“The Journey”
Originating from a tiny village known as SINTET (Fula Kunda) -The Gambia, this young man with an early dream of moving from his hometown to the inner city, began his musical journey in the forest, while tending to the cattle herded by his family.
The sound of the birds chirping in their beautiful diversity merged with other almost unidentifiable melodious sound of nature, urged him to sing right along – leading to the generation of his never-ending love for MUSIC!
Like any youth with a dream of leaving downtown for uptown for the betterment of his life; that of his mother’s and his siblings, GAINAKO left SINTET and moved to the inner city. Focused and ready to meet people already established in the art of music and hoping to better his, he met Gambian Reggae Artist ‘NJIE B The Conqueror’ who, at the time, drew him to any and everything REGGAE MUSIC.
Actually, fun-fact, before GAINAKO, this melodious gentleman’s artist name was “JAH LION!”
With a voice of pure gold, Jah Lion served conscious, very melodious reggae music to anyone who cared to listen at the time.
Living in the moment as a reggae artist but still humbly eager to learn from those before him who could teach him a thing or two to advance his career, he then met SHEIKH TIJAN JALLOW a.k.a TIJU BRAIN, who as a legendary Gambian rapper and one of the first and the biggest to ever do it in the Gambian Music Industry.
TIJU, upon hearing GAINAKO belt out his uniquely rich vocals, immediately recognized it’s rarity and the indigenously nomadic vibe it was equipped with, coupled with his delivery.
TIJU almost immediately suggested that GAINAKO embraces his roots which fully reflect in his voice, by singing in the Fulani Language.
This marked the birth of GAINAKO – The Traditional Artist.
TIJU, who is a core part of his journey to this day, later introduced him to an exceptional local language singer and multi-instrumentalist, EBOU KUTZ, who taught GAINAKO every need-to-know about music composition ‘from the skeleton to fully clothed’, as well as how to play the guitar.
In 2016, still on the journey of musical development, he moved across the Gambian borders all the way to Senegal and met FULANI MUSIC ICON BAABA MAAL, who also, instantaneously took to his outstanding talent!
BAABA MAAL, dubbed “The King of Yela” introduced GAINAKO to means of exposing and perfecting his talent to high heights; having him perform on the same platforms as him, allowing Gainako to showcase his God-given gift(s) on international stages, with international crowds.
Currently Signed under Mystic PRODUCTION LIMITED, GAINAKO is currently working on his DEBUT ALBUM.
