By Dr Cherno Omar Barry The Writers’ Association of The Gambia mourns, with profound sorrow, the passing of Gabriel John Roberts — better known across generations of Gambian letters as Gabriel J. Roberts — a founding father of modern Gambian literature, a distinguished educationist, and one of the last living links to the pioneering literary […]
By Dr Mimi Fatou Ceesay Marriage in many African societies has often been viewed through a cultural lens that emphasises the sacrifices, duties, and emotional labor of women. However, when we examine the emotional, psychological, and social realities of marriage, it becomes clear that African men often benefit from marriage more than African women. A […]
The sun was still a fiery orb in the sky, lounging on the vibrant orange horizon like a lazy beach ball. The evening was warmer than usual and most people were already indoors with the fan on high or sitting outdoors waving a hand-fan with vigour in front of their faces to fend off both […]
Every citizen has rights and duties in the State of which he is a member. He has a right to protection from enemies and from bad men, and he has a right to receive help from various government departments. It is his duty to assist the police, to help the law courts to give justice, […]
The title of this book of literary criticism Saani Baat: Aspects of African Literature and Culture, comes from the Wolof saani baat, which literally means “to throw one’s voice” in a conversation. In this rich and path-breaking collection of literary essays and criticism, the noted Gambian writer, Tijan M Sallah, explores in provocative essays the […]
Tijan Sallah on Gambian Writers In the contemporary Gambian poetic scene — particularly in the post-2000 period — few poets have risen to merit critical attention. The body of Gambian literature is limited, and many of its significant accomplishments are by exiled writers such as the late Ebou Dibba, Sally Singhateh, and myself. Since there […]
I wrote Jibbi he Pulaar, (Poems in Fula, 2017) at the height of a turbulent socio-linguistic climate characterised by a seemingly unready world at war with its local dialect and cultural chauvinism. Take a walk along the streets what do we hear? Sonorous accented local dialect at best seen by these speakers as having arrived, […]
Welcome back to the Smiling Coast and if this is your first time here, good luck! Walk slowly past immigration and don’t speak too fast. The guy in shitty brown pants and milk chocolate brown shirt is smiling at you because he doesn’t get your accent. There’s a tinge of Fana-Fana or Sosseh in your […]
It’s been a crazy beginning to August. The weather has been moody and the sun has refused to show its face. This sort of weather suits perfectly the culture of attaya in street corners, Sidney Sheldon novels under flashlight since Nawec is still trying to get its act together and full moon lovemaking (legal and […]
The Kanifing Municipal Council is concerned that the crisis surrounding the Bakoteh dumpsite to an extent being politicised. This is a complete deviation from the crux of the issue at hand and is not liable to bring about any constructive solution to the problem. It should be understood that only a handful of […]
– Madam Chairperson and Mistress Of Ceremony, Mrs. Janet Sallah – Njie, – My Lord Chief Justice, Honourable Mr. Justice Hassan B. Jallow (C.R.G.), – Honourable Speaker Of The National Assembly, Mrs Mariam Jack-Denton, – His Excellency Mr. Atilla Lajos, The E.U. Ambassador To The Gambia, – Honourable Ms. Justice Awa Bah, Chairperson Of National […]
By Omar Bah The Minister of Women’s Affairs overseeing the office of the Vice President, Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang over the weekend launched a book titled ‘President Barrow- the Making of a New Gambia’ at the Kairaba Beach Hotel. The book which is written by two prominent UDP supporters, Amadou Taal and Ebraima Manneh, is centred […]
Part 1 – Witness to a country’s birth In Enter Gambia – The Birth of An Improbable Nation, a book published in 1967, Berkeley Rice, a white American writer offers his first hand experience of a year in the life of The Gambia at the dawn of its political independence from British colonialism. The book […]