BUZZ

New lease of life for Gambia media industry
As new journalism graduates enter the field

The standard of journalism in The Gambia is set to improve a notch-higher as new journalism graduates entered the profession and are poised to change the traditional way of writing news to a more international standard.

The pioneering class of the ‘Professional Reporter Diploma Programme’, a project financed by Gambia Media Support (GAMES) and implemented by the Gambia Press Union (GPU), has graduated in February after completing the two-year course, which focuses on core journalism skills as well as pedagogical skills.

“The course changed a whole perspective on writing news from our traditional way of writing news stories to a more international standard,” Haddija Jawara, who emerged as the best graduate, said while delivering the valedictory speech at the graduation ceremony held on 24 February at TANGO.
She said:  “Like many of my colleagues seated here today, I join the media without any background in journalism. And as journalists we are expected to educate, entertain and enlighten the public- that leaves us with many challenges.

“To do this noble job, one needs to have some knowledge on journalism in order to be an effective and professional in your work. I always knew that I was not meeting my expectations.”
Ms Jawara pointed out that when she was selected for the course, she took advantage of the opportunity knowing the fact that is a rear opportunity that she yearned for to equip herself and become that journalist she always aspired to be.
She was one of the 20 out of about 100 journalists selected to undergo the training after going through rigorous selection process by GPU/GAMES.
“During our first module with Flemmings Seiersen, a Journalist, a Retired Professor from the Danish School of Journalism and a Farmer from Denmark, we were made to un-learn all that we had known in journalism,” Ms Jawara recalled.  Adding:  “Most of us thought that we already know a lot about journalism because some of us were senior reporters, some where even editors.”
She said after their first lesson on the very basic skills in news writing, “we realized that a lot of improvement was needed in our writing”.

After that first lesson, when Flemmings Seiersen left, Ms Jawara explained that their hopes were raised as they have growing confidence in their writing ability.

She said to excel in their programme, one have to be dedicated and committed to what you are doing.
“This was not easy at first for us because any article we wrote have to be thoroughly researched; we had to speak to various sources to confirm what they are saying not only that you have analyzed whether they are reliable and unreliable sources,” she said.

She continued:  “We also make sure that any article we wrote have to reflect the daily experiences of the ordinary Gambian. We call this approach to journalism as ‘journalism that you can use’.”

Shares an anecdote

Haddija shares a story with the well-wishers who attended their graduation said:  “I remember when our group was doing our final assignment, a web production on sex workers in The Gambia, when we were investigating the story we went around various bars and brothels in the Greater Banjul Area at night to see what was going on.
“We even went to an extend of introducing ourselves as sex workers to really know what was going on and have the opportunity to interview sex workers themselves.”
“We went through all these because we felt as journalist we needed to effect positive change in society and because very few care about sex workers and its growing rate in the Gambia with the influx of young people in the trade of sex work.”

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

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Trobul Smallzz

Trobul Smallz (born Ebrahim Suso (09/08/1986 in The Gambia), into the legendary line of Suso ‘Jalos’ (traditional griots), Trobul Smalls aka Prince Talib (his alter ego) is the grandson of the late Alieu Suso, a prominent Kora maker and player in the Gambia and the sub-region in his days. A game changing artist and a hood and street HipHop royalty, Prince Talib aka Trobul Smallz also referred to as just T-Smallz, grew up and is from a distinguished musical family background in the coastal town of Bakau, a situation which doubtlessly helped to hone his talent and skills as an instrumentalist, singer and rapper.

 

Smallz recalled, “at a very tender age when I use to wake up every morning, all I found littered around my compound were local instruments of different kind (Kora, Jembeh, Balafon) which I learnt how to play under the watchful eyes of my family and especially my grandpa”. Though an avid soccer player and was even once drafted into the Gambia U-15 national team, Smallz ventured into the music business head on by starting to record professionally. His first song ‘Rise n Shine’ was recorded and produced at Adent Studios in Bakoteh ( now made popular by T. Smallz and his rap peers as BK City) where he now lives with his parents and siblings. One song followed another and boom…the super hit title ‘Gis Nga Yow’ featuring singing sensation Marion and the third of the unofficial BK City Crew, Tam50 dominated the airwaves and night joints around the country.

 

‘Gis Nga Yow’ has been such a success that the name of the song is synonymous to T-Smallz and fans both young and old shout out ‘Gis Nga Yow’ whenever Smallz is in sight. Following the success of ‘Gis Nga Yow’ and several other cuts like ‘Ring On Ya Finger’ featuring Rugie, ‘God’s Will’ featuring Pa Omar Jack and ‘Wahang Baneh’, Smallz put together and released a mixtape which was a great success especially among school going population and particularly in the hoods and streets, hence his status and reputation as the true prince of HipHop in The Gambia. Smallz also featured on several ‘Riddims’ and performed duets with a host of other artists, most notably on the very successful ‘Hypnotize’ by Sing-A-Teh aka Freaky Joe from his much acclaimed ‘Rejoice’ album. Approaching his mid 20s now, Trobul Smallz still caters for his loyal youthful following but is also venturing into producing songs to entice fans of different generations and his recently released single ‘Dallu’ is already a hit among all music lovers.

 

Formerly of the Zion Yard music family of Bakoteh (BK City), Trobul Smallz is now signed with The Gambia’s biggest recording label Music-O Records and working on his forthcoming album to be titled ‘tha PRINCE is TROBUL’ is well underway.