Rituals by Mariama Ndure

“The album is gorgeous…I am obsessed” China Moses, Jazz FM

A daughter of Gambian immigrants, Mariama Ndure’s diverse upbringing in Norway has greatly influenced her artistry, allowing her to blend the rich tapestry of her cultural heritage with elements of jazz, hip hop, soul, and improvisation. Reflecting the journey of reclaiming her voice and identity while honoring her ancestral roots, Mariama’s debut album ‘Rituals’ is scheduled to be released internationally on LP and as a digital deluxe version on 15th August 2025.

“We all have rituals that we do, whether we think about them or not,” says Mariama. “This album is a call to embrace, or maybe to examine, the rituals in your life. Making this record was a ritual in self-discovery”.

Mariama's musical journey began when she joined dear friend and percussionist Amo Soumah from Guinea in Gainesville, Florida with a band that played West African traditional music from the Mandinka tribe. Further travels to Gambia and Senegal found Mariama becoming embedded with musicians in the Mandinka and Wolof traditions, learning first hand from West African griots (a storyteller, musician, poet, and historian who uses oral traditions to preserve their people's history). In Senegal she was able to take percussion lessons with N’deye Seck, one of the very few female percussionists from a griot family. She says “These experiences were about taking ownership of what it means to be Gambian, besides through the eyes of family and the society I grew up in”.

Directly inspired by these trips, ‘Lang Bang’ is a traditional folk tune from the Mandinka tribe and is a tribute to the generosity of West African griots, while ‘Saraba’ is based on a traditional melody created by Senegalese griots. Mariama says ‘Saraba’ is a tribute to her ancestors, and specifically her dad, who passed away from cancer in 1994. She says, “The sadness in this song comes from the dreams that my parents had, migrating from Gambia to Norway with all these hopes for themselves. ‘Saraba’ really takes on the sacrifice and heartache my parents had to go through, leaving a home they loved. Here I am, living my dream, trying to be true to who I am, and honoring them and my culture”.

Originally part of a commission from Global Oslo Music alongside dance artist Amie Mbye, opener ‘My Body I’ talks about how the body is a shell, and how we’re constantly being judged because of our shells during our short lives. Mariama says, “In this track, there’s an underlying discovery of feminine strength and defiance in the face of those restrictions that society places on us, especially as women of colour. Not fitting in has often been the case for me, with my upbringing being raised in a Gambian home but being in an outwardly white society. For me, it’s about not being afraid to take space. I felt that with this music I took a lot of space when I performed it, not feeling ashamed or scared of that”.

‘Release’ is about confrontation, both with others and with yourself. “When I wrote this song, I was so angry”, says Mariama. “I was constantly in situations in which I didn’t feel safe, where I would experience racism or ignorance. ‘Release’ is about confronting those people, but then, I’m also confronting myself, because when people — and the media — say stuff to you, you believe it. Racism is still present not only in the West but also in Gambia. You are looked upon as more beautiful if you have lighter skin, and if you have more European features. This song is me telling those people who have been imprinting this on us, ‘Fuck you, this is not true’”.

About ‘Sleep’, Mariama says “The negative thoughts and stress I experience often intensify at night, making it difficult for me to find peace and sleep. These feelings frequently stem from the expectations I place on myself, which mirror the pressures of the society I live in. This song reflects my struggle to conquer this type of stress; I envision myself battling these thoughts during the drum solo. Ultimately, there is a sense of peace that emerges by the end”.

A daughter of Gambian immigrants, Mariama Ndure’s diverse upbringing in Norway has greatly influenced her artistry, allowing her to blend the rich tapestry of her cultural heritage with elements of jazz, hip hop, soul, and improvisation.