The project is funded by the African Culture Fund and implemented by Flex Fuzion Entertainment and Dance Academy through Afriq Divas, Gambia's first and leading all-girls dance team established in 2013.
Commenting on this project, Ndey Fatou Jabang, chief executive officer (CEO) of Flex Fuzion Entertainment and Dance Academy who doubles as the founder of Afriq Divas said over the past decade, her organisation has made remarkable strides in challenging stereotypes towards female dancers, promoting dance as a career, and creating employment opportunities for young women in the dance sector.
“We have also played a pivotal role in founding The Gambia's first established dance company and school (Flex Fuzion Entertainment, and Dance Academy.)
The academy has trained over 500 young people in performing arts skills and entrepreneurship.
Justifying the project, she said in Gambian context, women in the performing arts sector, particularly dancers, face significant challenges, while noting that lack of gender equality capacity-building training and comprehensive understanding of fundamental human rights are key obstacles hindering the development of women in the dance industry.
She explained that the project is addressing the challenges of youth through capacity-building for female artists in the dance sector with a profound understanding of their rights, including protection against sexual harassment, exploitation and the right to equal opportunities.
“Recently, we concluded a 3-day training for 30 women in the areas of human rights, women’s rights, legal rights in performance contracts, negotiations skills, and intellectual property rights,” she also said.
A certification ceremony was held to recognise the achievements of the trainees while Afriq Divas’s 10th anniversary was also commemorated at the Ebunjan Theatre. The ceremony was attended by the US Ambassador to The Gambia alongside other dignitaries.
At the certification ceremony and commemoration of Afriq Divas anniversary, she said diverse backgrounds of "female dancers" on stage exemplify their commitment to multiple income streams.
"We are dancers with double/triple talents compared with other careers in our ranks. We are models, hairdressers, fashion designers, auto engineers, nurses, communications officers for NGOs, entrepreneurs, journalists, waitresses, bank tellers and more," she expressed.
Dance is a career like any other profession and we are proud of our commitment and results, which are now used by many dancers as the blueprint for establishing successful dance brands,” she further said.
“Despite societal backlash and hurtful remarks, we refused to be silenced. We broke free, reclaimed our voices, and stood resolutely for ourselves and all women in the performing sector," she stated.
