Fun is what counts for Gambia’s dancehall star ENC
Bob Marley famously sang “every little thing is gonna be alright” on his classic hit Three Little Birds.
It’s a message Gambian dancehall star ENC has taken to heart, having been saturated by the omnipresent influence of the Jamaican legend as a child.
“Gambia loves reggae music. Growing up, I used to think Bob Marley was a Gambian,” he confides to This Is Africa, adding that Marley’s image and music was everywhere in a country often nicknamed Little Jamaica.
“A lot of people come from huge abject poverty. I don’t want to remind people about their sad moments,” the 33-year-old adds when discussing his own music.Quote Message: I want people to come to my dance, or listen to my music, and go home with: ‘Yeah, I had fun this day.’”
I want people to come to my dance, or listen to my music, and go home with: ‘Yeah, I had fun this day.’”
ENC has been part of the Gambian scene for well over a decade.
He has taken on many different roles in that time, from talent show contestant, to radio DJ, to label boss and mentor for a new breed of talent that is taking the old reggae and dancehall influences and turning them into something fresh.Quote Message: We’re taking ownership of all that lately: the afro-reggae, the afro-dancehall, the afro-trap, afro in everything that we’ve been doing. [We] embrace our local languages and incorporate our local instruments in some of the songs.”
We’re taking ownership of all that lately: the afro-reggae, the afro-dancehall, the afro-trap, afro in everything that we’ve been doing. [We] embrace our local languages and incorporate our local instruments in some of the songs.”
As one of Africa’s smallest countries, the success of musicians in The Gambia can be limited by the simple mathematics of population size.
But thanks to the internet and social media, there is now a wider audience beyond its borders.
“People from Germany, Italy, they are sending me messages like, ‘Hey, we love this afro sound’, and that’s a whole different level of appreciation.”
And in the same way that Marley conquered The Gambia, ENC sees his current success as part of a wider African takeover.Quote Message: Everything started from Africa; it just took time for Africans to realise this energy in them. Now I can stand and beat my chest and say I’m proud of African music.
Everything started from Africa; it just took time for Africans to realise this energy in them. Now I can stand and beat my chest and say I’m proud of African music.Quote Message: It’s conquering the globe.”
It’s conquering the globe.”
For ENC, it appears everything really is gonna be alright.
bbc
