Gambia’s Jaliba Kuyateh Gets US Award

DONATE TO JOLLOFNEWS

Gambia’s Jaliba Kuyateh Gets US Award

Thursday, 21 June 2012 19:13

(News Release) – The Detroit City Council in the US state of Michigan recently awarded the king of Gambian Kora Jaliba Kuyateh a Testimonial Resolution during the Detroit leg of his US tour organised by the Gambian Association of Michigan (GAM).

"It is with great pleasure," states the testimonial, "that we, the members of the Detroit City Council, recognise and bestow homage upon Jaliba

Jaliba Kuyateh recieving his award

Kuyateh, a highly respected Gambian musician."

The testimonial further states that Jaliba had developed exceptional talent as a child and by using his natural and trained skills early on, he was able to develop mastery of the Kora, a twenty-one stringed African musical tool. "He eventually gained recognition for his astounding ability to handle the instrument while delivering an equally amazing performance."

The Detroit City Council also recognises Jaliba's contribution to civil society: "Through a career that expanded decades and earned him the great honor of being named Gambia's UNICEF Ambassador for children of The Gambia, Jaliba Kuyateh has reached a level of phenomenal achievement. Now therefore be it resolved that: Jaliba be awarded this Testimonial Resolution from the Detroit City Council, office of Council member Kwame Kenyatta, in recognition of his many musical accomplishments." The City Council President Charles Pugh and the rest of the council members also signed on the award.

Jaliba Kuyateh with Adama and Yusupha Kamara

In receiving the award onstage during an interlude in his Detroit show, Jaliba said he was pleased and lost for words about the recognition. "I am surprised about this. Nobody told me this was coming." He thanked the Detroit City Council for its testimonial on his musical career and the executive committee of the Gambian Association of Michigan for facilitating the award.

"Obviously, Jaliba is our cultural ambassador and any award given in recognition of him should be celebrated," said Adama Saidy-Ndiaye, the vice president of the Gambian Association of Michigan and who presented the award to Jaliba.

Jaliba and his Kumareh band have just finished the first part of their 2012 US tour and will be returning in two weeks from the UK. Jaliba and his band spent five days in Detroit during which time they mingled with the Gambian community.

At a barbeque organized for them, on the eve of their departure, Jaliba and his band members could be seen mingling with the crowd and taking pictures.
From the Public Relations Department, Gambian Association of Michigan. www.michigambia.com
RELATED STORY:

Gambia’s Kora King To Storm London

Comments

-1 #5 2012-06-23 01:49

Congrats Jaliba...keep up the good job.

Quote

-2 #4 2012-06-22 22:43

Dr Bax
Some of you are my professors that I gain a lot from and I do fire when enemies use you as shields. You have rightly put it and he is our legend to boast of. We wish him all the best in life.

Quote

-2 #3 2012-06-22 13:12

HRH...

Don't give my bro ML any more ammunition to 'fire' at us on this side...Jaliba deserves this award....All his fans should celebrate this award because it is genuine...GRTS should give this prominence over the many awards that the "Professor" lobbies around the world...

Well done Jalibaaaaaa....Pride of our Nation....

Quote

-3 #2 2012-06-22 12:45

You know Jammeh is diminishing his fame and gratitude .
He shall prevail no matter what .
We love you Jaliba .Congratulations on a successful trip and the
Award.

Quote

+5 #1 2012-06-22 09:09

Since none of you Gambians wish to add a congratulatory comment, I will just say that the man's award is well deserved.

God Bless him and his band as they continue to delight Gambians and foreigners alike with the sweetest of music.

Quote

Refresh comments list
RSS feed for comments to this post.