Mr. Pa Modou Bojang, General Manager of Yiriwa Development Radio Station in Brikama Town, Western Region, has lately returned from the UK where he attended the World of Music Arts and Dance Festival (WOMAD) held at the new site of the Founder Peter Gabriel in Charton Park few miles away from London from 27th to 29th July 2007.

The festival, which brought together over two million people including 40, 000 artistes across the globe, was geared towards bringing about cultural exchange through music, arts and dance. This year’s festival marked the difference as over million people were reportedly seen singing, dancing and drumming in the muddy sands of the newly -built Charton Park.

Speaking to Travel Talk, Mr. Bojang described his trip to the UK as a resounding success.  He said attending the WOMAD festival has given him the opportunity to meet and mingle with the movers and shakers of the UK society.  According to him, during his stay in the UK, he was invited to attend the Tribe of Doris Festival that took place at the Wellington Park in southwest England from 22nd to 28th August. “The Tribe of Doris is the intercultural summer school that began 17 years ago and that this year’s event attracted over 40,000 people including artists from all over the world.

“African artists were given prominence as African cultures were given more attention more than any other cultures. Many artists from the African continent including The Gambia, Senegal Zimbabwe, Nigeria and just to name a few performed at the festival,” he said.

The Yiriwa FM boss also revealed that while in the UK he attended a two-day workshop on globalization and cultural exchange at Bristol organized by Sul’art, a community-based organization that promotes cultures through providing entertainment to schools and prisons adding that forum was expertly coordinated by the Gambian sabarr teacher Modou Joof.

He further stated: “This trip has really accorded me ample opportunity to get access to partners in development for the future possible investment in this country.

“I was able to meet the BBC Bureau of International Development and Partnership where agreements were made on staff training and programme rebroadcasting. With this agreement there is a strong hope that every year one or two Yiriwa FM staff could benefit from the training package.
“I also met the Black Radio Organization in Bristol with whom so many things were discussed for the expansion o f Yiriwa Development Radio in Brikama.
“I was The Gambia goodwill ambassador to WOMAD and all these events because this is the first time that the Gambian media is being invited to these festivals.
I was able to present a paper on future investment in The Gambia at a forum organized by Gambians residing in the UK and their friends that took place in Liver Pool.

“At the investment forum I informed the gathering that The Gambia has lots of positive investment opportunities as well as an enabling investment climate and I have no doubt that if given chance not only Gambians residing in UK but many other business tycoons around the globe would invest in the country since The Gambia ranks among the most peaceful countries in the world.
“Also I attended the Northinghill carnival in London that brought together over one million people drawn over diverse societies in the UK.

“So I’m very thankful to the proprietor of Yiriwa FM Alhaji Basiru Darboe for paving the way for Yirwa’s participation and the organizers of WOMAD for inviting me to cover this year’s event. Equally I’m also very thankful to government of Gambia for the creation of a level playing field for us in the electronic media.
“My future plans include the setting up of a private television station in The Gambia that would be attached to Yiriwa Development Radio. This TV station would focus on airing programmes on environment, health, agriculture and education”.

After two years of successful operation in The Gambia, the Brikama-based Yiriwa Development Radio Station last Saturday celebrated their 2nd anniversary at their base in Brikama Sanchaba.

The celebration, marked by scintillating musical performances by the Jobarteh family alongside other renowned artistes was graced by the cross section of the Brikama community including dignitaries, listeners and ambassadors of the Station.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Pa Modou Bojang, General Manager of Yiriwa FM, said that Station was initiated by a Gambian Alhaji Basiru Darboe whose dream, he said, is to contribute towards the development of the Gambia. He said that since the inception of the Radio Station they have been in the forefront in airing numerous programmes on health, education, sports, culture and tourism.

He thanked their business partners particularly Africell, Gamcel, Bayba Express and UNFPA.  He further revealed that they are poised to cover the sub region.  

Mr Bojang went on to thank the Secretary of State for Information, Communications and Technology Mrs. Neneh Macdouall Gaye for giving them the opportunity to operate in The Gambia. He also did not forget to shower encomiums on the community of Brikama for their support over the years.

For his part, Abdou Karim Sonko who stepped in for the Information Secy underscored the importance of radio station in the socio-economic development of the country and thus advised the people of Brikama and its satellite areas to make good use of the two radio stations in Brikama- FM B and Yiriwa FM.

The Guest speaker of the occasion, Mr. Momodou Gassama, said radio broadcasting has the potentials to harness the energy of young women and men and gives them skills to contribute to the development of their communities.

He added that radio communication and information dissemination have significant functions to fulfill in supporting and fostering socio-economic , cultural and political development and transformation in African countries.

“Community radio stations are being set up with the purpose of serving the communities in which they reside with information, training, education and entertainment,” he said.