Ousman Diallo alias Ouza, a renowned Senegalese revolutionary musician has given his impressions of pre and post 1994 Gambia, noting major achievements registered by the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh.

The Senegalese music star who was in the country recently, accompanying his daughter Aji Ouza who performed at the famous Club Duplex and Jokor, was speaking to the Daily Observer last Friday at the Sea View Garden Hotel in Kololi. The Senegalese mbalax star said The Gambia before 1994 and after 1994 are different as day is from night. He recalled how the country was like, infrastructure wise, in those days, saying there were no good roads, no hospitals, no electricity in the provinces and even in some towns in the Greater Banjul Area.

Ouza disclosed that he came to The Gambia in the early 70s with his friend called Sheikh Lowe and that  they were based in Farafenni for sometime before coming to Banjul, the country’s capital city. In those days, he said, he used to play in various musical concerts and programmes and Gambians started liking his music. "I remember when I played in Banjul, the Ifambondy band, the Gelewar band all used to attend my shows," he said.

The Senegalese star further disclosed that after living in the country for five years, he went back to Senegal but later returned.  "When I was in The Gambia, I used to live in Latrikunda, London Corner and even Dippa Kunda. Again some radio stations then like ‘Radio Syd’ used to play my music all the time and Gambians really appreciated my music,"  he said.

He explained that while in Farafenni, he had malaria and couldn’t get a medical doctor to treat him; neither could he go back to Senegal to seek treatment. “I nearly died of malaria and I then came to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Banjul for treatment and I met one Dr John Thomas who helped me very well,” he recalled, saying "I am not a griot but I am saying the truth”. “The Gambia in those days was very difficult and a lot of infrastructural development were lacking. All of a sudden, Allah sent us President Jammeh to come and develop this country. That is why I dedicated a whole track to President Jammeh in my latest album and in that track I highlighted the level of development in the country and the way he was able to transform the good image of The Gambia," Ouza explained.

"Today, Gambians can boast of having good road networks, sufficient electricity supply, various hospitals across the country and a lot more,”  he further said. "President Jammeh is a real pan-Africanist and he has proven beyond doubt his love for The Gambia and Africa as a whole. He has made giant strides in moving The Gambia forward and to an unprecedented level and that is why I like him and I support him in what is doing,"  he concluded.  See details of the full interview with Ouza in our Friday edition