4 Short Films by Gambian Spoken Word Poet Muhammed Dibbasey

Cellular Vibrations Produces Four Groundbreaking Gambian Short Films 

Through his spoken word poetry, Muhammed Dibbasey depicts a young man's struggles with failure, opportunity, and success in Gambia. His four poems, titled Sleepless Nights, They Say, Attitude, and I Like Words, express hope, frustration, of a young adult seeking to find opportunity, understand of the world, and to some extent the impacts of Gambia's history of the slave trade and colonialism. Sleepless Nights has already garnered recognition on the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) for Dibbasey's work in writing and executive producing the four short films, of which the video was co-produced by Cellular Vibrations and MaximillianGroup.

"a mind-blowing reflection of a dream of opportunity"

- Lift-Off Film Festival

"an exciting reflection of the past of a young man navigating the present"

 - Lift-Off Film Festival

I Like Words

"I Like Words" is a beautiful and powerful expression of the love of words. It is a reminder of the importance of words and their power to shape our lives. It is a reminder of the power words have in our lives and a reminder to choose our words wisely.  It is a reminder that we all have the power to choose our words, even in the face of adversity, and the outcome that may result.

Sleepless Nights

"Sleepless Nights" is a powerful and moving poem about the struggles of insomnia. The poem is both personal and universal, and it will resonate with anyone who has ever experienced sleepless nights. The speaker is haunted by his past, and he believes that his insomnia is a gift from his ancestors, who are trying to help him understand the world around him. The speaker is also hopeful about the future, and he believes that he will use his insomnia to help him make a difference in the world.

They Say

 "They Say" is a powerful and moving indictment of the corruption and injustice that the speaker has experienced in his life. It is a cry for justice and equality, and a call for change. The poem is also a commentary on the nature of power. The speaker seems to be saying that power is not always about who has the most money or the most resources. 

Attitude

"Attitude" is a powerful and thought-provoking piece of spoken word poetry. The speaker seems to be struggling with a sense of powerlessness and lack of control. They feel like they have no rights and that they are at the mercy of others. However, they are also determined to stand up for themselves and to not be taken advantage of. The poem is a reminder that we all have the power to choose our attitude, even in the face of adversity.

Film Festivals and Honors

Student World Impact Film Festival awarded Muhammed Dibbasey for "Attitude" being nominated for Best Super Short Film 2023

OBAFA short films, 2023 Official Selection, Student World Impact Film Festival
OBAFA short films, Official Selection of the Lift-Off Sessions Film Festival, 2023
OBAFA short films, Official Selection of the First-Time Filmmaker Sessions hosted by Lift-Off Global Network, 2023
OBAFA short films, Lift-Off Global Network Sessions 2023 Official Selection

Muhammed Dibbasey wrote, narrated, directed and produced the four short films which were produced by Cellular Vibrations and MaximillianGroup.

A Story of Perseverance and Self-Made Success

Growing up in Busumbala, one of Gambia's poorest neighborhoods, Dibbasey became the family's eldest male after his father died fighting in the war when he was only 15 years old. He abandoned his dream of becoming a doctor to support his mother and eight siblings, most of whom were orphans whose parents were killed in the same war as Dibbasey's father. Despite these challenges, he never lost hope and eventually started a record label and talent management agency, Cellular Vibrations, representing some of the top hip-hop, afrobeat, and afropop performers in the Gambia.


"OBAFA" is a brilliant reflection of Dibbasey's journey and the struggles he has faced. His works have received acclaim from artists and audiences alike, with some describing it as "a mind-blowing reflection of a dream of opportunity," and "an exciting reflection of the past of a young man navigating the present", says Max Barrett, Editor of OBAFA.

Uniting the Youth in his Community and Beyond

Muhammed Dibbasey is a dynamic and ambitious 24-year-old entrepreneur who is highly regarded within the community of Busumbala. He is passionate about the arts and has made it his mission to unite the youth in his community and beyond, igniting their passion for music and creating a platform for them to showcase their talents.

As the Executive Producer of Grab Di Mic, Muhammed has been instrumental in transforming the music scene in Gambia. Under his leadership, the event has grown from a small concert for 500 people to Gambia's fastest-growing performance event, attracting over 2000 attendees and featuring the country's top hip-hop and pop artists. While gearing up for Grab Di Mic 2024, he has found the time to produce YounaLuv Music Festival which takes place this December for 3000 attendees.

The Power of Voice

Lesson Plan for 7th and 8th Grade Classroom

We recently developed a lesson plan on West African spoken word based upon "OBAFA", four spoke word poems by Muhammed Dibbasey. lesson plan is designed for 7th and 8th grade students. It is a great way to introduce students to the history and culture of West Africa, as well as the power of spoken word poetry. 

The lesson plan can be viewed and downloaded here

OBAFA is on YouTube or as audio on BandCamp, SoundCloud and Audiomack.

CREDITS

Voiceover: Obafa Onema
Produced by Cellular Vibrations in association with MaximillianGroup
Director: Muhammed Dibbasey
Executive Producer: Muhammed Dibbasey
Spoken Word: by Muhammed Dibbasey
Video: CottonBro  Studios
Film Editing: Max Barrett / MaximillianGroup
Art Direction: MaximillianGroup
Cover Art: Max Barrett / MaximillianGroup
Distributed by MaximillianGroup / Cellular Vibrations

Copyright © 2022 Cellular Vibrations. All rights reserved

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