Facts and Figures

DDF Project Title: Documentary on Gambian Colonial Experience
DDF Fellow Reference Number: DDF 38
Partner in The Gambia: Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology
Geographical Coverage: Urban-Rural
Period: 2022 – 2023
DDF Grant: D300,000
Cash Contribution: D12,000
In-kind Contribution: Nil

Challenges and Opportunities

There is a pool of available talent ranging from highly trained personnel to middle level trained actors/actresses. Also, there are a couple of local/resident film directors and cinematographers whose skills can be complementary to foreign expertise. In contrast, there is a shortage of scriptwriters and postproduction equipment, and a chronic shortage of financial and other allied resources to promote and develop the film industry in line with other institutions for social development and change.

Baaba Sillah (Norway)

DDF 38

Author and Journalist, Baaba Sillah spent the past twenty years ‘’rewriting our history and reviving our rich story-telling culture, through our own lattices’’ he explains. The effort culminated in four full length social and political history novels based on Gambian history and current affairs. The first three novels are a socially dated trilogy and the fifth book is a stand-alone novel that charts out the ‘’Gambian story’’ from antiquity to present times.

‘‘The purpose for documenting our stories is to fill the void in our history that was never told or were told through the prisms of others. How can we give back to the people what belongs to them, in ways that will have meant some significant, life-changing effects through enabling programmes and strategies with the instrumentality of film?’’
~ enquired Baaba Sillah, Project Lead.

‘’This project will produce a movie that tells our story from a Gambian perspective and dissect the nexus of colonialism and independence.’’
~ said Baaba Sillah

About The Project

Up until now, no other feature film/documentary drama/TV series has been produced with direct bearing on The Gambia’s cultural heritage. Consequently, Gambians have, over the past several decades relied on foreign TV productions to bridge the gap for their daily family entertainment and education.

DDF Results and Impact

Shooting of a film entitled ‘’The Letter.’’
Training of 10 practitioners on directing, cinematography, sound recording and film.
Training of 15 participants from the film and allied industry on ‘Pitching.’
The cast and crew members were financially compensated. Also, featuring or being part of the crew in a film will help in showing their talents and expose them to the outside world thus opening avenues for them.
The film brought together the following:

· 5 actors and 4 actresses,

· 1 sound engineer from Senegal,

· 2 Gambian film makers,

· 1 production artist,

· 1 sound engineer-film composer,

· 1 line producer,

· 2 drivers,

· 2 families,

· The village community at Sabax Njaayen,

· 1 go to man in the village,

· 3 teachers from the school,

· 15 pupils 2 girls and thirteen boys,

· 1 local facilitator at the village,

· The village Alkaalo, two elders and 1 enabler

6. The crew did not know each other but by the end of the activity, the entire crew bonded in tangible ways. They all came together at my residence and to my utter surprise, they want all of us to come together to work together and do other productions especially in relation to children’s stories/cartoons and the like.

7. From the film, the people will learn about their past, their stories, their voices, choices and their strengths.