The Project

 

Our long awaited single Ceereer ne ino mbogun (meaning "we share the same Seereer tradition" in Seereer) is finally here. It is a project that has taken a year, and the single is the precursor to the upcoming album Ino mbogu Seereer ne which comes out in 2023. The single is a collaborative effort between our production teams and twenty-four of our highly acclaimed and talented Seereer artists including Marie Ngoné Ndione, Simon Sène, Fatou Diambal Thior, Aïda Mbaye Yandé Codou, Ndeye Faye Diakhao, Ndiaga Socé, Paul Yass, Selbé Linguère, Sidy Kor Dior, and Vieux Diouf (feat. Capitaine Diop, Remi Dioh, Agnès Mayé Ndeb, Bori Guedj, Fatou Sarr Thialane, Khady Thiao, Latyr Faye Ngourané, Mahecor Guedj Diouf, Mame Seyni Tine, Marcel Diabia Ndong, Marie Gueye, Ndick Sène, Ely Bour Sine and Yandé Gning).

 

This track is sang in Seereer, and in three of the Cangin languages, namely Noon, Laalaa, and Saafi-Saafi–whose speakers are ethnically Seereer. The track invokes their shared cultural heritage and tradition despite their different languages, and references their shared ancient spirituality (A ƭat Roog), mythology, history, and culture, and also pays homage to some Seereer personalities who have passed on to the spirit world (including those living) but have contributed immensely to the preservation and promotion of Seereer culture and history. This single (and its upcoming music video) is dedicated to the late Gambian historian, author, politician, Pan-Africanist, statesman, and nationalist Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof–who was a prominent anti-colonialist during the colonial era, and the inspiration behind the founding of the SRC Group of organisations, namely the Seereer Resource Centre (SRC), Seereer Radio, Seereer Heritage Press, and Seereer Heritage (the label).

 

Our artists have poured their hearts and souls into this epic track and album, and we are sure you will enjoy both. Some of the best Senegambian instrumentalists have been brought in, including the legendary Oumar Thiam and Baboucar Ndiaye on drums, and tama master Yatma Thiam. This track has received great reviews from some Senegambian music critics and media personalities with praises like: "exceptional", "magnificent", "the first time this has been done on Senegambian soil", "Tamsier! You have done something that no one thought was doable in Senegal", etc... The music video which comes out in January 2023 will set the bar for all future music videos in the Senegambia region, as this style of music video has never been done before in this region. Our Executive Producer, Co-Producer, Co-Project Director, Co-Creative Director, and Creator Tamsier Joof has worked in the entertainment industry for decades as a dancer/choreographer, and wanted to do something spectacular on this first major Seereer project, as well as put out great music that entertains, educates, and inspires the listener, but also, a form of narrative and performance based music video that has never been seen on any Senegambian music video.

 

On 29 January 2022, Tamsier and his small team from the Seereer Resource Centre (SRC) and Seereer Radio called over sixty Seereer artists to a conference in Dakar (Senegal) to listen to their plight as to what we can do to improve the careers of Seereer artist who are greatly disenfranchised, but also, what can be done to catapult Seereer music (which is very rich) into another stratosphere. The event was sponsored by the SRC and Seereer Radio, eighth months after raising a lot of money in August 2021 to support Seereer artists financially crippled by COVID-19. His Majesty Niokhobai Diouf, King of Siin (accompanied by the notables of Siin) was the guest of honour at the January 2022 conference. Upon his return to London, Tamsier and his team started brainstorming ideas so he can formulate a strategy for this project. His vision for this project was "old world meets new new world", and his documentation and script were set around this theme. He wanted every Seereer, especially the youth, to see themselves in this project irrespective of language. This project will be a true celebration of Seereer culture, history, and the traditional spirituality of our Seereer ancestors (unapologetically). During the brainstorming exercise, Macaire Ndiaye (DJ Mac) suggested calling the project "Ino mbogu Seereer ne"  (i.e., what all the various Seereer groups share in common). Macaire's suggestion was duly seconded by all team members, and this will be the name chosen for the album. It was not until 4 March 2022 that Tamsier delivered to sixty-five hand picked artists (through a secret WhatsApp group), that he and his team wanted them to work on a special project without telling them exactly what the project is about. The artists were sworn to secrecy not to reveal the existence of this WhatsApp group, or that we are planning a project with them. It was not until 13 April 2022, just before midday that Tamsier gave Macaire Njie permission to go to the group and deliver to the artists the documentation about this album along with voice messages. That was the first time the artists really knew the kind of project they have been selected to join. They were reminded by both Tamsier and Macaire the importance of keeping this project a secret until the time comes to share it with the rest of the world and the other artists in the bigger Seereer Radio WhatsApp group who were not selected. Thus, for several months this project remained a closely guarded secret known only to the selected artists and our team. 

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All our pre-selected artists had to undergo a casting for this project. Successful applicants were invited to the live audition which was held on Saturday, 27 August 2022 at  Alliance Française de Kaolack before our hand picked casting panel  of judges, all whom have made a name for themselves in music and/or the media. Out of almost sixty entrants, twenty-three artists successfully progressed to the live audition stage. After the live audition, ten were selected as principal artists. These are our first ten. Initially, we only wanted ten artists for this project. However, Co-Producer Digué Diame Diouf managed to convince Tamsier to retain the remaining thirteen as feature artists rather than eliminate them from the project. Diégue was right, as the remaining thirteen added something special to this single. Thus, the ten artists selected at the live audition will be the primary artists, the remaining thirteen will feature on the track, plus one guest artist–the highly acclaimed Remi Dioh, commonly known as Remi Jegaan Dioh, the Godfather of Seereer folk music, brought in by Tamsier to features on the track. The twenty-three successful artists had to submit their refrains to our panel of judges, this time, the panel included the Executive Producer Tamsier Joof, founder of the Seereer Resource Centre and its group of organisations, and Co-Producer of the single and album, who previously recused himself from the casting/auditioning process because of his close relationship with all the artists. The artist whose refrain was selected by the judges will be assigned lead vocalist on the single that will launch the album. On 22 September 2022, after much deliberations, the Executive Producer informed the Seereer-Noon Diva Marie Ngoné Ndione that her refrain was successfully selected, and she will lead the project. Subsequently, the artists attended the recording studio and started working on the single with Co-Producer Diégue Diame Diouf. 

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It was a tough casting and auditioning process, and our judges had a difficult time selecting the top ten as well as the winning refrain. All our artists are highly accomplished in their own right, some of whom are world renowned. The single and album were produced by Diégue Diame Diouf of Joff Nanoor Entertainment recording studio in Dakar, Senegal, and Tamsier Joof of Seereer Heritage, London, UK. Both single and album were recorded at Joff Nanoor Entertainment recording studio in Dakar. 

This single and album deals with Seereer spirituality (A ƭat Roog), history, culture, and philosophy, as well as concepts relating to Pan-Africanism and Senegambians' shared historical and cultural heritage. The single has a running time of 6 minutes 34 seconds. There are 12 tracks on the album. 

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Our artists have poured their hearts and souls into this epic track and album, and it is by far our biggest and most ambitious project to-date. We have received great reviews from Senegambian music critics and media personalities who've referred to the single as "exceptional", "magnificent", "the first time this has been done on Senegambian soil", etc... We wanted to give you the listeners something spectacular that is educational, entertaining, and inspirational, and we are sure you will enjoy this single and the upcoming album. Also, look out for the music video of Ceereer ne ino mbogun which comes out in January 2023. It is something like you have never seen before on any Senegambian music video. It is something spectacular!  Are you ready for "The Awakening" and "The Permission of the Kings" ? All will be revealed on this epic blockbuster music video. And to top it all off, the full album comes out later in 2023 which according to some critics with inside knowledge, are forecasting that: "The album is bound  to cause a storm in Senegambian music!" Are you ready to be amazed? Our record label is not like other labels you might have come across. We are working towards a cause, something greater than just money. See full credits below and stay tuned.

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The single is dedicated to the late Gambian historian, author,  politician, and statesman Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof (22 October 1924 – 2 April 2011). He is the inspiration behind the founding of the Seereer Resource Centre (SRC), Seereer Radio, Seereer Heritage Press, and our label Seereer Heritage (the SRC Group). May his soul continue to rest in perfect peace. Goliŋ!