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Breaking News:Is President Jammeh Upset With Jaliba Kuyateh?
Breaking News:Is President Jammeh Upset With Jaliba Kuyateh?

       Foreign Ministry Official Sources Quoted Minister Kabo Bajo Of Having Told Jaliba That Jammeh Was Very, Very Upset and Mad With Him!

        Jaliba Denies Knowledge Of Having Any Beef With Jammeh-As He is Currently In The UK

Freedom Newspaper Senior International Correspondent Investigates The Story And Now Reports.....

             By Our Senior International Correspondent

Following his US musical tour, Gambia's Koro star Jaliba Kuyateh is reported to have been contemplating not to return to the Gambia at this hour, as sources hinted that Kuyateh was told by Gambia's Foreign Affairs Minister Lamin Kaba Bajo that the President was very upset about his absence in the country during the election period. Jaliba who was hosted in Seattle during his stay was said to have telephoned the minister to ascertain reports that he was likely to be persecuted if he returns to the country, as President Jammeh repeatedly lamented about Jaliba's failure to grace his third term Presidential campaign. Our source hinted that Jaliba was also in contact with the brother of the Foreign Affairs minister based in the US before calling Lamin Kaba Bajo on the said subject. Jailba Kuyateh who is currently in the UK with his wife was also reportedly blamed in some APRC quarters for not witnessing the just concluded African Union Summit, which we also gathered do not go down well with the Gambian leader. But sources quoted Jaliba as saying that he composed a song marking the AU Summit prior to his departure from Banjul. Jaliba Kuyateh over the years had been a strong fan of the APRC with his famous song called "Jammeh Jilanka." The Kora star is reported to have been isolated by the government following one of his releases in which he mentioned that the world is three days while paying tribute to the former deposed Gambian President Jawara. The said song which also featured incumbent President Jammeh according to sources also angered Jammeh as he repeatedly complained about it.

Jaliba Kuyateh Lamin Kaba Bajo With the Iranian Foreign Minister

According to sources Lamin Kaba Bajo was severing when he spoke to Jaliba on the phone, while emphasizing that the President was very mad with Jaliba Kuyateh. A source who witnessed the said conversation told the Freedom Newspaper that Kaba told the kora star that he ought to have stayed in the country until the elections were concluded and not leave at a time when he was most needed by the state. Both Kaba Bajo and Jaliba reside in Brikama. Jaliba was born and raised in Niamina Dankunku.

Contacted by our senior international correspondent at his UK's host house, the kora star ran into laughter, while denying knowledge about the President's anger harbored against him."I'm not aware of having problem with the President." he said while declining to volunteer further comments on other issues surrounding his absence in the country. While Jaliba is denying the story, this reporter thought it imperative to publish Jaliba's short rebuttal. The story is not invented. It was passed to us by people who dine and do things with Jaliba Kuyateh. We don't think that Jaliba's own people will lie against him. If he chooses to remain mute at this hour, then so be it. But the piece was given to us by a reliable source. Jaliba cannot deny that he was not contacted by our reporter for comments.

For the first time that Jaliba Kuyateh, was away from the country during election time. Sources also hinted that the Jammeh government off late had not been giving contracts to the country's leading kora star. This to some extent continued our sources seems to have frustrated the kora king. His absence in the country at this hour is raising eyebrows among the rank and file of the ruling APRC. The musician was being used by the regime to win votes in opposition strongholds across the West African country with his melodious voice. Attempts to seek comments from Lamin Kaba Bajo during the weekend proved futile, but our source confirmed that Kaba was indeed in touch with Jaliba despite Jaliba's denial of the story. As the situation appears, there is no indication that Jaliba Kuyateh will return to the Gambia in the short term. Sources hinted that the musician was yet to make up his mind even though his UK visist schedule programs were completed. Jaliba is often invited in Gambian naming ceremonies in the UK these days to provide entertainment. Jaliba Kuyateh was Baba Jobe's close friend. The jailing of Jobe and Abdoulie Kujabi must have come as a big shock to him as his best sold album featured Jobe, Kujabi, Yankuba Touray and President Jammeh himself. Most of the said people featured in the said popular album were either jailed or sacked at some point except President Jammeh who is still directing the country's affairs. Jammeh's day will soon come.

The editor can be reached at the following email addresses: editor@freedomnewspaper.com or panderry_mbai@yahoo.com If you know that it is happening or is about to happen, please contact us. The Freedom Newspaper is your leading and most authoritative Newspaper. We have the required professionals to serve you round the clock. At Freedom, we mean business.

Posted on Monday, September 18, 2006 (Archive on Friday, September 29, 2006)
Posted by PNMBAI Contributed by PNMBAI

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