Over the past week, our phone line has been inundated with inquiries about the whereabouts of the Senegambian music super star, Jaliba Kuyateh. There have been speculations  that the undisputed king of Kora music fled the Gambia and has sought refuge in either Senegal or Guinea-Bissau. Well, Senegambia News editor and publisher, Yankuba Jambang yesterday phoned Jaliba's home in Brikama, Kombo Central to find out where he was and what went wrong. This is how our inquiries went:

The phone rang and a female voice answered "hello!"

Senegambia News (SGN): Hello, my name is Yankuba Jambang. May I speak with Jaliba?

The female: Jaliba? Call him on his mobile.

SGN: May I have the number.

The female: You don't have his number! Hold on. Ok, he's here.

Jaliba: Hello, this is Jaliba.

SGN: Hello and good afternoon. My name is Yankuba Jambang, editor of Senegambia News.

Jaliba: Senegambia News! What is this about?

SGN: well, I call to confirm reports that... (Jaliba interrupted)

Jaliba: I am hearing the same reports in town and I don't know where they come from. I am a musician and I have a different life. I am not into politics. That's all I can say... bye.

Mr. Kuyateh hurridly hang up the phone in an apparent effort to end the unwelcome interview.

Athough I was able to  confirm that Mr. Kuyateh was still in the Gambia, he spoke to me in a rather timid voice and with great suspicion. He was clearly not willing to talk and, what actually increased my suspicion that the musical legend must have had some troubles with Yahya Jammeh was the fact that he said "I am hearing these reports in town..." without listening to the reports I heard! I believe something had gone wrong.

The reports we heard a week ago said Jaliba Kuyateh was arrested because president Jammeh was not happy with him having a Guinea-Bissau diplomatic passport. Mr. Kuyateh was allegedly issued the passport after he had released a music album entitled Seymbo (meaning power in Mandinka language). In the album, the super star commended his fans in Guinea-Bissau for their support to his music and the hospitality they accorded him in that country.

Also, some reports said Jammeh had wanted to kill the super star for ritual purposes. These unconfirmed reports say Jammeh's witch doctors had advised him to sacrifice the most famous Gambian for his  political survival as a president in the Gambia.

Whatever has happened or is about to happen, only time will tell. In the mean time, we wish Jaliba and his family well. For now, he is in the Gambia.