Famara, civil name Thomas Nikles, grew up in the lovely Leimental at the foot of the Jura Mountains (Switzerland/BL). After participating in a percussion workshop in 1984, his interest in African music could not be stopped again.

Only after a few solo appearances, different Afro- and Latin bands invited him to perform with them. At one of those performances with the Basler rap girl "Luana," he switched from percussion performer to a ragamuffin singer. The first single "Sunshine Blubber" (1987) could get some resonance in Switzerland, but only with the move to Gambia (1988) did he get the appreciation he deserved. The "Gambia Weekend Observer" wrote after a concert which was organized for the independence 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 albums "Natural Fact" 1999, "Sunlife" 2001, "Toubab Man" 2003, "Famasound" 2004, "Double Culture" 2005, "Oreba" 2008, "The Sound of Famara" 2010, and "The Cosmopolitan" 2012, he is ready with the new album "Karibu." With over 500 shows in Switzerland so far, including almost every big festival at home and abroad (Gampel, St. Gallen, Frauenfeld, Heitere, Summerjam, Chiemsee, 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!