Living
Legacies
Muhamed Saho was born 1983 in Banni, Kantorah District, The Gambia. Muhamed, known as ‘Hammay’, is a virtuoso kora player and singer from the Gambia and divides his time between performing and teaching kora to a new generation of players. We picked Hammay up from his home in Sukuta, Serekunda and made our way to Sanementereng. As we were discussing the repertoire he began to sing some of the vocal refrains and his melodious voice filled the car. He has an innate gift as a singer and there is a seamless connection between his singing and his playing. His voice has a velvet-like quality, which soothes the soul, and his playing conjures up echoes of players past. As he was performing it was as though he was blessing the space around us.
Hammay is a performer, bandleader and teacher who receives international students at his home in Sukuta, Serekunda. He performs regularly with the widely recognised Wuli Band across the country and has collaborated with many other Gambian artists including Sambou Suso, Nahyleng Kanuteh and Momodu Suso. Hammay is an artist that bridges the generations and this is reflected in his distinctive style of playing. He brings the old epic repertoire alive again in the present in a new and exciting way. In the conducive environment of Sanementereng it was a music of healing and introspection.
Muhamed Saho
(Kora & Voice)
TEACHERS & INSPIRATORS:
Jali Musa Saho
Fatoumata Sakiliba
Sidiki Diabaté
ARTISTS WORKED WITH:
Mawdu Suso
Momodou Suso
Nahyleng Kanuteh