Janet
Badjan-Young, Artistic director of Ebunjan Theatre Troupe recently launched a
book entitled: “Back Way.”
The
launching which was held at the Ebunjan Theatre House in Kanifing was attended
by senior government officials and other organisations in the country.
The
book seeks to discourage youths from going through the ‘back way’ and expose
them to the negative implication it has.
Speaking
to journalists at the launching ground, Janet Badjan-Young, Artistic director
of Ebunjan Theatre and also the Chairperson for Ebunja Theatre Performing
Artistic Association, said the book was about illegal immigration to Europe
called the ‘back way’, a desperate route to Babylon.
According
to Madam Young, this was a very topical issue at the moment, hence it was a
good idea to have it done as a play so that when young Gambians decide to leave
The Gambia to cross over to Europe they would know the dangers that they would
be encounter.
“I
have interviewed a quite a number of them who have gone through the ‘back way’;
how they went, how they felt, the troubles they had and the dangers that they
have come across,” she said.
She
said it takes a lot of time to do the research and to present it to make it
dramatic for it to have meaning and substance.
Janet
Badjan-Young said ‘Back Way’ is an outstanding example of drama as an
instrument of communication and the role it could play in changing negative
attitudes and behaviors.
She
said the book could be used as a resource material and catalyst to inspire
youths to make meaningful contributions towards the development of The Gambia.
Hassoum
Ceesay, director of Cultural Heritage, and historian at the National Centre for
Art and Culture (NCAC), who reviewed the book, said they went through the whole
work in relation to language, styles, settings, characters and always offered
some personal and very subjective values to the work.
The
book was launched by Mohammeh Jallow, permanent secretary at the Ministry of
Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE).
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