By Sainabou Sambou
In the vibrant cultural melting pot of Nema Kunku, Gambia, where rhythms of music once pulsed through open-air venues and ethnic traditions blended seamlessly, a young Abdullah Bajan found his calling under the spotlight. Known affectionately as “Pablo,” he rose through the ranks of the popular music group Nobles, captivating audiences as a performer and magician.
Today, however, the former entertainer has traded microphone stands and stage costumes for feed bags and poultry sheds, building a thriving farming business that is inspiring a new generation to look homeward for opportunity.
Bajan’s journey into entertainment began in earnest around 2013, amid the lively community celebrations of his childhood. Growing up in a diverse neighborhood inhabited by Jolas, Fulas, Mandinkas, and Wolofs, he was immersed in a rich tapestry of traditions. Cultural ceremonies and regular musical performances at places like Afinya exposed him to the power of rhythm and performance early.
“As children, we had free access to these shows,” he recalled. “Every two to three weeks, artists would perform, and during the peak of reggae’s influence, the energy was electric.”
By 2015, Nobles had gained official recognition, and Bajan was fully immersed. The group performed alongside renowned African artists, earning local acclaim and international exposure. One milestone that still feels surreal to him was watching his music video air on Boom TV. “It was hard to believe it was really us,” he said with a smile. The group’s travels took them to Guinea-Bissau, where they performed before massive crowds despite language barriers—the audience’s enthusiasm transcending words. They also shared stages in Abuja, Nigeria, alongside top talents, helping push Gambian music onto broader platforms.
Yet success in entertainment, while exhilarating, came with its own demands. Bajan’s early education had roots in a traditional Dara (Quranic school), where he honed strong reading skills without nursery education, learning by observation and with help from a childhood friend. He attended formal school up to Grade 9 before dropping out to pursue music full-time. Music, he says, was more than a career; it was a cultural inheritance shaped by the diverse sounds and celebrations of his upbringing.
The turning point arrived unexpectedly in 2023 during Ramadan. While scrolling online, Bajan stumbled upon videos of Ugandan poultry farmer and retired medical doctor Dr. Daniel Masaba (often referred to as Dr. Daniel), whose remarkable transition from medicine to large-scale farming resonated deeply with Bajan. “I watched all the videos in one day,” Bajan shared. “It planted a seed—I believed I could do something similar.”
With his father’s support, he cleared a portion of family land, felling cashew trees to make way for his first poultry structure. The initial batch was modest: just 85 chicks, primarily for learning the ropes. Poultry farming, he quickly discovered, is no glamorous pursuit. It demands constant vigilance—feeding, cleaning, monitoring health, and managing the relentless cycle of care. Financial constraints added pressure, as did the steep learning curve of animal husbandry.
Challenges notwithstanding, Bajan persisted. He scaled up to 400 birds, shifting focus to layers for egg production. Social media, the very tool that once amplified his music, became his new marketing powerhouse. Posts showcasing his daily farm life went viral, flooding his inbox with over a thousand messages from potential customers. “That was the moment everything changed,” he noted. Today, he supplies fresh eggs to local shopkeepers, community members, and online buyers, turning a personal experiment into a sustainable enterprise.
Beyond the financial rewards, farming has offered Bajan something deeper: a space for reflection and personal growth. The quiet discipline of tending to livestock has reconnected him with himself and his faith. “It has made me more disciplined, resilient, and grounded,” he reflected. He now mentors young people in his community, teaching basic farming skills and encouraging them to view agriculture not as a fallback but as a viable path to self-reliance.
“Not everyone needs to travel to make it,” he emphasized. “We can build our future right here, contributing to food security and our nation’s development.” He envisions expanding his operation further—perhaps into livestock like goats and sheep—while continuing to promote agriculture as both a business and a civic responsibility.
In a country where many young talents chase dreams in music or overseas opportunities, Pablo’s pivot from performer to egg producer represents a refreshing narrative of reinvention. His journey highlights the transformative power of inspiration, family support, and unwavering determination. As Gambia grapples with youth employment and food sustainability, stories like Bajan’s illuminate local solutions rooted in hard work and vision.
From the applause of packed venues in Banjul and Guinea-Bissau to the early-morning routines on his family land, Abdullah “Pablo” Bajan has written a new verse in his life’s song—one where the harvest, not the encore, brings the deepest satisfaction.
