As part of their promotional drive, a renowned Gambian musical outfit, King Kora All Africa Band is planning to embark on a debut musical tour of the United Kingdom.

The 14-member ensemble is expected to leave these shores for the UK in early June this year. They are being invited to participate in a grand musical festival by an internationally -acclaimed organization, Music Worldwide. During their stay in the UK, the band is billed to stage a number of performances in various clubs in the UK and other parts of Europe.

The King Kora All Africa Band was formed in 2005 through the instrumentality of a Gambian cultural icon and musical ambassador Momodou Lamin Jobateh alias King Kora. The band comprises of talented and ambitious youths who have deep root in traditional music; in other words they are all griots. Occasionally the band plays in hotels and other high profile social gatherings such as naming and wedding ceremonies. The group specializes in both traditional and modern musical genres.

In an interview with this paper, Muhammed Jobateh, the bandleader said that the group was initiated two years ago with the ultimate aim of reviving and rejuvenating the rich African traditional heritage. "Our band is one of the most popular bands in the Gambia and our dream is to raise the Gambia’s flag high in the world music chart."

Talking about the tour, he said: "This two-week musical tour will indeed widened our horizon in the music business and we are poised to entertain to the maximum all our fans in the UK," he added.