By Yunus S Saliu
Mariama Colley, a Gambian international award winning actress was Saturday joined by the First Lady of The Gambia, Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow and some hundreds well wishers to unveil her winning awards and premier her artwork documentary that portrays her entire career as an Actress, Radio Presenter and Advocate.
Mariama Colley, one of the belle actresses in The Gambia who had won the US Hollywood International Golden Film Award (GFA) for Outstanding, Up and Coming Actress in 2020 and in 2021 won the Best Actress at the Long Story Shorts International Film Festival Award in Romania and plus other awards.
Giving an opening remark at the unveiling awards night, Hasoum Cessay, Director General of National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) joined the rest of fans and on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to congratulate the international award winning actress.
DG Ceesay described her as an asset to the artistic community and more especially to the country, “we are very passionate about your achievement.”
He as well used the opportunity to expound on important of theatre and performing arts while he again urged the government, NGOs, companies, individuals among other stakeholders to help and sponsor the industry, “because there are more hidden talents in the sector but yet to discover their potentials.”
The Director General of NCAC thanked the Gambian First Lady Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow for gracing the occasion, “we are delighted.”
Mr Momodou Joof, former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Culture thanked all the well wishers and applauded the founder of Ebunjan Theatre, Ms Janet Badjan-Young – popular known as Mother of Theatre in The Gambia for establishing the only theatre in the country.
Mr Joof who is also a grandfather to the International Award Winning Actress gave a full background of Mariama Colley and her career. He applauded all members and participants of movies which through Marima Colley won her awards.
The International Award Winner, Mariama Colley, in her remark thanked the First Lady for gracing the occasion and the proprietor of Ebunjan Theatre, Ms Badjan-Young. She expressed joy and happiness while showered more praising on her for modeling her into not just a good actress but also to the leadership role in her career and other work places.
In brief, Mariama Colley, an international award-winning actress, radio personality and gender rights activist was born and raised in Brikama, The Gambia. She is a phenomenal young woman who is open minded, passionate, social and proactive towards societal issues. She hosts a weekly mentorship program on her radio platform talk-show called ‘Let’s Talk Show’ for young people.
She is versatile and hugely relatable; she pushed on harder with a strafe of uncomfortable and challenging performances both on stage and screen. And prior her recent awards in 2020 she won the Most Stylish Actress – Fashion Award Gambia. In 2018, Mariama Colley was selected to take part in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), a US Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. In 2017 she was awarded the National Certificate of Merit as Youth of The Month by Ministry of Youths and Sports in collaboration with the Balance Group for her contribution to national development.
However, in 2013 she was nominated for the African Oscar Awards, these and among other meritorious awards under her possessions.
Many other speakers including producers, colleagues made remarks about her as some important dignitaries witnessed the unveiling of the awards and premiering of her artwork documentary.
