For the first in the history of Senegambia’s showbiz, Sound City, a music promotion company in The Gambia, has concluded arrangements to stage a grand acoustic gala dinner on 24 November 2007 at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Senegambia, to support President Yahya Jammeh’s HIV/AIDS Trust Fund.  The unprecedented mega folklore musical concert will feature highly-acclaimed Senegambian musicians such as Thione Balago Seck, Baba Maal, Yandeh Kodou Saine, Samba Jebereh Samba, and Ma Awa Kuyateh. The Gambia’s Kora maestro Jaliba Kuyateh, Musa Ngum, Kabakel, Batiyai, Jali Saihou Sabo, Jali Mamoudou Suso, Saffie Mbenga, Group Soningkara, Group Chorumbai, and Medina Sabach, also form part of the list of artists, who will perform live on the night to be coordinated by DJ Little Sisqo from Norway.

Dr Alhaji Yahya A.lJ Jammeh, President of the Republic of The Gambia, is the Chief Guest of Honour and the Vice President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs, is the Chief Patroness. Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of State for Communications and Information technology, and Dr Tamsir Mbowe, Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare, are the guest speakers.

 According to the organisers, the fund raising gig is being organized to support President Jammeh’s HIV/AIDS Trust Fund and other treatment programmes, including the asthma, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Mabou Touray, Proprietor of Sound City, said this initiative was inspired by President Jammeh’s ‘Breakthrough’ in finding a therapy for one of the world deadliest diseases, HIV/AIDS. He said the President’s commitment and compassion to restore the health of Gambians and other Africans suffering from HIV/AIDS is indeed laudable, thus worthy to be associated with. “We believe that all hands should be on deck to support him in these processes,” Mr Touray said.

The Sound City boss said the cultural showbiz, themed: Goudi Ndanaan (night of superstars), win serve as a unique opportunity for the revivification of Senegambia folklore music, which is at the brink of extinction. “The erosion of such a class of music in Senegambian showbiz places our cultural heritage at a disadvantage,” he said. Mr Touray thanked the Technical Support Taskforce of Dr Alhaji Yahya Jammeh’s IDV I AIDS Trust Fund, under the leadership of Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of Sate for Communications and Information Technology, for giving them the approval to stage the event in The Gambia. He therefore, called on all Gambians and non-Gambians to support the event.

Baboucarr Jatta, Co-organiser of the event, said the programme could not have come at a better time than now, when the people of Senegambia are more than eager to see their own artists playing typical Senegambian folklore. However, he entreated government departments, parastals, private sector institutions, NGOs, businessmen and women, and well-meaning Gambians and non-Gambians alike to spare no effort in making this all-important event successful. “We welcome sponsors to come on board to make the event a great success,” he said.