By Yunus S Saliu
Director General of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Hassoum Ceesay, has conveyed the centre’s condolences and deep regret over the death of Mr Lie Ngum to his family.
Lie Ngum also known as Abdel Kabirr, was a pioneer and top Gambian musician who died on 30th December 2022 and a good friend of the NCAC.
Hassoum Ceesay noted that the late Lie Ngum Abdel Kabirr was a founding member of the Gambia Music Union and a pioneer Gambian recording artist who had clocked over 50 years of experience in the music industry.
The late Ngum, DG Ceesay stated that he started his career in the great Gambia Musical Band such as Ifanbondi, Gelewar, Magadan Bands before becoming a solo artist in the early 1980s when he recorded his famous album called Motherland Dearest.
He added that Lie Ngum was a mentor to many Gambian musicians and was always accessible, ready, and willing to support the NCAC with ideas for the growth and development of Gambia music. “He was indeed our friend that always visited the centre even a few weeks before he died he was at the NCAC trying to encourage and give words of wisdom,” he disclosed.
More so, he said Mr. Ngum was an entrepreneur, he operated a very famous and strategic entertainment center called Teranga Beach along the Senegambia Coastline and there he hosted many musical programs and also provided a venue for Gambian artists.
DG Ceesay described Lie Ngum as an intellectual, a great musician, a lover of the arts an entrepreneur who has worked well toward the development of the creative industry particularly music in the Gambia.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the NCAC, and entire Gambia artists we pay condolence to the family of the late artist, Lie Ngum, and friends and prayed that may his soul rest in peace,” DG Ceesay prayed for the demised Ngum.