By Sainabou Sambou
The Gambia has many different schools now but a special school for music is a rarity. Mariama Cham, a young Gambian female artist has gone against the odds to set up a music school, where she teaches vocals and mentors kids. Mariama is not just a music teacher but also owner of a musical band called “Bideew”, a wollof word for star, for which she is the lead vocalist. She mostly sings about issues affecting people, especially women and children.
Explaining how she began her music career, the young artist said she was born to a mother who has a very beautiful voice and was inspired by her. She said when she started practicing singing her father did not want her to do music but her brother Barhama Cham supported her and sent her to music school.
“I attended a music school called Mandimori School of Arts. The school lasted for few years in The Gambia. It was the first music school to be set up and it gave chance to people who were interested in doing music to have the theoretical and practical knowledge of music. It lasted for two batches. I was the only female in my class and the youngest - I was 12 years by then. I learnt music theory from a very good knowledgeable teacher. After the theory I did some practical. I learnt about key boards and how to play piano. After that I attended a music academy,” she explained.
Speaking about the musical band, Mariama said she could not continue with the people with whom she started the Bideew band after finding out “that our energy was not the same”. She went on: “I took the opportunity to help people and started taking music classes but the school is not yet structured,” she said. The young vocalist said she has passion for mobilising young people and sharing knowledge and experience.
Mariama advised that to teach music one has to have patience; especially with kids. She said she uses humour and patience to change perception of unwilling students and that she is happy when her students sing effortlessly.
“Music has only one language. I teach my students to become very good singers in the future”.
Mariama said she drew inspiration from a lot of musicians, among whom are Sona Jorbateh, and Kumba Gawlo.
