By Yunus S Saliu
The National Arts and Culture (NCAC) Wednesday organized a daylong forum for the Gambian young Writers. The forum held at the NCAC was meant to enhance the young writers writing skills, promote reading and writing in the country.
The forum was attended by some dignitaries, president of Nigerian Association of Writers, Gambian young writers who as well presented their works at the forum.
Hassoum Ceesay, acting Director General – National Center for Arts and Culture and also Vice President of The Gambia Writers Association expressed his gratitude to their guest – Denja Abdoulie, president of Nigerian Association of Writers for his lecture at the forum.
The acting DG gave in-depth history of the Gambian writers, their activities as regarding writing and publishing of books. He stated that despite some arguments that Gambian writers are not writing, still “every week there is a book launching in the country” showing that Gambian writers are now writing and improving.
He applauded the openness of democracy which has encouraged the writers compared to the past when writers have restriction over what they can write. “The change of government” he said “has really gives right to writers to a wider ambit to explore beyond forbidden area.”
Denja Abdoulie, National President of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and also head of the National Council for Arts and Culture of Nigeria thanked government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC) for the warm welcome accorded him.
He described the Gambia a peaceful country, and as well re-echoed the Gambia and Nigeria bi-lateral relationship, which he said has been existing for a very long time.
As a writer, he said he always follow the writing history when he’s writing about culture, societies, children and among other issues.
Abdoulie applauded the Gambian Writers for producing quality works and urged them to keep up the momentum.