10 October 2007 16:01
Bringing fish and chips from Banjul to London eliminated that contagious addiction to the famous chicken and chips for first timers in Britain. Pa Omar Jack came with an exclusive type of the take-away food. It was his awesome and awarded-nominated single. The creative singer titled his highly thoughtful single ‘Fish and Chips’ and it has turned to be the quick mantra within the Senegambian region. With the bulging fame of the song Senegambian community in the UK were eager to feel (or munch) that homeland style of fish and chips. But the lanky singer brought all, at a large take, to Stratford Rex and opened it live.

Pa Omar Jack featured in London and other cities in England alongside Assane Ndiaye during the Notthinghill Carnival weekend.  The main concert, hosted at East London’s Stratford Rex, gave the Senegambian audience the long-awaited opportunity to share from Pa Omar’s fish and chips. The young mbalax artists, backed by Assan Ndiaye’s Nguewel Gui  live band, opened the stage with his beckoning voice and spread his talent on that hit of a song, ‘Fish and Chips’.  He as well performed his other songs and drove the flavours deep into the audience with an extra-ordinary ndaga dance steps.

After the concert Pa Omar had a brief interview with ukgambians.com

“That song was actually suggested, created and written by my manager Lamin Manga, the famous broadcaster and chief executive officer of Mformula. We then recorded it Alliance Franco-Gambienne Studio with producer Wale Rendal,” He opens.  “The song is like a story as well as a comedy skit. It’s about a man who was busy eating fish and chips while the wife was painting herself before the mirror trying to attract some sweet comments from the husband. When she didn’t get that she became furious but the husband rather calmed her by saying she’s actually his main fish and chips.”

In his debut album entitled ‘Ninuyo’, Pa Omar featured songs for both the Senegambian and the international market. “I play core mbalax for the Senegambian audience and I blend other songs to suit the international market. In my album, the title song ‘Ninuyo’ and ‘Moi-Me’ have some acoustic. This adds some international flavours to the pack. “

Pa Omar began to sing from a tender age. His inspiration comes from the music that’s planted in the family, and from the songs of Youssou Ndour. “My uncle Mass Lowe is a big and popular mbalax singer. He is a very big influence and inspiration for me. Youssou Ndour’s songs also inspire me.”

By Eric Orji