Famara

FAMARA, civil name Thomas Nikkles, grew up as a son of a fabricant family in Leimtal (Switzerland). After the participation at a percussion workshop in 1984, his interest in african music could not be stopped again.

Only after a few solo appearances, different Afro- and Latinbands invited him to perform with them. At one of those performances with the Basler Rapgirl «Luana» he switched from percussion perfomer to a raggamuffin singer. The first single «Sunshine Blubber» (1987) could get some resonance in switzerland but only with the move to Gambia (1988) he got the appreciaton he deserved. The «Gambia Weekend Observer» wrote after a concert which was organized for the independance day of Gambia, where he played for 15'000 People; «Swiss reggae star in town».

On his second visit to Gambia he toured various venues and also recorded the album «Natural Fact» which was released in 1999. In 2000 he toured through Mali, Senegal and Gambia.

After many concerts and TV interviews in Switzerland and the rest of the world including an appearance with «YOUSSOU N´DOUR» and «TIKEN JAH FAKOLY», the emergence of the CD albums «Sunlife» 2001, «Toubab Man» 2003, «Famasound» 2004 and «Double Culture» 2005, he is ready with the new album «Oreba». With over 200 shows in Switzerland so far, including almost every big festival at home and abroad (Gampel, St. Gallen, Frauenfeld, Heitere, Summerjam, Cheimsee, Rototom Sunsplash etc.), as well as concerts with «SEEED», «GENTLEMAN» and «ZIGGY MARLEY», FAMARA is one of the most active and successful Swiss-Reggae acts!