Over the weekend, famous Gambian poet and scholar Dr. Tijan M. Sallah donated $300 to the Young Writers Association of The Gambia (YWAG). The donation is meant to support the development of the association and Gambian literature.
In his message to the founder of the YWAG, Dr. Tijan M. Sallah expressed delight about the continuing growth of the YWAG and the founder’s plans different activities including building of website for the association.
He congratulated the founder and assured that “The growth and development of any national literature often rest on a few committed and determined few. I look forward to working with your group and other Gambian writers to develop it into a major platform for the development of Gambian literature.”
However, Modou Lamin Age-Almusaf Sowe, founder and president of the Young Writers’ Association of The Gambia (YWAG) hailed Dr. Tijan M. Sallah among top Gambian scholars and urged young people to take him as a mentor and emulate his good work.
“Dr Sallah has the interest of the country at heart and has been advising behind the scenes,” YWAG president disclosed.
‘‘For the records, we are not a group of young people who attack the government or individuals. We are a responsible community of young Gambian writers’ promoting a literary culture in the Gambia and beyond. We promote SDG goal 4 (quality education) and reading and writing. We look at what is missing in our society for the young people and try to do it for ourselves than blame the government. This donation came at a better time when two things are about to happen: we are about to stage the second annual National Storytelling Competition 2023 and open calls for application for the 2023 Gambia Prize for Literature (GPL). When I was awarded the African Literature Award in January 2022, it was because of two things: my contributions to the development of African literature and my book (Don’t Judge the Book by The Cover),” ML Sowe commented.
Among other thing he outlined some of the YWAG activities in offing which include creating hundreds of jobs for young people in the creative industry, particularly in literature and publishing, staging of the second annual National Storytelling Competition in January 2023, move to its new office space, and open calls for applications for the 2023 Kunta Kinteh International Book Festival 2023 and The Gambia Prize for Literature 2023.
The new executive member of the YWAG, he named are Modou Lamin Age-Almusaf Sowe (author of Don’t Judge The Book by The Cover) – Founder and President, Saffiatou Joof (author of Under The Spell of Poetry) – Vice President and Spokesperson, Kebba S. Juwara (author of Spilled Beans) – Secretary-General, Fatou Joof (author of My Scars) – Assistant Secretary-General, Ansu Jatta – PRO and Program Officer, Saihou Ngallan – Media and Communications Officer, Sanusi Camara (author of Call Me Abou) – Publication and Publishing Officer, Kawsu Sanneh ( author of Tribal Grudges) – Copyright and Intellectual Property Officer, Fatoumatta Bayo ( author of Sorrows of A Stepmother) – Women and Gender Officer, Fatima Alhassan Jallow – Accountant, Bassi Mbye – National Mobilizer and Omar Drammeh – Social Secretary.
