Music
Despite its small size, Gambia has rich music traditions. For a long time, most of the population has been Islamized, which is why Arab music impulses are noticeable along with African styles. Griots dominate the traditional music offering. Along with drums of various kinds and sizes, the string instruments are dominant. Kora, a 21-string harp pad, is often associated with griots and their troubadour vocals. The popular music in The Gambia exhibits a combination of African and Western styles.
- Countryaah: Population and demographics of Gambia, including population pyramid, density map, projection, data, and distribution.
In the late 1960’s, the Super Eagles group had success with music that drew inspiration from eg. Cuba and the United Kingdom, but in the 1970’s changed their name to Ifang Bondi and began to explore African tradition to a greater extent.
Perhaps the most well-known Gambian musician internationally is the choral player Foday Musa Suso (born 1950), who co-founded the innovative group Mandingo Griot Society and has worked in the United States since the mid-1970’s, where he collaborated with several prominent musicians. In parallel, the griot tradition has been managed by prominent choral players such as Dembo Konté (born 1942) and Kausu Kuyaté (born 1953). Jaliba Kuyateh (born 1957).
