Press release
The Writers Association of The Gambia (WAG) has on 24th August 2020, released the full list of The 100 Most Influential Gambian Writers.
In commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) at a time of great disruption for the world, compounded by an unprecedented global health crisis with severe economic and social impacts”, leading to the cancellation of the Dr. Lenrie Peters Memorial Awards for Gambian Literature 2020 and the Kunta Kinteh International Book Festival (KKIBF), the Writers Association of The Gambia (WAG) has published the list of “The 100 Most Influential Gambian Writers.”
The list ranged from three generations: the generation of Dr. Lenrie Peters to the generation of Nana Grey-Johnson and Momodou Sabally, and then the younger generation of Modou Lamin Age-Almusaf Sowe and Modou Lamin Kejera; who has been the first Gambian writer to be shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.
The list featured highly prolific Gambian writers and scholars who have immensely contributed to the literary development of The Gambia.
Notably among those featured in the list are:
Dr. Lenrie Peters, Hon. Halifa Sallah, Dr. Samba Fall, Hon. Hassan Bubacarr Jallow, Prof. Lamin E. Sanneh, Prof. Sulayman S. Nyang, Dr. Ebrima Sall, Hon. Nana Grey-Johnson, Dr. Ebrima Ceesay, Ebou Dibba, Dr. Tijan Sallah, Momodou I. Sambou, Dr. Florence Mahoney, Amie Sillah, etc.
CRITERIA
One must meet at least one of the following:
- PUBLICATION: have published at least a book
- CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY: have played a significant role individually to the literary/ educational development of The Gambia
- CONTRIBUTION TO WAG: Have contributed and/ or contributing to the development of the Writers Association of The Gambia (WAG)
- INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM: have published an internationally acclaimed work/works
The 100 Most Influential Gambian Writers are:
- Dr Lenrie Peters
- Ebou Dibba
- Gabriel J. Roberts
- Prof. Lamin E. Sanneh
- Prof. Sulayman S. Nyang
- Hon. Hassan Bubacar Jallow
- Dr. Tijan Sallah
- Hon. Halifa Sallah
- Lady Augusta Jawara
- Prof. Abdoulaye Saine
- Momodou I. Sambou
- Dr. Jeggan C. Senghore
- Dr. Ebrima Ceesay
- Amie Sillah
- Fodeh Baldeh
- Swaebou Conateh
- Dr. Lang Fafa Dampha
- Hassoum Ceesay Sr
- Hon. Nana Grey-Johnson
- Baaba Sillah
- Dr. Ralphina D’Almeida
22 Janet Badjan-Young
- Patience Sonko-Godwin
- Juka Fatou Jabang
- Dr. Florence Mahoney
- Prof. Pierre Gomez
- Dr. Cherno Omar Barry
- Hassoum Ceesay
- Hon. Demba Ali Jawo
- Dr Bala Saho
- Hon. Sherrif Bojang Sr
- Sir Charles Sarr Thomas
- Sherrif Samsudeen Sarr
- Ramatoulie O. Othman
- Dr. Momodou Sallah
- Dr. Seedy Drammeh
- Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow
- Hon. Momodou Sabally
- Rohey Samba
- Sally Sady Singhateh
41 Essa S. Colley
- Ebou Gaye
- Nyada Yoba Baldeh
- Hon. Dr. Mariama Khan
- Sukai Mbye Bojang
- Dembo Fanta Bojang
- Yankuba Mamburay
- Michael Hamadi Secka
- Yaya Sillah
- Musa Bah
- Cherno Jatta
- Dr. Samba Fall
- Saikou Ceesay
- Khadija Sise
- Musa E. Jallow
- Fafa Edrissa Mbaye
- Dawda E. Faal
- Ba Musa Trawally
- Bakary Sidibeh
- Dr. Ebrima Sall
- Dr. Abdou Jeng
- Dr. Ousman Gajigo
- Dayo Foster
- Dr. Jabez Ayodele Langley
- Dr. Abdoulie Sallah
- Saihou Camara
- Mary Caroline Gomez
- Cherno M Njie
- Salifu Kujabi
- Benjamin Roberts
- Matilda Johnson
- Bakary Sanyang
- Ann Therese Ndong Jatta
- Modou Lamin Age-Almusaf Sowe
- Modou F. Singhateh
- Joseph H. Joof
- Papa Jeng
- Cpt (Rtd) Lamin Saine
- Mary Wadda
- Omar Champion Cham
- Cherno Gaye
- Lala Touray
- Cornelius Gomez
- Rohey Balora
- Momodou Jarjue
- Dr. Siga Fatima Jagne
- William Conton
- Ebrima B. Sawaneh
- Famara Fofana
- Aisha Jawara
- Wuyeh Drammeh
- Essa Bah
- Talibeh Hydara
- Latirr Carr
- Ndey Kumba Demba
- Alieu Bah (Immortal X)
- Modou Lamin Kejera
- Ismaila Saidybah
- Omar NK Ceesay
- Aji Ndumbeh Jobe