The new song is released ahead of the official release of her forthcoming international album.
The fast-rising and trending music sensation Mary Njie was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Gambian parents namely; Ablie Njie, who is her father and manager and Fatou Touray, mother.
Although born in the US, she once visited The Gambia, where she spent 5 years. It was during that time she attended Marina High School, where she learnt to speak local languages of Wollof and Mandinka as well as reconnect with culture.
Mary was exposed to music at a very early age, as her father was actively involved in the entertainment industry for 15 years, and is still recognized as one of the top and most respected Senegambian promoters in the Diaspora.
This trip to Africa also helped her to echo those sentiments in the beautiful lyrics of her first single titled: ‘LIFE’, which is part of her 5- song compilation of the international album also titled ‘LIFE’.
It was in 2010, when Mary returned to the United States then aged, 13, along with her sister, Susana, who also was then 10 years old at the time with strong African ethics and traditions embedded in both of them.
Although born in the US, Mary has always wanted to relate to anything Gambian and that is even demonstrated in her slogan “I’m a Gambian before anything else’. Though, her father who is her manager would always insist on calling her a ‘GAMBRICAN’.
He has worked with renowned African musicians such as Grammy award winner, Youssou Ndour, Alieu Mbye Nder, Fallou Dieng, Thione Seck, Viviane, Pape Diouf, Ndongo Lo and various other artistes most of whom were quick to have her get on stage.
Her mentor the late Thione Seck, played a crucial part in her first studio recording when he first heard her voice and asked her uncle Papis Ndiaye, band leader and keyboard player of Raam Daan backing top Senegalese sensation Wally Seck to immediately contact her father/manager, Ablie Njie, on possibilities of flying Mary from Atlanta to Dakar to sing the English version of his international album-‘Le CDEAO en Coeur’.
The late Thione was generous enough to quickly send two round trip tickets from Atlanta to Dakar for Mary and her father and the rest will forever remain in the history books.
Mary has opened concerts for Grammy award winner, Youssou Ndour and was booked to open stage for Nigerian sensation, Burna Boy as well as for the golden boy of Senagalese music, Wally Seck with her hit song titled ‘BELIEVE’, a song that motivate people to keep their eyes on the prize and persevere to reach and achieve their dreams.
She had also appeared as a guest in the then hit television series titled ‘Maitresse’ playing the role of a record producer.
Education background
Mary attended Shiloh High School in Atlanta and was a member of the chorus team which won multiple National chorus competitions. At Shiloh she gained valuable singing experience and attended teen summer camps to polish her singing skills through workshops by the renowned singer cum performer and multi Grammy winner India Arie
After graduation, she decided to work full time as a musician while at the same time attending Georgia state University majoring in political Science and Pre-Law.
Mary’s first hit titled ‘Believe ‘was written by Sierra Leonean producer, Ibrahim Touray aka Double T, which has catapulted her as an emerging artist and made her a household name within the Senegambian Diaspora.
Mary Music Entertainment –(MMC) has also recently created a Gambian Management team consisting of some of the best and seasoned Gambian press and entertainment icons to represent her brand in the Gambia.
Besides working on gaining international stardom, Mary is also working with a diverse team in different music genres including Reggae, Afro beat, Mbalax and R&B and as she aspires to create path to global recognition including grammys.
