Jaalolu Is Proud To Present Our Official Playlists
Jaalolu is proud to present our official playlists highlighting the best of our roster of independent African artists. “Jaalolu Presents” is a collection of artist-specific playlists, showcasing the range and talent of artists such as our versatile new-school vocalists such as Hussain Dada and Mariam Jobe, as well as the best of traditional music by legends such as Tatadindin Jobarteh and Jaliba Kuyateh.
Our “The Best of Jaalolu” playlist includes the most popular songs by our artists; you can find tracks such as “IGBO PIANO” by Nigerian-born, Gambian-based artist and producer Endi, who fuses sounds from all over the continent. This track is highly influenced by traditional Igbo music from communities based in Southeastern Nigeria, as well as Amapiano, a South African genre of House music, just like ‘Big Drip’ by our artist Hussain Dada.
While now commonly associated with Amapiano, the characteristic log drum, an expressive percussion instrument consisting of hollow wood or bamboo, actually originally comes from West African regions such as The Gambia. It was traditionally used to communicate across long distances, often in valleys or along rivers, where the sound could travel with ease. It was then adopted into South African Amapiano and now artists across West Africa from Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana and more are using Amapiano-style instrumentals with their own twist. The log drum is a perfect example of musical exchange between different African regions.
Our series of tailor-made genre-specific playlists – “Jaalolu Curates” – are a vital introduction to the diversity of Gambian music. “Kora Music with Jaalolu” highlights our truly unique roster of Gambian Kora artists. The Kora, often also known as the “African Harp“, is a West African string instrument known for its dreamy polyrhythmic melody patterns and elaborate improvisations by highly skilled players. The instrument was first discovered in The Gambia and has cultural ties to historians and storytellers, becoming an important facet of oral storytelling.
The late Tatadindin Jobarteh is one of the most important Kora players of all time, whose music we can access on streaming platforms thanks to Jaalolu. He began learning the Kora at only 5 years old and my personal favourites of his you can find on the playlist include ‘Jamba Fatty’ and ‘Kano’ interlaced with dreamy harmonies and melodies in conversation with another and, of course, Tatadindin’s cascading vocals that flow like water.
Jaliba Kuyateh, a member of the respected Kuyateh Griot family, has become the “King of Kora”, blending traditional kora sounds with modern popular music. Spellbinding tracks like ‘Itele Tamunti’ and ‘Ousman Sawaneh’ can be found on our playlist, showcasing his unique genre hybridity. Papa J Jammeh is also a key example of an oral storyteller who weaves music and story into one, creating vivid, immersive soundscapes intertwined with speech, melody and ambient sounds. In our Kora music playlist, you can find his tracks like ‘Gratitude’ and ‘Miniamba’; the playlist is the perfect soundtrack for a relaxed, regenerative morning.
“Gambian Rap with Jaalolu”, on the other hand, highlights the best of high energy rap from the region from artists Chroniko, Hussain Dada, Popular (Mr Zoom Zoom) and Coke Bwoy. Listen to rap subgenres like Drill in songs like ‘Luwoooo’ by Chroniko, ‘Sanji Jelu’ by Hussain Dada and ‘I Am Blessed’ by Mr Zoom Zoom. Conscious Rap with strong political messaging can also be heard in tracks like ‘Louder,’ where Dada sends an empowered message to the youth. This lively, flow-heavy playlist is perfect for the days you need passion and energy to keep going!
Finally, the soulful and joyful tracks of our “Gambian Afrobeats with Jaalolu” feature the three aforementioned rap artists showing their genre versatility alongside the talented vocalists Jally Naya, Endi and Maryama Cham. This playlist is perfect for dancing with a smile on your face; Afrobeats has brought joyful movement to people across the planet, especially in the last few years, and Gambian Afrobeats is no exception. Furthermore, “Presenting The Bunkas” is the perfect playlist for the diaspora, laced with tracks from love songs to simply reminiscing about the olden days.
It is clear that African music is much more than entertainment. It is a medium of storytelling, connection, communication, celebration and socio-political commentary. Maryama Cham and Mariam Jobe, for example, are some of our most captivating artists actively speaking out and campaigning against FGM and gender-based violence, blending art with social purpose. Take a listen to “Presenting: Mariam Jobe”; her music is a testament to her Griot heritage, weaving stories of love, friendship, and social commentary into infectious soul-stirring melodies.
Here at Jaalolu, we are proud to bring more African music by independent artists changing the face of music to your streaming platforms
During her time working with Jaalolu, she has curated and managed 18+ artist and genre-specific playlists, as well as designing visual assets (social media content, playlist covers), including album and single release promotional material. She has enjoyed the opportunity to champion African artists and learn more about the diversity of modern and traditional Gambian music during her time at Jaalolu.
She is a First-Class Graduate with a BA in Modern and Medieval Languages (Spanish, German and Portuguese) from the University of Cambridge. She uses the multilingual skills acquired throughout her degree, as well her experience studying Music Production and Sound Design during her Year Abroad in Medellin, Colombia, to connect with music and artists across borders.
