The entertainment industry in Africa has been thrown into mourning following the death of Gambia’s legendary musician, composer and producer, Oussou Njie Senior, who passed away on Tuesday night.
Gambia’s authoritative media platform, The Point Newspaper reported on Friday that Njie who made music for over 50 years, died after a brief illness.
“He was the founder of Super Eagles, one of the most successful Gambian music groups of all time,” the paper wrote in a tribute to the late Njie.
“The group inspired a generation of musicians from the Senegambia region including Youssou Ndour.
“Oussou Njie Senior wrote many songs including hits like ‘Mandally’ ‘Gambia Sunu Rew’, ‘Viva Super Eagles’ and ‘Haleli Africa’.
“He was certainly a renowned music star and trailblazer during his hey days. Ismail Oussou Njie Senio, was one legend that many Gambians, especially upcoming artistes looked up to in their respective careers.
“An ex-member of the Super Eagles band, Oussou Njie Senior as he was fondly called, was upbeat about Gambian music. He thus called on them to work for the betterment of the country’s music industry,” the newspaper said.
A top Gambian entertainment writer, Oko Drammeh, in a tribute to the late Oussou Njie, described him as “a learned man and music teacher.”
“Ousou Njie was a God gift to Gambia and he was true to The Gambia. He released the most popular songs from the Gambia including “Bada Touray”, “Dawda Serge”, “Mandal Ly”, “Gambia Sunu Rew”, “Gambia Zambia”, “Fiesta Vous”, “Haleli Africa”, “Viva Super Eagles” and many, many more.
“We would never forget you, Oussou Njie; your good heart, your wisdom, your kindness, your fun and laughter, your kind gifts and charity, your love,” Drammeh wrote.