The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) has issued a nationwide ban prohibiting musicians and entertainers whose songs contain vulgar, indecent, or immoral content from performing at any school in the country.
In a strongly worded press Statement issued Thursday, the Ministry stated that despite repeated warnings, some schools have continued to invite such artists to perform at school-organized events, including cultural programs and motivational sessions.
“Schools are centers of learning and moral development,” the statement emphasized. “This conduct directly violates the fundamental principles and core values the education system seeks to promote.”
The Ministry reminded school authorities that, as role models and educators, they bear the responsibility to shield students from language and behavior that clash with Gambian social, cultural, and moral standards.
Effective immediately, no artist will be permitted to perform in any public or private school—regardless of whether the invitation is framed as entertainment, cultural promotion, or student motivation—if their repertoire includes vulgar or offensive content.
MoBSE has urged school administrators, parents, teachers, and community leaders to work together to protect students’ moral integrity and maintain schools as safe, respectful environments for learning and character development.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions. Some parents and religious leaders have welcomed the move as a necessary step to preserve traditional values, while youth advocates and certain artists argue that it risks stifling creative expression and disconnecting schools from contemporary culture.
The Ministry has not named specific artists affected by the ban, but warned that schools found in violation could face disciplinary action. Officials say monitoring mechanisms will be strengthened to ensure compliance across the country’s regions.
