By Yunus S Saliu
At least fifty-three artists from The Gambia entertainment industry are in Europe this summer performing in different places. This is what can be described as unprecedented on the side of the Gambia’s creative and entertainment industry compared to the past whereby only few popular artists having the opportunity to secure visa and travel abroad to entertain their fans.
Apart from its numerous advantages, exporting our culture through music entertainment will give chance to individuals and groups to come together with flourish ideas and opportunities. Entertainment is one among other platform that can be used to export The Gambia culture abroad as it always strong, last and distinguish one from others while its impact create new perspectives.
Commenting on this new positive development in the culture and entertainment industry as supported by the National Centre for Arts and Culture, Hassoum Ceesay, acting Director General of National Centre for Arts and Culture disclosed that the NCAC in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture will continue working hard with Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support active artists in The Gambia to export their trade abroad to enable them gain more exposure and as well expose the country culture and entertainment industry.
He went further explained that what the National Center for Arts and Culture has started “so far has produced result.” Noting that the center will continue to support artists and help whichever among them that got invitation and all necessary documents to perform abroad.
He declared that visa used to be the obstacle for artists when it comes to travelling abroad to perform “but now the center will help to facilitate and scrutinize any artist that approach NCAC with genuine documents by taking step further with appropriate authorities which is what artists are presently enjoying.”
However, their collaboration with the Ministries of Tourism and Culture and Foreign Affairs yielding positive result for the artists as he said “some of the artists are currently performing in Europe which among them are the member of the Super Eagle.”
Although he added that “some of these artists don’t even need our support to facilitate their visa and other documents. But those that need it come to us.”
DG Hassoum went further to outlined the advantages of artists playing outside his/her shore, the advantages include greater exposure, foreign exchange, buoyant economy for the country, just like other exporters and the economy importance it brings to the country is large as well.
He applauded both the Ministries of Tourism and Culture and Foreign Affairs for their supports “and the idea of appointing three artists – ST, Sona Jobarteh and Jaliba Kuyateh as Gambia Cultural Ambassadors – is helping and this will be spread to other associations in the industry.”