Gambian artist Bai Babu. Entertainment. Germany-based Gambian artist Bai Babu, a popular Rap Mabalah performer and multiple award-winner, will return to Gambia for his “Return of the Landlord” concert on January 17, 2025, at Penchami Hall. After performing across Europe for six years, Bai Babu promises a high-energy live concert, presented by Damayi Entertainment and featuring well-known Gambian artists from both home and abroad.
“It’s all for the culture. I’ve missed Gambia, and fans can expect amazing, energetic live performances,” Bai Babu said. While in Gambia, he aims to collaborate with local artists and expand his connections in the Senegalese music market.
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Bai Babu recently released two singles, “Landlord” and “Tamateh ngii,” from his upcoming album MarLem, which will officially debut in February 2025. He also launched his album Half Nit Half Golo in 2022 in Hannover with a live show backed by AMA Roots Band, which features 15 tracks and collaborations with artists from Gambia and Senegal. Bai Babu and AMA Roots Band toured Europe in 2020 and 2021, sharing African cultural values through music.
Who is Bai Babu?
Bai Babu, formerly known as Brain Crakers, hails from the streets of Tallinding in the Kanifing Municipal Council, Gambia. Driven by a belief that music can both support livelihoods and educate and entertain, he made his breakthrough in 2013 with a debut mixtape show so packed that it paused for 30 minutes to ensure crowd safety. His first hit mixtape, Dama Yii, launched in November 2013, marked his rise in the music scene.
In March 2014, Bai Babu signed a three-year deal with Joluv Arts Entertainment, which took his career to a professional level. Under this label, he released his debut album, Ajjbasakaw (“Aim High” in Wolof), featuring collaborations like Maralaw with Senegalese artist Pap Diouf, propelling him further in the Senegambian music scene. This partnership led to a successful U.S. tour across 15 states with Pap Diouf.
Bai Babu’s success continued in 2016 at the Wa Sa Halat Music Awards, where he won four trophies, including Mbalax Artist of the Year and Rap Mbalax Artist of the Year. His hit Fahass earned both Song and Music Video of the Year and became the first Gambian music video to reach 1 million views on YouTube. In 2017, he released Fimajaar, an EP reflecting on his musical journey. Known as the “Rap Mbalax landlord,” Bai Babu has performed internationally, earning a reputation for his hard work and dedication to his craft.