigger act from Senegal, thereby undermining the Gambian group. So you can sense how difficult it is to have consensus and control.There is also an added argument on the viability of certain projects etc. What I can say is Yaram pledges its commitment to solving such an imbalance. With Yaram Arts in mind, what would you say is your highest achievement so far? We have expanded Showbiz from London to Birmingham, Leeds and beyond, also featuring our acts in mainstream audiences as far as Scotland. We regularly give a taste of our London secrets to other Senegambian communities in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe. Lately, we transplanted the Yaram challenge onto home soil – The Gambia - We have importantly contributed to many good causes and last but not least, am most pleased that people conflate Yaram with professionalism, integrity and decency. What have you got in the pipeline for Gambians in the UK? I saw lots of comments on the Ukgambians.com site enquiring about kids programs and activities and we have few things in the making, targeting youngsters. I have some ideas which will not only be fun but educative to Senegambian descendants and other African children. Going back to the Carnival, what do you make of the Assane Ndiaye show at rex? Firstly we are thanking everyone who came and supported us, and on the whole it was a good night and a sold out gig.We can’t shy away from the fact that we had problems at the doors and queues were broken. For the major part, we blame the Rex Security for not compromising and tactfully handling our customers, and we have since taken up this matter with their management. From afar one can maybe say why not simply have two queues, separating ticket holders and those without. Then on the flip side, Rex will shift blame to our crowd for not wanting to join queues or going to the wrong one, not allowing to be searched before entry etc etc.. It then becomes a blame game and usually in tense situation like that even professionals find it hard to control big crowds. If we may apportion “Jaharang” (Clear) some blame to our people, Why Do Everyone has to wait till 1AM to turn-up?? This would unavoidably cause some problems! We challenged people to come early by giving incentives like entering a Draw for Gambia Air Ticket to early arrivals but to no avail. Most of the time, we have DJ’s and warm-up acts in waiting by 11PM. Catch22 is you cannot start a show in an empty hall. In our quest to improve things particularly door situations at big shows, we are appealing to anyone who has anything to contribute, to come forward or leave a comment on the UkGambians.com forum, which may just trigger a positive open debate. Was there anything you were least happy with? I am relatively happy with how things unfolded over Carnival 06, although we operate in a very hostile environment, I can only wish that things change for the better. Competition itself is good because it forces people to raise their batting order and reduces cost for the final consumer, but it has to be positive and within the remits of showbiz. Negativity should be deplored by everyone from the community and under no circumstance should any competitor import none Gambian tools like violence against each other. Am also very particular about the lateness in turning up for shows, I think it is not a good culture and we should all learn to do away with it. Finally but not least, what have you got for us coming in this Special Tobaski & Christmas Special? Hmmm, we confirmed 3 Soirees in Gambia with Thione Seck in the first weekend of January 2007 and hope to raise something for the GFA. As a lot of people are travelling to Gambia for New Years and Tobaski Eid-ul Adha, we hope to make it a memorable re-union. On that note, people leaving from UK can even book their concert tickets now to avoid disappointment, last year our shows sold out rapidly. May I take this opportunity to thank the whole Yaram team, including Lamin Champion Sounds,Pa Modou Sillah, Lai and Mo Cham, DJ Daffeh, Kalifa, Bojang, Dodou Mboge, Xavier, Emma Spice, Ndey Cham, Ya Ida (Joys), & Ndey Lowe. Not forgetting our Sponsors Bayba Uk Limited, Western Union/Trust Bank and Stuart Karatas Solicitors We also express gratitude to all those involve in Showbiz: UKgambians, Gambia United Society, Anna Njie, Jabang, Omar Jagne, Ansu Manneh, Morro Sankareh, Tamsir Jenkins, Sol Saunds, Ebra LKJ, Waka J, Pa and Marie Njie, Zil and Awa Sowe, Pape Diouf, Zil Mal, and all SeneGambian Artists particularly Assane Ndiaye & Nguewel Gui Band and most importantly the entire Senegambian community. I wish everyone a peaceful and successful New Year. UkGambians.com would like to take this opportunity to thank Malik for taking his time to answer our questions.
Interviewed: Saul Frazer
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have had the opportunity to talk to one of Gambia’s leading promoters. In this
long awaited interview we discussed the transition from GYA to Yaram Arts, his
view on the last carnival, his contribution towards Gambian music and his next
big event in Gambia during Tobaski………..
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