The Gambia Association for Theatre (GAMAT),has scheduled its most awaitedc and talk about first ever congress of the year to January 10th 2009.

GAMAT,the first association of Gambian actors and actresses, was established in March 2008. The association comprises of artist  drawn from different walks of life through out the length and breadth of the Gambia, including actors, actresses, dancers, cultural troups among others.

As is always with the case many organisations through out the world, including the Gambia, GAMAT aimed among other things to bring all its members in providing opportunity or opportunities for them,to promote production of quality, affordable and accessible  movies,to improve on acting techniques and skills of its members,to collaborate with both local and international institutions in the field of theatre development,to strengthen the capacity of its members in the area of management,direct script development and production.

The January 2009 Gamat congress is meant to select the first ever new Executive Committee that will take over the leadership from the interim
committee of the association.The said congress is also scheduled to adopt the drafted constitution of the association,which will make it binding on all its
members.

Mr Saul Jagne,Acting Chairman of the task force of GAMAT said, his executive committee has registered significant progress in the course of their tenure
since the inception of the association in March to date.According to him, the interim committee embarked on numerous activities such as drama, radio
competition at unique FM in Bakau,which was sponsored by the proprietor,Alhaji Lamin Manga."The radio programme will start effective this Sunday and every other sunday.

This is a sensitisation programme for both artist community and the general public.The visit of the two Senegalese top flight actors, Ebrima Mboge alias Lamarana Jallow and Lamin Njie, meant a lot for the Gambian artist and their fans. We want to utilise and share their skills and exprience with the Gambian actors and actresses, that is the rational for  organising the  workshop  at the Gambia Family planning Association",he told the Arts and Culture anchorman in a recent  chat ahead of the January 10th 2009 congress.

Ebrima Mboge  alias Lamarana Jallow and Lamin Njie, both renowned Senegalese actors spoke to the Arts and Culture on their trip to The Gambia,life and the world of commedian or acting.Lamin Njie,said he came to the Gambia on a working visit.The visit he added is meant to share exprience and ideas with their Gambian counterparts in the world of arts,especially movie industry.

He described the Gambia's movie industry as moving in the right direction. Lamarana Jallow,also made similar comments. According to the Senegalese top flight commedian,The Gambia has the potentials to devlop her arts industry compare to any other country in the world.

"In the course of our stay  in The Gambia we will meet diffferent artistS and art lovers as well as art promoters in way meant towards promotion, development and preservation of the spirit of arts and culture in the Gambia. We are conducting a workshop for the Gambian artists, especially actors and actresses and other aspiring movie stars", Lamarana Jallow explained to the arts and culture anchorman.