Ebrima Darboe, alias Frings a music analyst has called on Gambian authorities to dissolve the Gambia Association of Music Producers Promoters and Presenters (GAMPPP) because it is a joke.
“GAMPPP is a joke. It is about time we dissolve it and allow the different entities to stand on their own as affiliates or allied associations to the Union. That will help us restructure and establish the dream #Gambia Music Federation with a functional secretariat,” he said on his Facebook Wall recently.
He added: “Free up my musicians. Be honest to yourselves. Change starts with oneself. No more laziness and selfishness. The journey begins now”
He explained that: “I have had and seen a lot about the state of Gambian music for the past years. Yes there are a few things we can celebrate and brag about but generally our music is not where it should be.
That’s the hard fact. The bigger question we should be asking is (what have we done for our music?) not what others did to invade us. Why are we complaining about too much foreign music In our country when are not ready to take up the challenge of bettering our own?”
He pointed out that “Music is not just for fun. It is a business and the music industry should be seen as an enterprise that has the capabilities of contributing significantly to our Gross Domestic Products and employment creating. The youth unemployment rate is getting higher and higher while we are sleeping dipper and dipper”
He lamented that: “Sadly, anyone who drops a single sees him or herself as the best and any dropout who feels there are less opportunities in life chooses music as a career. You have to learn and understand music before you grab the mic my friend.
Tell me one accountant or banker who has no qualification in accounting or banking in the real world. Do not think that you can excel in music without understanding the dynamics. If you do so, then you are fooling yourself”
Having a laptop, software, and speakers does not make you a producer or deejay. Well. Remember it is not what you do but how you do it. Having a chicken change does not make you a promoter or an event organiser either. It requires knowhow and real investment.
For our government shall continue to slumber and blooper if it continues to neglect the entertainment sector. We need that political will to salvage our so called industry. Better policies, effective implementation and enforcement of the copyright law, and discouraging our public institutions to invest public monies in foreign artist in the name of fund raising.
We have no choice for now considering the status quo but by 2020.
“We will jealously protect and promote our music. No foreign artist performance in our country between 2020 and 2025. No more wack or under produce songs. No more bullying and hypocrisy. Only truthfulness and righteousness”.
“For our musicians, your strength is the Music Union. Organise yourselves and lobby as a group. “No one is an island and no man stands alone”. If you think you can make it as a “one man soldier” then you need to rethink and accept the realities,”
“Unity is strength and together we can move a mountain. Register with the Union and empowerment yourselves. The leadership is not the Union. It is the artist instead. Unfortunately our Uncle Jaliba Kuyateh is not living up to expectations as our Union President”
Author: Bakary Ceesay
