Demba Conta – A Tribute

Growing up in The Gambia of the late 80s and early 90s, the world of music did not extend much beyond the reggae beats from the Caribbean. Back then, Radio Syd had all the great hits, and one would stay up late into the night listening to the reggae greats, from reggae culture to reggae dancehall and everything in between.

Imagine our joy and pride when we got introduced to a reggae artist with some of his lyrics sung in a familiar dialect;

The joy is indescribable. The song, from the album titled the same; United States of Africa was an instant hit in The Gambia and dominated the airwaves following its release in 1988. You can hear the pride in the voice of various radio DJs over Radio Syd when they introduced the song; “United States of Africa by Gambia’s own Demba Conta…”

True to the reggae culture of social and political advocacy, the song is one that raises political questions at a time when South Africa was still under apartheid, and it gives the listener an insight into Demba Conta’s political views. His advocacy was not borne out of some detached mindset, it was sincere and it would manifest itself more in his later years when he chose to add his voice in advocacy for The Gambia’s dwindling track record in good governance when tyranny took hold of his native country. Like the song and album title declares, and as voiced by numerous reggae artists, a united Africa was a dream they all shared.

Demba Conta reached heights in the music world of reggae that most can only dream of and yet stayed true to his roots. This connection to his roots always featured in his songs. Whether it is through traditional Mandinka songs like Yen Yen reengineered to ragamuffin beats, or songs such as one dedicated to Gambian Children. Or simply inserting native words into his song lyrics that fit perfectly alongside the dominant English lyrics, his connection to The Gambia was never lost or broken.

In his song Rule the World, he introduced listeners to some of Gambia’s diverse ethnic groups and had some of those lyrics sang in both Mandinka and Wolof bringing his Gambian compatriots along with him into the dance halls of reggae music.

Demba Conta aimed high and did not sell himself short. He collaborated with some of the greatest names in the reggae genre of music. The legendary duo Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, and Junior Marvin (guitarist from Bob Marley and the Wailers) all worked on his United Sates of Africa album.

In fact, Sly and Robbie, as they are commonly known, produced most of Demba Conta’s songs including Loverboy which featured another great reggae artist, the late Gregory Isaacs.

Sly and Robbie’s discography includes productions for some of the greatest including Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown, Jimmy Cliff, Maxi Priest, Frankie Paul, Yami Bolo, Shabba Ranks, Beenie Man and artists belonging to genres other than the reggae genre, including Madonna, Britney Spears, and Mick Jagger.

It is quite an accomplishment in music, especially the reggae genre to be associated with names like Sly and Dunbar. Demba Conta accomplished that and more.

In a tribute song to his genre of music, the lyrics go as follows:

Indeed, ragamuffin as a subgenre of reggae is widely popular across the globe and Demba Conta’s legacy and music certainly transcended his native Gambia, a tiny sliver of land tucked away in a little corner of Africa. He was bigger than that and he proved it.

Demba Conta’s legacy would live on in the memories of those he touched with his music and his timeless lyrics will endure long after him. He soared high but never detached from his roots and he made the world know who he was, where he came from and what he was all about.

Indeed, he found his way home with ease and left behind a legacy that would be hard, if not impossible to replicate.  

As we bid farewell to a legend in his own rights, we pray that his soul be granted eternal bliss, until we meet again.