Unlike Yousou Ndour of Senegal or Alpha Blonde of Ivory Coast, The Gambia’s Kora maestro Jaliba Kuyateh has always chosen the path of convenience in his music, avoiding sensitive social and political issues such as official corruption, police brutality, state-sponsored assassinations, marginalization and tribalism.
Despite the Sir Dawda Jawara administration’s apparent ineptitude in the 80s and 90s, Jaliba decided to look the other way. Instead, he concentrated on singing the praises of Jawara and his officials at the expense of the interests of Gambians.
When Sir Dawda left the stage and ascended former dictator Yahya Jammeh, The Gambia’s Kora maestro chose to change the gears and swim with Jammeh.
Despite Jammeh’s pillage of the public coffers and hunt-down of Gambians and non-citizens like wild animals, Jaliba portrayed him as a Saint through his songs dedicated to the village tyrant. The Kanilai monster enjoyed Jaliba’s endorsement throughout his 22 years of brutality and pilfering of taxpayer money. Jammeh was, however, wary of Jaliba and had succeeded in keeping him at arm’s length for a better part of his stay in office.
Jaliba has now found himself an ally in President Barrow for whom he sang an improvised song recently when the President paid him an impromptu visit at his home in Brikama.
Many had expected Jaliba to use his music and enduring fame to advocate for prudent management of public funds and assets, delivery of quality social services and national unity rather than heaping praises on a President, whose administration is perceived to be utterly corrupt, profoundly inept and dangerously polarizing.
