Gambia Copyright Office commemorates World Book, Copyright Day

The daylong event was held at the Never Again Memorial Arch and brought together different music promoters, film producers, intellectuals, collecting society and a guest speaker from Canada.

Copyright Day is annually celebrated on 23rd April by UNESCO and partners across the globe to promote the enjoyment of books and culture of reading. It provides a link between the past and the future as well as a bridge between generations and across cultures.

Hassoum Ceesay, the Director General of NCAC said languages are not only methods of communication but also extensive and complex systems of knowledge that have developed over decades.

“For indigenous people, languages did not only identify their origin or membership in a community but also carry the ethical values of their ancestors,” he disclosed.

Sanna Jawara, the Copyright Officer at NCAC said “Copyright protection offered both economic and moral rights.”

Mr. Jawara said this year's celebration marked the first event of the Copyright Office in the public domain of The Gambia since its establishment under the NCAC.

Edmond Allmond of UREEQA Music and Copyright Consulting Firm, Canada, the Guest Speaker in delivering his keynote address said language is a means of communication which is important for people to appreciate who they are.

"Everything we do is communication – how we dress, the cloth we wear that bring out joys in us and make us happy, and seeing the English speaking English language, the French-speaking the French language, this is not just joy but education for us,” he said.

With copyright, we have to understand first that a lot of respect comes from understanding those indigenous languages and what they represent, he also said.

Oko Drammeh, a music promoter claimed that most Gambian stories are written by foreigners.

According to him, "Many of our cultures are practiced by foreigners. If we are not mindful, a time will come when Gambians will be going to England and other parts of Europe or America to study Kora, Jembe.” 

The music promoter icon, therefore, urged people "to protect the gift that God has given to us and focus on what we own."

 Ms. Sainey Ceesay, Marketing Manager for NCAC on behalf of the Copyright Office under NCAC thanked the official sponsor of the event, Trust Bank Plc and Africell for their support.