By: Hassoum Ceesay
Sam Jones who died yesterday in his 68th year was ace Gambian radio personality who excelled in DJ-ing, news casting, football commentary from 1980 to his death . Anyone who knew him, did so because of his beautiful voice which was a regular diet on Gambian airwaves for 45 years. In the later years of his career, he made his international breakthrough with stints as commentator for the BBC at the South Africa World Cup in 2010, and in the Qatar World Cup in 2022.
But this international flourish was earned the very hard way here in The Gambia. In 1980, he joined Radio Gambia as a rookie assistant producer, the starting rung at the then Radio Gambia under The Gambia Information Department led by Suwaibou Conateh(1944-2018). Sam Jones animated Gambian airwaves as a young Dj hosting many fantastic Radio Gambia music shows such as Saturday Clubalternating with Shola Lewis, or much later, Abdoul Aziz Willan aka Prince Jaja. Malick also freelanced for Radio Syd, the legendary Gambian music radio of 1970 to 2002. In between, Malick blasted the nightclubs of Banjul and Serekunda with his dj skills. But his first love was broadcasting.
Indeed, Malick’s illustrious career as a broadcaster was not without hitches. For example, even before he finished his induction course at Radio Gambia, he masterminded a short lived strike by young staff at Mile 7 asking for better working conditions and transport facilities. He was joined in this first ever industrial action by a Gambian media house by Aziz Willan, Bora Mboge, and ace radio producer Femi Jeng, who perished in the mindless violence of Kukoi Samba Sanyang’s attempted coup of 1981. He told me the strike was ended only after senior media personalities like M.B Jones, editor of The Gambia Outlook, intervened.
Malick helped to promote Gambian football commentary on radio. Besides Sidi Jammeh, he sat by Saul Njie and Bora Mboge and Pap Saine, the doyen of Gambian sports reportage to bring ball to ball account of The Gambian leagues and international football matches. He told me he was there at the press box when the Independence Stadium was dedicated by His Excellency, President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, GCRG, in 1984.
From this period to his retirement in 2016, Malick climbed up the ladder of what was now called GRTS, reaching to the esteemed rank of Director General. In fact, he occupied this position twice; he had the unenviable task of being in charge of the State Broadcaster during the infamous post election Impasse of 2016-2017. He was pilloried for how GRTS helped to embolden those who wanted to steal the peoples’ mandate. But he told me that if only people knew what he did not broadcast in the spirit of maintaining the fragile peace, they would have been more charitable to him.
Malick produced my popular history show on Afri FM for three years. I remember him for his punctuality and assiduity. Malick believed in himself, perhaps to the point of fault, but those of us who have worked with him admired him for his love of his profession which is why he never really retired from the studio till his untimely death 30 January, 2024.
In his death, a beautiful, consistent and proud voice of Gambian broadcasting has been stilled.
To his wife, children and many, many fans and former colleagues, I convey sincere condolences and pray that his Soul rest in perfect peace.
(Alhaj Malick(Sam Jones) Broadcaster, DJ and Media Administrator, born 1956, died 30 January, 2024).
Hassoum Ceesay