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Gambia News : Gambian municipality confer honorary citizenship on Youssou Ndour

Mayor Yankuba Colley of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), some 11 kilometres from Bannjul over the weekend conferred honorary citizenship on Youssou Ndour in recognition of his achievement in entertaining and uniting generations of the peoples of the Senegambia region and beyond through music over the past several decades.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony of the citizenship certificate and emblem of the municipality to Youssou Ndour at the Ocean Bay Hotel in Cape Point in the Kanifing Municipality, Mayor Colley said Youssou was a musician of exemplary character who has taken enormous strides in fostering the persistent call for African integration and the promotion of culture.

Mayor Colley said it was also because of Youssou Ndour’s singular love for the Gambian nation and support for local initiatives designed to better the lives of the less privileged. He added that Youssou’s music transcends mere entertainment to building a platform of peace and mutuality between Africans and the wider world.

In response to the honour, Youssou Ndour said he was deeply touched by the honour considering it as one of the most pleasant of all awards ever given to him.

He opined that The Gambia was a country with great potential and that people should support the leadership to realize those potentials.

Youssou further observed that municipal authorities have an important role in transforming lives of people and in the promotion of local culture. He resolved to partner with the Kanifing Municipality in establishing a cultural centre.

Youssou also accepted the mayor’s invitation to attend the celebrations of the award on a date to be announced later.