In a flurry of engagements at State House, the president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh Monday received in separate audiences the publisher and chief executive officer of Elegance Media Group, publisher of the new quarterly Elegance Magazine; and one Buba Jallow of Kerr Sering, a designer artiste.

Speaking to reporters shortly after her closed-door meeting with President Jammeh, Chilel Sarr, a UK-based Gambian explained that her publication is a new UK-Gambian society cum lifestyle magazine that is designed to promote The Gambia and its culture, as well as the good things and developments taking place in the country. Madam Sarr stated that she was at State House to introduce the magazine to the president in view of the fact that since it was out she could not meet him [the president].

“He [The president] was very impressed and we had discussed a lot of issues. It has always been my dream to launch a magazine – it is a passion when you are doing something you love, you tend to spend all the time. So everybody appreciates it and we are telling them to look forward to the next issue, which is coming out very soon; and I am planning a launch of the first and second issues in May [this year] in The Gambia,” she disclosed.

Audience with young Gambian artiste
President Jammeh also granted audience to one Buba Jallow, a 29-year-old Gambian artiste designer who showcased his work to the Gambian leader. Jallow told reporters in a brief interview that he was at the presidency to showcase a work on the president he has been doing ‘silently’ for 11 years; as well as his crafting talent and creativity in fashion design.

He explained: “I target to work on general wears like digital T-shirt designs, customized jeans, caps, customized ashobees, leather belts, leather shoes, plastic sandals, leather sandals etc.” The young artiste described his audience with the Gambian leader as a very pleasant moment for him [Jallow] while explaining that his desire to work silently was in order to avoid any kind of discouragement from some people who wanted him to do something else other than the career he has chosen. He then expressed gratitude to some friends who he said were relentless in their encouragement to him, especially in nurturing his career.

He described his talents as natural, intimating that he nurtured it through constant training. The young artiste expressed gratitude to the Gambian leader for the audience granted to him, describing it as a mark of his unceasing empowerment of the country’s youth folk. Further describing this move as President Jammeh’s commitment towards encouraging and promoting talents in the country, Jallow also urged other Gambian youths who are creative to come out and showcase what they have. He stressed that the youths must “die for their country and the work they are doing”.  

He added: “And for your information before 2015 I will design military apparel for our armed forces  -official wears plus combat boots.” The chairperson of the Green Industries Limited, Fatou Sinyang Mergam, who together with some officials of the company were invited to be present when the president granted audience to the young artiste, described Jallow’s presentation as wonderful. She confessed that they were surprised to discover that there is a Gambian with such talent but yet unknown.

“We are hoping that he [the artiste] will come on board [the Green Industry] and try to partner with him; and we have already requested him to visit the Green Industry. He has good ideas and we are very proud of him as a Gambian,” she enthused.