By sainabou Sambou
Irregular migration by Gambians is a phenomenon that is well known and discussed, yet, according to research, little is understood of the deep personal and socio-cultural motives for their embarkation on the perilous journey mainly to Europe.
The other critical issue the Gambian society is dealing with is Gender Based Violence (GBV). According to the Demographic and Health Survey 2019-20, almost half (46%) of women have experienced physical violence since age 15, including 11% during the year preceding the survey (Gambia Bureau of Statistics 2021).
In light of these menacing societal phenomena, Ebrima Dembajang, a young Gambian has taken it upon himself to attempt to address the issues in a book entitled, ‘The Widow Next Door’, which is now set for launching.
Ebrima is a highly motivated and dedicated youth determined to making waves in The Gambian literary realm. He has a passion for writing and a strong commitment to addressing societal issues. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in development studies at the University of The Gambia. Ebrima’s educational journey has laid the foundation for his success as a young author and youth leader.
He began his educational journey at Scanaid Lower Basic School and proceeded to Scanaid Upper and Senior Secondary School.
He began his literary journey by writing poems and seeking guidance from his English teacher. “My passion for writing grew as I entered university. I wrote articles on various topics - over 17 published articles on my personal blog". He said his writing has allowed him to engage with a wider audience and raise awareness about social issues and current affairs.
Mr Dembajang said he is inspired and saddened by the stories of individuals who have experienced the loss of loved ones through irregular migration.
In this exclusive with Gambia Daily, the young author explained that his book aims to shed light on the hardships faced by widows in the Gambian societies, gender-based violence in general and the dangers of irregular migration.
“Through the story of Amina, a resilient widow in the village of Jarra Jiffin, the book explores themes of love, loss, societal expectations, and the indomitable human spirit. Additionally, it aims to raise awareness about gender-based violence against women and the complications that arise from irregular migration,” he further explained.
On the book launch, Mr Dembajang, said the launching is going to be a day of celebrating Gambian literature and to instill hope in young writers and aspiring authors. “It will equally be a day to speak against irregular migration and gender-based violence,” he added.
“As a young author, I must acknowledge the lack of support for writers and authors in The Gambia. I, therefore, call for support from individuals and organisations to help writers address societal problems through their art. So, I call on the community to recognise the value of authors and provide the necessary support for their work to flourish. I want to call on anyone who can help me publish this book and equally launch it. We do not have a specific day as of now because that depends on the response of the sponsors and individuals,” he said.