President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh has accepted the request to grace the grand acoustic gala dinner at the Senegambia Beach Hotel on Saturday, November 24, according to reports from the organisers.

This unprecedented event in the history of Senegambia’s showbiz is organised by Sound City, a music promotion company in The Gambia, to support President Jammeh’s HIV/Aids Trust Fund and other treatment programmes in the country.

This mega folklore musical concert has already gained momentum with the arrival of Thione Balago Seck at the Banjul International Airport, yesterday. The show will witness live performances by other highly distinguished Senegambian musicians like 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 Saho, Jali Mamoudou Suso, Saffie Mbenga, Group Soningkara, Group Chorumbai, Jali Nyally, and Medina Sabach, are also on the list of artists.

In recognition of the president’s efforts to restore the health of the sick and the goodwill of Sound City, the Vice President and Secretary of State for Women’s Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, will also grace the event as the chief patroness.

Secretaries of state, senior government officials, heads of parastatals, diplomats, executives, members of the private sector and civil society are all bracing up for the spectacular night.

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’s deadliest diseases, HIV/AIDS. He said the President’s commitment and compassion is indeed laudable amd thus worthy to be associated with.
“We believe that all hands should be on deck to support him in this,” Mr Touray said.

The Sound City boss said the cultural showbiz themed “Goudi Ndanaan” (night of superstars), will 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 HIV/AIDS Trust Fund, under the leadership of Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of State for Communications and Information Technology, for giving them the approval to stage the event in The Gambia. He called on all Gambians and non-Gambians to support the event.

Babouncarr 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 Senegambia folklore. He said the dress code of the event will be purely African.