Maryama Cham
Maryama Cham is a talented singer-songwriter from the Gambia, using her powerful voice to speak out about social issues and give voice to the voiceless.
Maryama Cham is a talented singer-songwriter from the Gambia. She has a beautiful and powerful singing voice, and she is passionate about using it to speak out about social issues and give voice to the voiceless. In her songs she has addressed everything from fake news to the plight of women in the Gambia, many of whom undergo FGM and are forced to marry as children.
Maryama Cham is also passionate about the rich musical heritage of the Gambia, and the storytelling tradition of the music. Her sound blends traditional instruments including kora, balafon and djembe, with global contemporary genres like reggae, dancehall, R&B, hip-hop and pop.
Image: Maryama Cham (Credit: STS Pictures with Steve Jabone)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Sat 25 Oct 2025 01:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa only
- Sat 25 Oct 2025 10:32GMTBBC World Service Australasia
- Sat 25 Oct 2025 17:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Sat 25 Oct 2025 22:32GMTBBC World Service
- Sun 26 Oct 2025 11:32GMTBBC World Service East and Southern Africa, Europe and the Middle East & West and Central Africa only
- Mon 27 Oct 2025 02:32GMTBBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean