Music of the Gambia for an international competition to produce an anthem (and flag) before independence from the United Kingdom in 1965. The Gambia, the smallest country in mainland Africa, is an independent coastal state along the River Gambia. It gained its separate identity as a colony of the United Kingdom while Senegal was a colony of France, but the two countries' traditional music are very much intertwined. Among Gambia's people, who together number some 1.728 million (2010), 42% are Mandinka, 18% Fula, 16% Wolof\Serer, 10% Jola and 9% Soninke, the remainder being 4% other African and 1% non-African (2003). 63% of Gambians live
Surrounded by Sea Surrounded by Sea Surrounded by Sea is an album by British saxophonist and composer Andy Sheppard recorded in Switzerland in 2014 and released on the ECM label the following year. The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek notes ""Surrounded by Sea" invites the listener into an intimate, mysterious sound world. Sheppard's band plays with discipline and restraint. Through extremely close listening, the players explore the mystery of melody -- both plainly stated and implied -- and its various thematic trails in inspired if laid-back dialogue". All About Jazz reviewer Ian Patterson said, ""Surrounded by Sea" is an intimate statement whose chemistry