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12 Things You Should Know About Gambia’s Ramadan Music Ban

12 Things You Should Know About Gambia’s Ramadan Music Ban

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Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month, began on June 6, and ends on July 5. Prior to its beginning, however, the president of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, and his police force announced a new ordinance that would ban all music, dancing, and drumming during the holiday. Here are 12 things to know about the new order and its implications in the Gambia.

Sources: AlJazeera.com, AfricaNews.com, IQ-Mag.net, FreeMuse.org, MusicinAfrica.net, SaharaReporters.com, TheGuardian.com, JollofNews.com, IBTimes.co.uk

Jammeh declared the Gambia to be an Islamic state in December 2015 Dawn.com
Jammeh declared the Gambia to be an Islamic state in December 2015. Dawn.com

Jammeh declared the Gambia an Islamic state in December 2015

When Jammeh made the announcement that his people’s destiny “was in the hands of the almighty Allah,” he assured citizens that the rights of the Christian minority would not be compromised. This includes restrictions on dress codes, among others.

Source: TheTimes.co.uk

Gambian women wearing traditional head scarves ClearHype.com
Gambian women wearing traditional head scarves. ClearHype.com

Female government workers were ordered to cover their hair at work

Following Jammeh’s announcement in December, a leaked government memo said female civil servants must wear headscarves at work. After the memo was leaked, Jammeh backtracked.

Jammeh pulled the Gambia out of the Commonwealth of Nations in 2013 YesiyesiGhana.com
Jammeh pulled the Gambia out of the Commonwealth of Nations in 2013. YesiyesiGhana.com

Jammeh withdrew Gambia from Commonwealth of Nations

Declaring the Commonwealth a relic of neo-colonialism, Jammeh pulled the Gambia out of the collection of 54 nations of mostly former British colonies without warning in October 2013. Jammeh didn’t give a reason.

Music and dancing are now banned during Ramadan in the Gambia Love4Gambia.com
Music and dancing are now banned during Ramadan in the Gambia. Love4Gambia.com

Music, dancing, drumming banned during Ramadan

In a police statement, the new ordinance announced, “As the Muslim community observes the holy month of Ramadan, the office of the Inspector General of Police informs the public that all the ceremonies and festivities involving singing, music and dancing are banned day and night.”

Source: AfricaNews.com

The Gambian police are strictly enforcing the new music ban En.AfricaTime.com

Violators are warned of arrest

The police have warned those who break the new law will be subject to arrest. In their statement, they forewarned Gambian citizens to “desist from such acts, otherwise they will be eventually apprehended and face the full force of the law without compromise.”

Source: IQ-Mag.net

Prison awaits those that break the Ramadan music ban En.AfricaTime.com
Prison awaits those who violate the Ramadan music ban. En.AfricaTime.com

Citizens are asked to incriminate each other

As of mid-June, police said nobody was arrested. They said citizens respect the ban. Meanwhile, they are asking citizens to tattle-tail on violators, and report them to the police.

Music was deemed "morally obscene," despite the huge role it plays in Gambian culture and society MusicinAfrica.net
Music was deemed “morally obscene,” despite the huge role it plays in Gambian culture and society. MusicinAfrica.net

Music considered “morally obscene” by the president during Ramadan

Music, dancing, and drumming were declared “morally obscene” in the police statement that announced the ordinance, referring to them as activities that “Allah frowns on during the Holy Month.”

Source: IQ-Mag.net

The state-owned "Daily Observer" newspaper has a reputation of supporting President Jammeh's controversial decisions AccessGambia.com
The state-owned “Daily Observer” newspaper has a reputation of supporting President Jammeh’s controversial decisions. AccessGambia.com

The state-owned newspaper praised the new ordinance

The state-owned Daily Observer newspaper praised the government’s new order. After the announcement, an article was released said “the ban should be seen through the lens of guiding Muslims to the respectable, honorable path during a month that Allah dishes infinite blessings to the compliable faithful.”

Source: IQ-Mag.net

The minority Christian population has been held to the same standards under the new law, despite not celebrating Ramadan AccessGambia.com
The minority Christian population has to comply, despite not celebrating Ramadan AccessGambia.com

Gambian activists have condemned the government’s decision

Unconfirmed rumors persist that police have entered churches to stop drumming and other types of music during services. Police insist Christians may worship freely. They have, however, been asked to “desist from activities that will be deliberately provocative or disturbing to the peace.”

Source: IBTimes.co.uk

A screenshot from the local artist remake of "Same Love," originally by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, that the Kenyan government attempted to ban for promoting homosexuality QZ.com
Screenshot from the local remake of “Same Love,” originally by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. The Kenyan government attempted to ban it for promoting homosexuality. QZ.com

Other African nations issued restrictions on music

Jammeh’s announcement came just as the Musicians Union of Ghana issued a statement against profane lyrics by Ghanaian artists. Nigeria banned “indecent” songs from public broadcast. Kenya made a controversial decision to ban a music video deemed “gay” by critics.

Calls for electoral reform are increasing as the election draws closer FreedomNewspaper.com
Calls for electoral reform are increasing as the election draws closer FreedomNewspaper.com

The next presidential election is scheduled for December 2016

Jammeh has ruled the Gambia since seizing power in a coup in 1994, and the next presidential election is scheduled for December. Jammeh is a candidate. Previous elections have been marred by corruption and vote rigging.

Protestors marched in Banjul in April 2016 following the death of opposition leader, Solo Sandeng, while in custody. Yahoo.com
Protestors marched in Banjul in April 2016 following the death of opposition leader, Solo Sandeng, while in custody. Yahoo.com

Opposition leaders want to take on Jammeh in the election

Halifa Sallah, leader of the opposition People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), has started talking to other opposition leaders to unite. With a free and fair election unlikely, opposition leaders are determined to come up with a proposal to take on Jammeh in the contest.