Maryama Cham, rising star in Gambia: Singer's sharp songwriting and striking voice has won over fans
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00:00 At just 20 years old, Mariama Cham is a rising star of the Gambian music scene.
00:11 Her distinctive blend of traditional, reggae and rap influences has earned her critical
00:17 acclaim, but the singer says her mission is bigger than that.
00:21 I've been doing music as long as I remember.
00:26 One thing I know how to do is to sing and I decided to use my voice in a meaningful
00:32 way to impact the world and that's what music means to me.
00:37 Mariama's music engages with societal issues like female genital mutilation, human trafficking
00:43 and climate change.
00:49 Outside the studio too, Mariama is an activist.
00:53 She set up this youth group in her neighbourhood and mentors dozens of young children and teenagers.
00:59 They are the future of tomorrow and that they need to know.
01:04 They need to know how important they are in the community, they need to know how important
01:08 they are in the society, they need to know how important they are in the world.
01:17 In packed venues across the Gambia and beyond, Mariama's sharp songwriting and striking
01:22 voice have won over fans.
01:25 She's someone that really knows the craft, she has learned a lot along the line and she's
01:31 definitely someone to look out for, especially from the smiley coast of West Africa.
01:36 She's young, she's cool, but she's still deeply, deeply rooted in the oldest, oldest tradition
01:44 that you can come across.
01:46 Mariama will soon record her first complete studio album and, if her followers are to
01:51 be believed, is destined for greatness.
01:54 [singing]