Gambian Mbalax Songstress Diha Launches Blue Jays EP featuring Attack

By Modou Sinyan

Diha, a household name in The Gambian music scene held a press conference earlier this week unveiling her brand new five-track EP titled Blue Jays featuring rapper Attack. According to Diha, real name Haddy Trawally, rapper Attack is the only artist featured in the EP.

The beautiful songstress celebrated her birthday on Tuesday 11^th October with her friends at Smile Lounge where she held the press conference for her EP with the media. Producer Dougie and others were in attendance rallying support for the talented artist.

According to Diha the song titled ‘Time Bi Jotna’, translates to ‘the Time is up for marriage’ and highlights some of the socio-cultural challenges affecting the younger generation who are more reluctant to settle down and marry. In her view, this is mainly because young men should get their act together and get into serious relationships.

This prompted our reporter to ask Diha if the song also speaks to her current relationship status. She revealed, “that’s why I did the song because sometimes you see people in a relationship for two to three years but when marriage comes up, the usual excuses are it’s not yet time, God is good”.

In her observation “that has wasted a lot of time of some women and that’s why I made the song. No woman should sit down, waiting. In my view, if you are dating a woman for a year and you’re both in love, go ahead and marry her. The long years of relationships should no longer be entertained by young women”.

One of the reasons she advanced is that “after dating someone for a long time, say four years and they eventually move on to marry someone else you start to realise that you’ve wasted the lady’s time. In the song, I am having a disagreement about marriage with Attack and he’s talking about money for marriage. I don’t believe marriage should be about money”.

Our reporter posed a direct question to Diha, to reveal her relationship status to which she replied “yes am single, trying to mingle”.

Diha will be hosting a listening party of her much anticipated five-track Blue Jays EP on Friday 21^st October 2022 at Club Lava from 5 pm. The listening party will feature musicians and promoters from the music industry.

Artist Profile

Diha is inspired by Gambian musician Sambou Suso and American Superstar Whitney Houston. She made waves with her first song ‘Mbeguel’, followed by ‘Gor gi’. Her first venture into music was well-received and resulted in the release of her popular song ‘Taling-Taling’.

Diha says she has paid her dues in the music industry as a backup vocalist for Gambian musicians like Pa Omar Jack, Mass Lowe and Jalex.

She had a spell in Senegal, Dakar to propel her music to the next level, an experience which has only increased her knowledge of the music industry in the subregion. She continued to back up leading artists like Carlou D and others.

While in Senegal she met and worked with major music producers and music connoisseurs like Bouba Ndour, Hakim of Sunland music and more. The music Diva has finally returned home with a wealth of experience and big ambitions.

Her artist profile details that she was nominated ‘Best Female Artist’ among a fierce lineup of Gambian artists and clinched the top prize.