By Yunus S Saliu
The members of the Writers’ Association of the Gambia has shown their counterparts from other countries that truly ‘the size and strength of a nation is not determined by its strength of economy, size and population but its ability for national development’ as proclaimed by the Gambia Minister of Tourism and Culture, Honorable Hamat NK Bah.
WAG delegate to the just concluded International African Writers Day annually organized by the Association of Writers of Senegal (AES), Saturday, displayed their gifted talents and skills during the Gambia’s Day, a day scheduled for Gambian writers at the event held in Ker Birago Bu Bess, Dakar, Senegal.
The Writers’ Association of the Gambia was invited to the 27 edition of the International African Writers Day held in Keur Birago, Dakar, Senegal, from 7th to 11th November, by their Senegalese counterpart as Guest of Honor. The Gambia was fully represented on this auspicious day as Gambians resident in Dakar, Gambian Ambassador and Diplomats to Senegal in conjunction with the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Honorable Hamat NK Bah joined members of WAG to make the day a reality.
Among audience witnessed the event were poets, essayists and novelists of Africa (PEN Africa) – one of the oldest writers’ associations in the world founded in 1921. Other dignitaries included Alioune Badara Beye – President AES, Moumar Gueye – President the PEN Senegal and lines of Diplomats.
The theme for this year celebration was Literature, Citizenship and the Environment.
In his remarks Mamadi Dampha, Deputy Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Tourism and Culture congratulated AES on their successful organized and hosting of African writers for the past twenty-seven years without break.
While declaring the Gambia Day’s opening, he commented on the good relationship between the two countries and as well congratulated The Gambia delegates to the event and advised them to keep up the momentum.
Making the presence of the delegate known, Dr Cherno Omar Barry, president WAG introduced the Gambia writers’ association to the audience who were anticipated to meet writers from the Smiling Coast of Africa.
He thanked Association of Writers of Senegal (AES) for the recognition in particular been invited The Gambia delegates not just as one of the participants but as guest of honor.
Hassoum Ceesay, Director General of National Centre of Arts and Culture also a member of WAG gave an in-depth background of the WAG and its evolution till date. He thanked the organizer and the sponsor, Congolese writer, Henri Djombo – President of the Union of Writers of the Democratic Republic of Congo for his support to AES.
He equally thanked the Gambia Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Tourism and Culture for supporting and sponsoring some members of the WAG to the weeklong event.
The Gambian writers later in turn took over the podium as they dazzled the occasions with their admirable poems and review of some of their published books that arrested the hearts of the listening audience at the occasion.
As the Gambia Day at the event draw to an end, a book titled Anthology of Senegalese and Gambian Poetry (Anthologie De Poesie Senegalaise Et Gambienne) written in both French and English languages was launched. It was jointly launched by the two presidents of the WAG and AES respectively.
The 142-page anthology book published in Dakar it “is a first stone of the cultural collaboration of the two associations – WAG and AES.” It is combination of great writers from the two countries.
Alioune Badara Beye stated that “the Senegalese Writers Association and the Gambian Writers Association have just sealed the unity of essential mutations and fruitful directions in a symbolic atmosphere, engraved in the bark of the thousand year old trees.”