Ousman Njie, fondly referred to as Boy Njie, The Gambia’s undisputed Salsa maestro died on Sunday and was buried yesterday at the time of going to press.

His friends and colleagues speak glowingly of his hard work and commitment to the promotion of the music industry in this country.

Excerpts.

Ebou Touray, a childhood friends of the late Njie’s and band leader during his early days in music, says: “We formed the musical group Bag of Fame, under Super Eagles Band in 1968. We left Bag of Fame in 1969 and joined Bai Janha a talented Guitarist to form Lovers Band, which was divided in 1970. It was after that that the late Mustapha John of Lasso Wharf asked us to form a new band called Magadaan. After some years, we had another Band called Mossem.”

Alhagie Kebbeh, the manager of Mossem Band, says the band was formed with some Senegalese musicians but it is one hundred per cent Gambians. “We brought back Ebou Touray, Charles Campbell, Petit Njie, Leon Prom, Moussa Nying, Bamba Lie, and produced a cassette named after the U 17, two other singles and a song called Isatou,” he says.

Lie Ngum, a veteran musician and Boy Njie’s elder brother, says: “Boy Njie was 59 years old and had four children. He was devoted and committed to Salsa music; he had aspirations and was very hardworking for the progress and advancement of music in The Gambia. On behalf of the family, we share the support and condolences extended by Gambians and friends abroad. We will miss him profoundly.”

Bai Janha, a famous Guitarist, says, “Boy Njie was a star, a very good entertainer who was devoted, honest, jovial.    

He struggled very hard in his musical career. He will be missed by all. We are the old boys; he was one of the veterans around us. May his soul rest in peace. We have played music on many occasions. Boy Njie was our ambassador in Salsa music. I got to know more about him when we played a clip for GRTS. He was a pious man and a gentleman.”

Cara Jagne describes him thus: “Boy Njie was a friend of mine of more than 25 years. I knew him through Ambassador Bammy Jagne. He was my elder, and was a renowned contributor to the development of music in The Gambia.

Oussou Njie Senor remembers as “a fine artiste. His group ‘Bag of Fame’ contributed a lot to Gambian music.”