NCAC celebrates increased Global Exposure for Gambian artists this summer

Speaking at a press briefing held at the NCAC RDD Annex in Kairaba Avenue on Friday, Director General Hassoum Ceesay highlighted the increasing participation of Gambian artists on global platforms as a strong sign of progress for the country’s creative industry.

“This summer, we’ve seen Gambian artists traveling more and engaging with the international community in ways that reflect the growth and vibrancy of our cultural sector,” DG Ceesay said.

He cited as a key example the upcoming participation of Gambian afro-mbalax sensation Mariam Jobe, who will represent The Gambia at the 2025 edition of the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) program in Algeria, taking place from September 4th to 7th, and the participation of Mariama Cham at the upcoming Yaram Festival 2025 on the 24th August in the UK.

He also cited the invitation of Flex Fuzion, a prominent Gambian performing arts collective by the government of the People’s Republic of China to participate in two prestigious major cultural festival in this summer 2025 while Alasan Njie, a young famous writer has been invited, too, to Ken Saro Wiwa’s Residence to join other 6000 writers this summer for residence program in Nigeria.

Recognizing the critical role of international exposure, DG Ceesay emphasized that the NCAC provided full support to many artists' travels this summer.

“Artist mobility is vital, not just for their careers, but for promoting Gambian culture and boosting our image abroad,” he stated.

Dilating on the CANEX program, organized annually by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), he said it supports the development of Africa’s Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs) as engines of economic growth and cultural engagement. The initiative focuses on helping creative enterprises to generate income through intellectual property, while also creating high-skilled jobs, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.

Recalling his experience at a previous CANEX edition, the Director General described it as an elite gathering of top African creatives, noting the significance of The Gambia’s presence. “To have Gambian artists included in such a space is a major achievement. I congratulate Mariam Jobe on her selection and commend NCAC’s role in making this possible.”

He further acknowledged the support of the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture in supporting Jobe’s nomination and successful acceptance to perform at the event.

CANEX’s broader goals include increasing Africa’s share in global cultural trade, offering specialized financial products to support the creative sector, providing technical training for export-ready production, enhancing market access, and advocating for regulatory reforms, especially in intellectual property rights and standards.