By ModouLamin Age-AlmusafSowe
Creative goods and services boost economies and contribute to inclusive social development, as well as dialogue and understanding between people. Investing in the Gambia’s creative industries, particularly in music, writing, design and creative services, and visual arts and crafts, can drive sustainable economic opportunities and improve livelihoods for Gambians whilst expanding business opportunities for MSMEs.
The creative industries are also a driving force in economic development and job creation. My research paper demystifies the notion that economic development is hardly measured through art. Using the human factor development approach, this research debates the role of creative industries in the Gambia’s economic development. This model assumes that human beings are an important component in enhancing economic development through the creative industry as it is a more sustainable approach. Sustainability is enhanced by incorporating personal and human efforts to define standards in terms of creativity, hence, contributing to sustainable economic development. Further, the research argues that the employment of human factor development to enhance economic development through creative industries is of paramount importance as it allows indigenous people to take part in the developmental process of their economies.
The Gambia is a notable contributor to Africa’s arts, culture, and entertainment scenes and the music industry, which emerged in the early 60s. Our industry is young and growing in the world competing closely with Senegal and Mali for global market share. The Gambia film industry can employ more than 10, 000 people – making the Creative Industry the second largest employer after agriculture. The Gambia’s music industry can add 60% of revenue to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country and should be considered a priority sector in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of the Gambia Government.
In 2005, 16% of the world’s population has internet access, and 34% are mobile phone subscribers. Digital sales of music reached $ 1.1 billion in 2005, and digital distribution of downloaded music reached $420 million. The Culture and Creative Industries (CCI) contribute to sustainable development goals by generating income and export earnings by creating jobs, as outlined in the United Nations Creative Economy Report. There is also evidence that a thriving creative economy can foster related sectors, such as tourism and manufacturing, and encourage innovation and creativity.
The Gambia’s Creative industries have proven slow but continued growth over the last decades. The Creative Industries grew in exports from $31.05 thousand to $91.72 thousand in 2010 – 2011 (according to the Youth and Trade Roadmap for the Gambia’s Creative Industries). The country continues to be one of the Republic of Senegal’s main export destinations of creative goods and exports, many kinds of music and live arts-related services to Europe and the United States of America, with market demand from the diaspora and European events (festivals).
Over the years, efforts have been to coordinate, preserve, promote and present the best of our Crafts, Textiles, Cuisines, Traditional Dance, Drama, Cinema, Film, Photography, Folklore, Oral Traditions, Literature, Traditional games, Indigenous Architecture and to deploy them as a tool for forging national unity and identity. Similarly, cultural manifestations which are unique and diverse were at the front burner in the quest to tap into the unique resources that abound in the Gambia’s culture industry.
The Gambia Copyright Ordinance of 1911 was enacted by the colonial government mainly because at that time most of what was coming out of the Gambia was not considered intellectual property materials. The Copyright Ordinance was replaced by the Copyright Act 2004 of The Gambia leading to the establishment of the Collecting Society of The Gambia (CSG) in 2014.
As per archeological discoveries, numerous antiquities unearthed in the Gambia portrayed the early existence of individuals considered to be Gambian citizens.