For those who don't already know us we are Chris and Moussa Sylla. Along with Mohammed (Okameo) Bangoura, we form the core of the Band Toumaranke, based in the Gambia, West Africa. We have been together for 8 years, married for 6, and during that time tried and tried and tried to get a visa for Moussa to come and live in the UK. Long story short: we've just been rejected again and there is a problem with Moussa's (new, the previous one having been stolen) passport so he has to get a replacement. This is a lengthy and expensive process which we've been engaged in for over a month now. The band has had no paid work for some years, plus Chris is currently is a full-time carer for her parents (UK Carer's Allowance being a generous £64.70 a week). So times are hard, money is short and Moussa has another month to wait before it's his 'turn' at the paperwork (Guinea being a nightmare of incompetant beaurcacy & corruption). This is where YOU come in.

Please help us. We've had a lot of support from fans and followers and those who've been to West Africa with us over the years.

We hate asking again as many of those same people will dig deep and send us money we know it's hard for them to manage without. We have no new music to give at the moment, but anyone donating over £10 who doesn't have the epic debut (currently only) album Takhaudi Dékau: Inside The Chicken's Mouth , can have one; either in hardcopy or download. Contact us here or toumaranke@gmail.com.

If you like stories, Chris is about to publish one (although plenty of you have read it already in installments when she was in Guinea) and is happy to send it to supporters, ask at the same email address. Otherwise it's just our love, our gratitude, and the hope that when all this nonsense is over we'll be able to make our second album for you all to enjoy.