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Most of us know you by the name Titi, but what is your real name? I want to start with expressing my gratitude
towards all my fans and am very pleased to have performed once again in London.
My real name is Ndey Fatou. Ever since I was a little girl I was being called Titi by my uncle, when I grew up it naturally became my artist name. This is the third time within a short period that you have played in London, is it because of your special connection with your UK-Gambian fans or?
How did you become a singer? Was this your first career move? I started my career as a dancer which I enjoyed very much back then. Later on I started to develop more interest into music by listening to other Senegalese musicians but my inspiration has been and still is Youssou Ndour. The way he sings and I started to hear that I sing like him and that just motivated me to become a singer. During your dancing career, were you dancing in a group or on your own? I just love dancing and am very good at it. I used to dance with Papa Njie Cho and also appeared on music videos of Senegalese stars like Alhagie Faye, Pape Jibi Bah and some Malian musicians. How was your transition from a dancer to a singer? From dancing I just started singing with the likes of Fatamba Kuyateh, a Guinean who lived in Senegal. I worked with her for a year or so then started working with other artists like Salam Diallo, Sulayman Faye, Fallou Dieng, and Ma Penda Seck to mention few. Tell us about the time you lived in Guinea? I spent 3years in total in Guinea, a country I like a lot. Whilst there I was singing in a band and Guinea is a beautiful place to be. How much of an influence has Youssou Ndour had in your career? Youssou has been instrumental in my career; he gave me a lot of support. During the time I was working with other Senegalese artists he noticed that I was talented and knew with his support I could make it. We met in Guinea and he convinced me to return to Dakar and work with him, I did and rest is history. I read somewhere that your break through came in 2003 during Youssou’s show at the Estade Demba? Can you tell us more about that show? Yes, that was the launch of the “Billie Billie” hit. It was during his annual show together with other Jololi Artists. The launch was very successful and people started to take further notice of my solo career. One could argue that it was there my career was really launched because it I made an impact to be remembered. After the “Billie Billie” album, did you produce any other album before the “Goro Gore”? Prior to Goro Gore I did a cassette called 4.4.44 with Youssou and other, followed by “jongoma” with Papa Ndiaye Gewel and some other combinations with other Senegalese artists then came “Goro Gore”. . Is “Goro Gore” especially dedicated to the fans in general or us men only? - (laugh) Well you can say its for the fans (smile). When the second album was released it increased my popularity and people became more aware of Titi. There are special songs in the album and they all mean a lot to me. I sang for my mother, married women, the “Goro Gore” for the men, and enemies. These are songs which have reached out to the heart of my fans and am very pleased with this release. When can we expect your next album? I have not got any in the pipe line yet. I normally release albums every 2years so the earliest release will be in 2007. I believe two years will give me enough time to prepare for an album which myself and my fans will be pleased with. Is the Nothing Hill Carnival popular in Senegal as it is in Gambia, because many people from Gambia come over during the summer just to attend it? - I only hear about the carnival when Saul Sowe tells me about it. This is the third time am coming to London and its all because of him. There are many promoters who would want to work with me but I find a great partnership with Saul Sowe and am very pleased with that. Saul’s contribution to my success in London has been great. He saw the demand from the fans and made everything possible for me to come over and play for them. He is a very good man and always honors our agreements, am very grateful to be working with him. What are you most happy with your job? I am happiest when am on stage, whenever I hold the microphone on stage I become the happiest person on earth, seeing fellow artists performing brings joy to me as well. Who are your favorite artists? Youssou Ndour is my favorite. I just love his music. Apart from Youssou I do enjoy listening to Phil Collins, these are the two favorites. To me, I believe you have the best vocal, a very powerful and sweet voice. Can a voice like this be trained up or were you born with it? I am just thanking God for this voice; it is something I was born with. I even manage to surprise myself at times when am in the studio. Some times after recordings I just wonder if it was really me singing, it sometimes makes me cry when I listen to myself. I am ever so grateful with my voice. Many artists want to have it but I was the one blessed by God. So am urging all my fans to start praying for me to maintain it as long as possible.(laugh) What are your final words to your fans? I am very happy to have performed here where all my fans responded. I am very grateful to Saul Sowe and his family, to Jabang and his family, to Pa Njie & Marie Njie and the whole Gambian community for their support. I am hoping and wishing the Gambian Promotes to take their work to another level with the help of a major British sponsor to create a massive label which will facilitate regular visits of SeneGambian artists in England. Part 2 An exclusive interview with Saul Sowe, Mustapha Jabang & the Manager Saul Sowe Titi has just echoed her appreciation in your partnership, what is your view on working with her? I am very pleased to be working with her. Being a big artist as she is, she sacrifices a lot just to work with me which I more than appreciate. I am wishing her best of luck in her career and a continued successful partnership between the two of us. There are certain things we are currently working on and we will inform www.ukgambians.com once we’ve finalized. I am thanking all the supporters for making this carnival a very special one. Jabang was your right-hand man during the carnival, what can you tell us about his contribution? Jabang and I are from way back, ever since
we were in Gambia. When I saw that he was very involved in the show biz here in
London I was pleased to have him onboard. He has been very instrumental in the
promotion business and from now on, we will be working hand in hand through
future promotions. I am very happy and pleased to be working with him. Mr Jabang, we all know your involvement in the SeneGambian Promotion business here in London, why have you chosen to take the supporting role instead of taking a lead yourself? Basically, we as the SeneGambian community its very important especially for some of us who have kids here for our kids to grow up and know our culture. Therefore it’s very important to be able to bring SeneGambian artists and build up a relationship which can last long and therefore help our kids to become familiar with their culture when they grow up. We cannot just come to Europe and forget where we are from. This is the reason we are working and supporting each other. Through these shows people are meeting each other and others are even getting married. These are very encouraging and it’s pushing us harder to build up a stronger community. We all have limited time to visit each other as we would wish but during these events we all meet at the same place and enjoy ourselves. Which previous shows have been involved with? During previous shows I was working with Waka J. We were involved in the first Assane Ndiaye show with Yaram Arts, followed by Viviane, then SeneGambian Awards and some other programs at visions etc… The way I see the supporting role is; one will get the opportunity to support all the labels, (Yaram Arts, Waka J Promotions & Saul Sounds Joluv Arts) and am quiet happy to be contributing towards all of them because at the end of the day we are all one. We all know how instrumental you have been through out. Are you happy to continue with this supporting role for a long time to come or can we expect a Jabang label in the near future? The whole meaning of the supporting role is to try and bring togetherness within the SeneGambian Community because the way things are going at the moment is not a secret to any of us. I believe that two heads are better than one and if we come together as one, we can then organize some massive events. A good example of this is the past carnival weekend, London has the biggest SeneGambian Community in Europe and all our neighboring countries are more organized than us. Denmark has their cultural week, so has Sweden and Norway but London have failed to produce one because we cannot work as one. If we manage to bring all the promoters together we can use the Carnival week to create our own cultural week too. Everyone will make their contribution and no one will sabotage for any body. So the supporting role is really to help bring everyone together. It is a pleasure working with Saul Sowe. I am very pleased and am thanking the lord and wishing everyone a success. Titi’s Manager What is your experience of the whole show and the carnival weekend? Titi Manager – The artists are very important in the sense that they can help us individuals to stay in touch with our culture. I have nothing but praises for the promoters who enables the artists to come her and perform for their fans. I am urging all the Gambian Promoters to come together as one, even if they will not be doing it for themselves let them do it for the sake of the fans and the SeneGambian Community. My experience tells me that if all the promoters put their differences aside and work together, the SeneGambian Community will benefit the most with regular artists coming from Africa to perform for their fans. I am also expressing gratitude towards Saul Sowe he has been very positive in all aspects of our partnership in this show. UKG are thanking Mustapha Jabang, Saul Sowe, Titi & her manager for taking part on this exclusive interview.
Interviewed by:
sfrazer@ukgambians.com
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