Musa Ngum

Musa Ngum (or Musa Afia Ngum, also spelled as "Moussa Ngom"; born 1953[2] in Fatoto, Kantora District in the Upper River Division, The Gambia; died 11 October 2015 at the Dantec Hospital (Fr.: Hôpital Aristide Le Dantec), Dakar, Senegal[2]) was a singer and songwriter who was very popular in Senegal and Gambia. He was one of the pioneers of mbalax music, and "helped to define the mbalax style of popular music in the Senegambia" and "had a strong influence on Youssou N'Dour and other mbalax pioneers".[3] He was "something of a cult icon back in the Senegambia region, and a pioneer of the mbalax fusion style".[4] The mbalax, which originated from the Serer religious and ultra–conservative njuup music tradition sang during Ndut rites by circumcised boys (also referred to as “Kassak” songs) was the foundation of Ngum's music career. He mastered many of the njuup classics and built a name for himself whilst at the same time developing his voice.[5]

Musa Ngum
Also known as	Moussa Ngom Musa Afia Ngum Akasa[1]
Born	1953
Origin	Fatoto, The Gambia
Died	11 October 2015
Genres	Mbalax Njuup
Occupation(s)	Singer Composer
Years active	Late 1960s–2015
Associated acts	Omar Pene Maiga Lamin Faye Super Diamono

One of the reasons Youssou N'Dour considered him to be a major inspiration was because of his lyrics in "noble" Wolof as opposed to "street" Wolof.[6]

Early life

Ngum was born in the village of Fatoto, Gambia, in 1953[2] to Pa Antouman Ngum and Ya Ramou Nyang (full name Ramatoulaye Nyang) of Banjul.[1] Through his mother Ramatoulaye Nyang, Musa Ngum is cousin to the Gambian statesman and historian Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof. His surname Ngum also spelled as Ngom is a typical Serer surname within the Senegambia region.[7] In a special interview with Raaki TV, Ngum stated that he is of Serer origin, and went on to state that "Wolof is not a tribe, but a language".[8]

Career

As a youth, Ngum started his music training in ndut classical teachings, singing ultra-traditional njuup songs also known as kassack songs. He mastered many of the njuup classics and built a name for himself whilst at the same time developing his vocal range.[5]

He was the lead singer of Guelewar,[6][9] as well as one of the lead singers of Super Diamono during the 1980s.[5] He was also a solo artist, sometimes under his own name, and sometimes under the name "Moussa Ngom et l'Ensemble Lyrique Traditionnel du Senegal".[10]

As a Pan-Africanist, Musa Ngum also actively worked to strengthen relations between Senegal and Gambia.[11][2]

Personal life

Ngum married Sohna Jobe in the 1970s and together they have nine children, two girls and seven boys.[1] One of Ngum's children is the award-winning singer and songwriter Yusupha Ngum.[12][13] His older cousin is the veteran musician and "legend" —Lie Ngum (commonly known by his artistic name Abdel Kabirr)[14]), who was one of the original members of the Gelewarr Band, and owner of the Taranga Beach Resort in the Gambia.[1][15]

Death

On October 10, 2015, Ngum played a live concert in Dakar at club Just For You. The show was organized to mark his 40th anniversary in the entertainment industry. He performed alongside his son Yusupha Ngum and old friend and colleague Omar Pene. Few hours after the show, he fell sick and was rushed to the Dantec Hospital in Dakar. In the early hours of Sunday, October 11, 2015, Ngum was reported dead. Ngum was buried in Touba on "Monday, October 12, 2015 in the presence of thousands of mourners from both The Gambia and Senegal including his family, friends, fans, musicians and religious personalities and government officials."[1][2] Youssou N'Dour and Omar Pene were among those who attended.

Legacy

Ngum's style of music is rooted in the ultra-traditional Senegambian music traditions that recalls the great empires, kingdoms, kings, queens and heroes of precolonial Senegambia. His lyrics are filled with goodwill messages and wisdom designed to educate his listeners of their history and culture, and the virtues of a good citizen. His Pan-African believes are evident in his songs. He was one of the most famous Baifall (fr) of his generation. He was a revolutionary Baifall and an ambassador to the Baifall sect.[2][5]

For decades, Ngum championed for a more united Senegambia (Senegal and Gambia)–under one president. He believed that, a united Senegambia would make a United States of Africa possible, because Senegalese and Gambians are the same people, speak the same languages, and share the same history and culture. Geographically, the Gambia is inside Senegal, surrounded by Senegal on all three sides. Historically, the people lived in kingdoms and empires, and the creation and separation of the two states was only a result of European colonization. For decades, Ngum created his own style of fashion where he wore unmatching shoes. He used to call one of the pair "Senegal" and the other "Gambia". For many years, that became his trademark and symbolized his belief in the unification of the two States under one president and for a possible United Africa. On one of his last intervivws with the Senegalese television network TFM–recorded some hours before his death, the topic of his unmatching shoes were brought up again by the TV anchor. Ngum told the interviewer that he would not stop wearing none-matching shoes until and unless there is one Senegambia led by one president. He said that his dream was to see Senegal and Gambia united under one president.[16]

In the Senegambia region, Ngum is regarded as a musical hero.[1][5]

Partial Discography

With Guelewar

• 1979 Sama Yaye Demna N'Darr
• 1980 Tasito
• 1981 Warteef Jigeen
• 1982 Dieuf Dieul Khadin Rassoul
• 198? Xaley Ndakarou Vol. 2
• 2011 Halleli N'Dakarou
• 2012 Touki Ba Banjul: Acid Trip from Banjul to Dakar

With Super Diamono

• 1983 Volume: Pastêf
• 1986 Borom Daarou
• 1987 People

Solo

• 1990 Banjul (under the name "Moussa Ngom et l'Ensemble Lyrique Traditionnel du Senegal")
• 1995 Circulation Lampe Fall (under the name "Moussa Ngom et l'Ensemble Lyrique Traditionnel du Senegal")
• 1995 (Goudi Ndakarou) En live au Sahel, Vol. 1 (live album)
• 1996 Gal Gui
• 1998 Alahou
• 1999 Artist
• 2003 (Goudi Ndakarou) En live au Sahel, Vol. 2 (live album)
• 2006 Bajen Yandeh (Ngom)

Awards

• National Order of the Lion, (Senegal)[1][17]

See also

• Guelowar
• Music of the Gambia
• Music of Senegal
• Music of Africa

References

1. Foroyaa, (TRIBUTE): Gambian Legendary Musician Musa Afia Ngum (October 20, 2015), by Mamour Mbenga,
2. "Remembering a fallen Legend Musa Ngum", The Voice Gambia, October 18, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
3. Janet Sturman (ed.), The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Music and Culture, SAGE Publications, 2019, p. 976.
4. "Circulation Lampe Fall", Rate Your Music. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
5. "Gambia’s superstar musician Musa Ngum dies", The Point (the Gambia), October 12, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
6. "Guelewar Band of Banjul (The Gambia)", Frank Bessem's Musiques d'Afrique. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
7. Mwakikagile, Godfrey, Ethnic Diversity and Integration in The Gambia: The Land, the People and the Culture, Continental Press 2010, ISBN 9789987932221, p. 227,
8. Musa Afia Ngum Interview On Raaki TV, uploaded on Buharry Gassama's (founder of Raaki Media) official YouTube Channel (October 15, 2015). (retrieved February 13, 2020)
9. "Décès du musicien Moussa Ngom", BBC, October 11, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
10. "Discography of Super Diamono", African Music Home Page (website). Retrieved December 16, 2019.
11. "Vive émotion au Sénégal et en Gambie après la mort du chanteur Moussa Ngom", Afrik.com, October 12, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
12. "Musa Ngum tribute concert held", The Point (the Gambia), October 21, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
13. "Musa Afia Ngum Is Gone But...", Kaira News, October 21, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
14. The Daily Observer, Interview of "Lie Ngum (abdel Kabirr)", by Omar Bah [in] AllAfrica.com (May 21, 2005) (retrieved February 13, 2020)
15. The Point (the Gambia), Veteran musician Lie Ngum comments on Gambian music, Friday, April 8, 2016
16. Freedom Newspaper, Veteran Gambian Musician Musa Ngum Dies! by Pa Nderry M'Bai (October 11, 2015) (retrieved February 13, 2020)
17. Observer Co., 2001, Gambian diary: July 1994-October 2001, p. 129

External links

• Vidéo mort de Moussa Ngom témoignages de Youssou Ndour, uploaded on TFM's official YouTube Channel (Tribute by Youssou N'Dour to Musa Ngum), uploaded on Oct 13, 2015