Gambian singer Oumie Garba goes traditional on BoBess, her latest song which she recorded to Mbalax, a popular rhythm synonymous with West Africa.

Oumie Garba, who has recorded a number of pop and reggae songs, told Observer Online that the decision to sing in her local tongue has paid off.

“The song has gained a lot of attention in Senegal and The Gambia. I plan to release more music in the near future and am currently working on my first album,” she said.

According to Oumie Garba, although BoBess is a nod to her heritage, its message is universal.

“It’s a message to the ladies to stand their ground. Know who you are,” she said.

Mbalax gained prominence during the 1980s when there was an acceptance of world beat artistes from West Africa, particularly Senegal.

The Los Angeles-based artiste pitched BoBess during her attendance at the BET Awards in Los Angeles last month, where she saw one of her favourite artistes.

“I saw Spice in the VIP area, I really admire her work and would like to do a song with her. That would be great,” she said.

Oumie Garba left The Gambia as a child and moved with her family to Sweden where she discovered diverse sounds including dancehall-reggae through acts like Bob Marley, Shabba Ranks and Inner Circle.

Since moving to Los Angeles, she has done a number of songs such as the dancehall track, Bubble