(Issue, Friday, 16 September 2016)
Bai
Babu, the award winning rap-mbalah artiste who has returned home from a North
America tour, said the tour was a huge success.
The
tour was organised by Prince Art via Senegalese artiste Pape Diouf in
collaboration with New African Production.
It started on 7 July until 11 August where
both recording artistes played in different venues in the US and Canada.
On
24 August 2016, DJ Lana manager Joluv Arts Entertainment told journalists that
they want to give a feedback to the Gambians on Bai Babou’s recent tour.
He
explained that Bai Babou and Pape Diouf where both contracted to play in The
Gambia, and the performance was wonders and amazing.
“After that concert, Pape invited Bai through
Joluv Arts in Senegal at a programme on TFM. Bai did a spectacular performance
there, the show was recorded and that brought the song ‘Malaw,’” he said.
According
to him, the connection came when Prince Arts had a contract with New Africa
Production in America to tour, so they contracted Bai Babou as part of the
guest artistes.
“Bai Babu represented The Gambia in the world,
as the Senegambia communities were amazed by his performance in the US,” DJ
Lana said.
Bai
Babou said before the North America tour, they toured the sub-region in Senegal
and Mauritania.
He explained that the tour was in two phases, where they played for Senegambia
community, and they were also introduced to world music circles at three festivals.
According to him, for the performance with the
Senegambia community he used to be a guest artiste, but in the festivals, he
used to represent The Gambia.
He
added that on 7 July they played in New York on 9 July; played in Alabama and
later they proceeded to Canada for a Music Heaven Festival annually held in
Montreal.
He
noted that the last festival was Agana festival in Philadelphia, and both of
them did justice to the shows and delivered as expected.
After
the show, the Mayor of Philadelphia gave him an award in appreciation of his
music
Back
home
“We
both are working with management and we have lots of plans in pipeline;
anything we decide we will put it on the table for them to decide. We are also
planning to have a show in Gambia and Senegal. Watch out for more collaboration
with Pape Diouf and Bai Babou.
