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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Oct 2015 : 13:37:14
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Gambia’s superstar musician Musa Ngum dies
By Njie Baldeh
Monday, October 12, 2015
 What was being rumoured for the past few months has now become a reality. The Gambia’s Gold-Ngalam Ndongo and Africa’s Music Superstar Musa Ngum has died.
The popular Musa Ngum, 62, died on Sunday morning at Dakar’s hospital Le Dentec and was buried the same day in Touba, Senegal.
His last performance was on Saturday night at Just 4 You Restaurant in Dakar, opposite University of Cheikh Anta Diop social campus.
Musa Ngum, known for his enthralling music gestures, a few months ago spoke to The Point shortly before leaving Gambian soil for a musical trip to the United Kingdom.
Born in Fatoto, in the Kantora District of the Upper River Region in The Gambia, Musa Afia Ngum became interested in music at a very early age.
Because his father was a trader who had to travel often, he was taken care of by a caretaker who was fond of playing a one-stringed guitar instrument.
The caretaker used to play this instrument for Musa until he fell asleep, and Musa was reported even in his early years to have refused to go to bed unless and until the “mola” was played, which he deemed quite mystic.
Musa Ngum, in his youth became interested in “Kassak” songs, which are sung during circumcision ceremonies and periods.
He became well known in “Kassak” circles because of his mastery of the songs and his melodious voice, and in the event built quite a name for himself whilst developing his vocal abilities.
Shortly before his trip to the UK, Musa released another new album, which is expected to hit the market soon.
Musa played together at Gelewarr with the late Oussou Lion Njie, the late Njok Malick Njie, the late Adama Sallah, Musa Njie, Koto Ngum and others.
During his Gelewarr days, Musa Ngum recorded songs such as “Tesito”, “Bala Jigi Musa”, “Xaleli Ndakaru” and many more which gained cult status and made him a legend in the Senegambia region.
A music hero, Musa’s songs were mostly about the ancient kingdoms of the Senegambia region in both landscape and cultural unity.
Musa left The Gambia in 1981 and moved to Senegal. He was assiduously courted by Super Diamono, one of the then premier Senegalese bands and he finally joined the group in 1985.
He teamed up with Omar Pene, Maiga, Lamin Faye (Lemso)-the legendary Senegalese guitarist and they released “Borom Daaru” and “Partef” which became Senegambian classics.
One of the biggest hits during Musa Ngum’s stint at Super Diamono is the combination song he did with Omar Pene which is popularly known as “Omaro, Bamba sa mam la”.
The purity of his adulthood after jumping the hurdle of manhood was absolute cultural awareness and consciousness.
Musa sang songs of community belonging and values. His spiritual emblem in child upbringing and adulthood responsibility made him to write the song “Jarama”, meaning adornment, a classic Kassack song (a Njulie Song) from the Mbarr (House of Takans/Wisdom) and the second home of the ‘Ndongos’.
This Mbarr is a manhood training centre where all ‘Ndongos’ are brought up.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 16 Oct 2015 : 12:00:36
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Legendary Musa Ngum passes away
By Mamour M Mbenga
Foroyaa: Published on ctober 14, 2015
 Musa Afia Ngum alias Akasa a Gambian singer passed away on Sunday 11 October 2015 in Dakar Senegal. He will be laid to rest today on Monday 12 October at holy city of Touba.
Musa was born in 1953 in Fatoto, Kantora District in The Gambia. He became interested in music at a very young age. Because his father was a trader who had to travel often, he was taken care of by a caretaker who was fond of playing a one-stringed guitar instrument. The caretaker used to play this instrument for Musa until he fell asleep. Musa, even in his early years refused to go to bed unless and until the “mola” was played which, looking back, he deems quite mystic.
His very last interview with TFM was aired on Friday and he performed at a show in Dakar on Saturday but died on Sunday morning after a brief illness!
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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sab
United Kingdom
912 Posts |
Posted - 16 Oct 2015 : 18:56:58
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Sad and sudden loss - May he Rest in Peace. |
The world would be a poorer place if it was peopled by children whose parents risked nothing in the cause of social justice, for fear of personal loss. (Joe Slovo - African revolutionary) |
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Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 19 Oct 2015 : 21:36:54
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THE LEGACY OF MUSA NGUM – A REAL SENEGAMBIAN BE YOURSELF AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
Foroyaa: Published on October 17, 2015
Musa Ngum was born in the Gambia but died and was buried in Touba, Senegal. He was not a praise singer trying to raise millions from patrons. He was a teacher who gave lessons through his music. He fought Afro pessimism by indicating that no race or nationality had monopoly over knowledge. He narrated many inventions which originated from the African continent and called on African youths to be themselves and to believe in themselves.
Musa refused to be conventional in his way of life. His style of dressing attracted comments at sight. However, it does not take long to discover in a conversation that appearance is not a fair basis to judge the value of a human being.
Musa never allowed those who perform with him to go untendered. One could remember an incident when Musa performed at a festival and shared the money among his team and was left with little for himself.
He therefore did not accumulate much wealth and did not have rich patrons to finance him. He lived a life of dignity and humility and will forever be remembered as the musician who called on youths to live for a purpose in life and have an identity of their own. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Gambia’s superstar musician Musa Ngum dies
