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F-PAG: Congress For Change With Essa Jallow, elected president of F-PAG for the next 3 years
Dozens of established filmmakers joined with the National Center for Arts and Culture on Saturday the 5th of November at the hotel school Congress organized by Film Producer’s Association Gambia “F-PAG” to address problems and election of new executives.
The Gambia’s Film Industry has not been evolving as it supposed to be since its inception in the 1960s with the establishment of The Gambia Film Unit in 1967. Film Producers Association of The Gambia, known as F-PAG, was created in 2014 with its primary objective to bring filmmakers together to foster collaboration and accelerate the growth and development of Film Industry in The Gambia.
While more than half of film producers in The Gambia are still striving to survive, Gambia movie industry continues to struggle and out of excitement, many film producers aren’t yet ready to give up.
The Congress was chaired by the Public relations and communications Manager Ousman Kebbeh who welcome everyone and make known of his support for F-PAG. Moment of silence was taken for the Fallen heroes of the organization, Isatou Jallow and Ebou Waggeh after which the floor was given to the outgoing President Zaidy Jallow.
“I am extraordinarily grateful for the unprecedented support from our industry partners and the talented and concerned members of the movie industry ,” FPAG outgoing president Zaidy Jallow said. “The value of their recognition of the unique importance of movie to our communities, culture, and their support before Congress of the unique needs of movie producers in this country cannot be underestimated. It was an honor for me to be given the position, am happy that I was able to extend what I can do for film producers through F-PAG.”
He further emphasize on how film are great unifiers where our nation’s most talented storytellers showcase their cinematic accomplishments. To Zaidy, every aspiring filmmaker, actor, and producer dreams of bringing their art to the silver screen, is an irreplaceable experience that represents the pinnacle of filmmaking achievement in The Gambia. These was later followed by the amendment of the constitution which will guide the actions of the new Executives and F-PAG members.
There was no bipartisan support for the new constitution, which had been set for a vote on Saturday before the Democratic election that follows while talks continue. In contrast there was broad support for the amended constitution that will unlocked alot of help for film makers to get through the 3 years until another amendment or change will be made.
There can be plenty more to come. So maybe it’s too soon to panic over what’s happening and the low ratings of struggles,since new executives are elected, the industry still hopes the leaders are right: The Gambia theater might still need more help.
Questions and answers were encouraged as well as opinions and contributions throughout the Congress. With the proliferation of streaming and other dark options, some have wondered about whether movie production as a will in The Gambia will survive. But proponents — and major contributors and their allies — also point to the profit motive of change and improvement as their main goal.
Nominations was made, and the Elected president Essay Jallow, behind a dozen microphones, he waved to the crowd and took a leap into history as he declared his bid for the Democratic nomination for presidency of the Film Producer’s Association Gambia.
Essa Jallow, the elected president of FPAG made known that, the dramatic language of the plea—“our movies cannot get to be played on TV stations without us being charge or asked to be in percentage” . He couldn’t help but recall a peculiar truth about the movie business. That is, it is usually dying of something. In fact, he made it clear that morbidity is an old habit in The Gambia Movie industry. The trick to get Gambia movies having their ways in the TV stations to him is to know what is really an existential threat and to have that way in all the way through without any hindrances or unnecessary charges will be his first goal.
Yamou Mbaye becoming the first woman to be elected as Vice President of F-PAG said, she feel happy and grateful for the position given and will try all that she can to serve the purpose. For the first time, a woman has been elected Vice President of FPAG, it is an history made and blazed a trail for future generations in the industry to follow.
By Amie T. Camara
Fatou S. Bojang is one of Gambia’s favorite Actresses.
Afrinity Production draw cognizance to Fatou S. Bojang, a 38 year-old Gambian actress currently working with the National Accreditation & Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) as an Accounts Officer. She is an Accountant by profession and on top of that, a part-time Actor.
Fatou is one of the most talented actors in the Gambia, isn’t she? Apart from that, she comes from a very humble background and well known for her Mandinka movie role in AISHA where she caught everyones attention.
She was born and raised in Sukuta, West Coast Region. She did both her primary and junior
secondary education in Sukuta. For high school, she proceeded to Nusrat Senior Secondary School after which she went to Management Development Institute (MDI) to enroll in a Professional Accountancy Course call Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT). The Actress also did a short-term training programme in Financial Accounting in India.
The Actress had a classic story that defines the phrase ‘motivat and rise above all odds’. In her teen years, she was living in a circle of motivation and she was very happy and there was something charming about her passion for change.
Fatou is into acting because of her passionate for it, even though the Gambia movie industry is “working-in-progress” and one can’t entirely rely on it. Despite that struggle, she can’t let go as she is so much in love with acting.
What inspired was her is a friend and was during her younger age. “He lost his mother at a very tender age and he was staying with his stepmother. The kind of mistreatment this boy went through was unbearable. As young as he was, he was doing all the domestic chores in that house. Despite his half siblings being there, they do nothing. He was subjected to all kinds of insults and harassments. Sometimes, he goes to school barefooted with no lunch or money. To cut it short, he went through hell. If I still recall what this friend of mine went through, I always cry. The saddest thing was, after all that he was subjected to, he didn’t survive it, so he passed away.”
“From that point on, I was inspired to act to bring out the different roles in educating others out there who are doing the same thing and to make a difference in whatever small or big way I can contribute”. She said.
When asked why acting, she said acting is something she love doing and that where her passionate comes from. Besides that, she draw attention on the important roleactors in our societt as they educate, entertain and above all, inform on how, when and what do in different situations.”Actors put into visual, real-life stories and experiences that society can actually learn from and at the same time getting entertained”, she elaborated.
“The saddest thing is, in The Gambia most people see us (Actors) as jokers or clowns and they do not take us seriously like our neighbouring countries do. We are not viewed in high regards as citizens who have the potential to contribute to the development of the country socially and economically. So far, what is keeping us going in the film sector in The Gambia is the passion/love for the art itself and nothing more, as it’s not paying enough at all.”
“For the wider world, most people tend to judge you based on the roles you play as an actor
instead. When you feature as a prostitute, a drunkard, an arm robber, heartless or cruel person, most people think that is your true nature not knowing that you are just trying to
perform a role that you were given to play”, she lamented.
Fatou looks up to the following people;
Malafi Manneh of Bolong Daala Drama and Cultural Troupe for being a person at his age, still able to dance, sing and his role interpretation is just amazing.And for being there for so many years, showing so much love for the industry.
Jennifer Lynn Lopez or J.Lo of Hollywood, for her comportment, fashion and role interpretation.
Monica Davies, who is also her best friend and also for being an outstanding actress and does her work to expectation. Furthermore, they have been friends for more than a decade now and all that she had shown me is love, care and sisterhood. “I commend her for always being there for me. She is one person I can say openly that we are very close,” she said.
Her professional goal is to boost and place the Gambia movie industry to the limelight through lots of collaborations with outside countries to create that market for the Gambian content in the wider world. Also capacity building in
forms of seminars, training workshops, etc. to enhance the Gambian Cinema to be able to create jobs for the youth.
By Amie T. Camara
We are excited to announce that, due to our remarkable growth over the past years, we are expanding!
In fact, we have launch an online radio which is easy to access.
In the last few months, we have been tirelessly working to improve our production and we believe that Afrinity Radio will help you enjoy your experience with Afrinity Production even more.
We invite you to celebrate with us by downloading the free app on your App Store and Google play and stream for free. There will be many exciting surprises, including irresistible music plays and more.
You can also listen to the radio 📻 Live on our website at www.afrinitypro.com
Click the link below to download.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.afrinity
IS MODOU LAMIN MARONG THE NEXT GAMBIA FOOTBALL SAVIOR?
Afrinity Production today draw cognizance on Modou Lamin Marong, a Gambian Sweden based professional football player. He is 22 years old and started his football career since he was a kid.
Growing up in the Gambia and from a small village in Niumi Mayamba in the North Bank Region of the Country. Football has always been his passion since he was young.
Lamin Marong played for football clubs like JONSERED IF in which he scored a total goal of 18 and 12 assist before playing for his present team ROBERTSFORS IK which he joined in less than a month and scored 2 goals.
Staying in Sweden for about 4 years, Marong has scores not less than 20 goals due to his unique skills, his pace, fastness and goal scoring ambitions. He made known of his experience in Sweden and how learning under different coaches has helped him.
Modou Lamin Marong has interviews with BBC and other well known Media houses as he plan further on how he want to take The Gambia to the world.
When ask about what his weakness is, Marong replied “My weakness in football is I hate loosing.”
He further said, “Yes football is My Dream. And I am living in my Dreams now”.
BY Amie T. Camara
Afrinity Production: Finally Susant Singh Rajput will get justice if he was actually murdered.
Susant Singh Rajput was found dead in his flat in Mumbai on 14 June. Police said he had killed himself.
But according to various comments and videos put forward by Susant’s fans and confirmed by some renown nurses in India and beyond that the actor was murdered.
Since then, unverified details about his career, financial status and even mental health have dominated headlines.
Afrinity Production in a quiet shock can finally see the stand of people on the death of the Indian Actor as a pure murder case which at the moment triggered a lot of backlash.
And this has led to a tussle over who has jurisdiction to investigate – police in Mumbai or his home state Bihar.
BBC said, India’s Supreme Court has directed the country’s federal investigation agency to probe the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
A single judge bench of the Supreme Court said that the Bihar government was competent to request the case be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in India.
His family, who have filed a case of abetment to suicide against his ex girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, have also been asking for the case to be moved away from Mumbai.
On social media, she has been called a “gold digger” who “took away Sushant’s money”.
But the actor’s ex girlfriend has denied any wrongdoing and issued a plea to Home Minister Amit Shah for a fair investigation into Sushant’s death. She had also moved the court asking that the case be heard in Mumbai.
By. Amie T. Camara
Public Enemy part ways with Flavor Flav – Chuck D says its about money
Public Enemy say they’ve parted ways with their charismatic MC Flavor Flav, after more than 35 years.
The dismissal came two days after the rapper sent a cease-and-desist letter to Bernie Sanders’ campaign after his bandmates said they’d appear at one of his rallies in Los Angeles.
“Public Enemy and Public Enemy Radio will be moving forward without Flavor Flav,” said the group in a statement.
“We thank him for his years of service and wish him well.”
Frontman Chuck D later suggested the disagreement over Sanders’ rally was financially, not politically, motivated.
“If there was a $bag, Flav would’ve been there front & centre,” he wrote on Twitter. “He will NOT do free benefit shows.”
Their split comes just a month after the band was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys.
Flavor Flav co-founded Public Enemy in the 1980s after meeting Chuck D at Long Island’s Adelphi University.
Their early albums radically changed the sound of hip-hop, with a sound that was politically and musically uncompromising.
But tensions have been rising since 2017, when Flavor Flav – real name William Drayton – sued his bandmates and the group’s managers over unpaid profits.
The case had been dismissed before last week’s stand-off over Sanders’ rally.
Flavor Flav’s cease-and-desist letter accused the campaign of using his “unauthorised likeness, image and trademarked clock in promotional materials” for a Los Angeles rally, even though the rapper “has not endorsed any political candidate”.
“While Chuck is certainly free to express his political view as he sees fit – his voice alone does not speak for Public Enemy,” the letter continued.
“The planned performance will only be Chuck D of Public Enemy, it will not be a performance by Public Enemy. Those who truly know what Public Enemy stands for know what time it is. There is no Public Enemy without Flavor Flav.”
‘Ungrateful’
Chuck D mocked the star’s statement, saying his former bandmate didn’t “know the difference between Barry Sanders or Bernie Sanders”, and was simply unprepared to play for free.
He said Flavor had previously refused to play a fundraiser for Harry Belafonte’s human rights charity Sankofa in 2016, calling the star “ungrateful” – especially as Belafonte had inducted Public Enemy to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013.
“I would not have Public Enemy without Flavor,” he concluded. “However, I will park it in the driveway, take off the plates [and] wait to re-register it when it’s running right.”
A lawyer for Chuck D added in a statement to Rolling Stone magazine: “From a legal standpoint, Chuck could perform as Public Enemy if he ever wanted to; he is the sole owner of the Public Enemy trademark.
“He originally drew the logo himself in the mid-80s, is also the creative visionary and the group’s primary songwriter, having written Flavor’s most memorable lines.”
Shortly after announcing Flavor’s dismissal, Public Enemy Radio – an offshoot of the main group, featuring Chuck D, DJ Lord, Jahi and the S1Ws – went ahead with their performance at senator Sanders’ rally, performing classics like Fight the Power, Bring the Noise and Shut ‘Em Down.
During the set, which was livestreamed online, Chuck D urged people to register to vote in the upcoming US Presidential election.
“Voting is [as] important as washing your ass in the morning,” he declared.
Netflix’s first African series, Queen Sono, premieres
Netflix’s first African original series, Queen Sono – about a spy from South Africa – has been released.
The streaming site’s six-episode TV thriller stars South African Pearl Thusi as the eponymous secret agent.
Written and directed by Kagiso Lediga, an award-winning stand-up comedian in South Africa, Queen Sono is filmed in several locations across the continent.
Thusi is quoted as saying that it is empowering for Africans to tell their own stories.
“Controlling the narrative is really important because we’re tired of seeing, particularly, just struggle stories,” Entertainment Weekly quoted her as saying.
Several African languages are also used during the drama, which centres on Queen Sono trying to uncover the truth behind the death of her mother, who was a hero of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle.
Other themes include corruption as well as much James Bond-style action and, like the fictional British spy, Queen Sono does not always play by the rules.
Reviews so far have been mixed, but most point to how refreshing it is to see a story that is set in modern-day Africa with a central character who is African.
Of all the performances, veteran actress South African Abigail Kubeka is widely praised for her humorous turn as Queen’s grandmother.
Africa is most famous for its Nollywood film productions that come out of Nigeria – it is a multi-billion dollar enterprise.
Experts say what Netflix offers storytellers in Africa is an opportunity to produce better-quality dramas.
In 2018, Netflix acquired the rights to Nigerian feature film Lionheart, directed by Nollywood star Genevieve Nnaja.
It became Nigeria’s first-ever Oscar submission for best international feature film, but it was disqualified as it was largely in English.
All six episodes of Queen Sono are now available for Netflix members, who must pay a monthly fee to stream content.
Military Wives: ‘Director didn’t want us to sound too slick’
When Gareth Malone created his Military Wives choir, the effects were to prove far more enduring and profound than the resulting flurry of fame.
The ensemble was formed in 2011 as part of BBC Two’s The Choir series, led by Malone.
The documentary followed their transformation from an anonymous group of military wives into harmonious chart-toppers performing for the Queen.
As well as showing the therapeutic value of communal singing, Malone’s efforts gave an insight into the life of the military wife – not least, the months of loneliness and the need to keep “a stiff upper lip”, despite being wracked with worry when their partners were away.
These are women who are hardly seen, let alone heard, but Malone gave them a public face – and voice.
Malone’s choir of wives from the Chivenor military base in Devon – joined later by those at Plymouth – was not, in fact, the first. That credit goes to the women of Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire, who were established under their own steam. They sparked an idea in Malone which grew into the TV documentary.
There are now 75 choirs, comprising 2,300 women, dotted around the world, supported by the Military Wives charitable foundation, of which most are a part.
And now the story is hitting the big screen in a new film starring Catastrophe’s Sharon Horgan and film and theatre star Dame Kristen Scott Thomas.
Though not heavily involved in the production, directed by The Fully Monty’s Peter Cattaneo, Malone did act as story consultant.
The film is loosely inspired by the Catterick story with elements of Malone’s original choir thrown in.
Cattaneo says he wanted to “explore a way of life that has rarely been seen on the big screen, as well as make a film with music and singing at its core”.
“As I started meeting real military wives, rich themes soon showed themselves: a fragmented group of people finding unity and camaraderie through song: women who are expected to ‘keep quiet and carry on’ finding their voices,” he adds.
Horgan plays Lisa, the ballsy, somewhat jaded, mother of a rebellious teenage daughter.
When the Catastrophe actress first read the script, she cried.
“It moved me but it also makes you feel good,” she says of the movie that features 80s pop tracks from the likes of Tears For Fears, Cyndi Lauper, Yazoo and Human League.
“It’s great to watch these women come together and see a good thing happen despite the really difficult situation they’re in,” Horgan says.
“And a film that has a female cast that isn’t about love or broken hearts but something bigger felt very of the now. Women coming together to help each other is kind of what we have to do at the moment because if we’re not careful, no-one else will.”
There’s also a social message about the value of community that can be extrapolated from the women’s group activity, says Horgan.
“Everyone’s becoming introverted in the way they are living. Life’s very hard and we all have a lot to deal with but if you look a little further beyond, it can become a really positive thing.”
Horgan’s character Lisa and Scott Thomas’s Kate have very different approaches to what constitutes morale-boosting activities for the women.
Lisa is the “let’s get smashed and eat junk food” type – “not far off what I normally play”, says Horgan.
Colonel’s wife Kate’s thoughts turn more to organised and challenging pursuits. And though she herself seems so controlled, in private Kate has acquired a compulsive shopping channel habit, as a means of tranquilising the grief over her dead son.
When a choir is finally suggested, they slowly develop an uneasy partnership as the idea grows, with a glorious outcome none of the women predicted.
During the course of filming, fiction met reality for the cast and crew.
They created many of the scenes at real garrisons, including Catterick, and spent time with the wives – some of whom were used as background characters.
“It was incredibly eye-opening,” says Horgan. “We were hanging out in their houses, with these mothers and wives and seeing this completely different perspective.
“But they weren’t moaning about it. They were optimistic, just ‘get it done’ kind of people.”
As for the singing, she says the actors adopted the same “organic” approach as the real military wives.
“The director didn’t want it to sound slick – although, there was no fear of that – but for it to come together over time. There was no practising or stress, just, ‘Let’s see what happens’.”
Critics gave their verdict following the movie’s premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
“Think Calendar Girls with less nudity and more harmonising… Military Wives is a film that’s hard to entirely resist, like a song that you’ll hum along to even if you forget the tune straight after,” said The Guardian.
Indiewire added it made “the base feel like a purgatory without things getting too unpleasant”.
“What joy there is to be found in Military Wives comes less from self-discovery than friendship, as these women learn how much stronger they are together.”
But behind this piece of celluloid are real women. They, more than anyone, are entitled to a point of view.
For Sharon (surname withheld) from Chivenor, who was in Malone’s choir, the movie churned up challenging feelings.
“It took me back there and that knot in your stomach, watching your husband go away, even when there isn’t conflict, it’s tough. You just have to function, get on and deal with it,” she says.
But she also remembers how the choir “brought me friendship and a bond with people like me”.
“When they came to film they said ‘just enjoy the ride, don’t ask too many questions’. But I still find what went on to happen rather surreal. We had the responsibility of representing all military wives. But joining the choir has been the best thing I ever did.”
Jo from the Catterick military wives choir, known as the Wags (Wives, Affiliates, Girlfriends and Servicewomen), is “very, very proud” of the group’s legacy.
“It’s such a simple idea and yet it gives so much support in the week – to just drop everything and come and sing,” she says.
“Sometimes people slip through the net and sort of fall if there’s nobody there for them.
“But when we find a new lady, we say, ‘just come along and enjoy yourself’. They may think they can’t but then find the opposite.”
As for Horgan, she concludes that, having being given a window into the women’s lives, has “made me appreciate what I have”.
“It makes you think: there are people out there who are not given a moment’s thought or consideration, who really have it tough. I genuinely left feeling grateful for my life.”
Military Wives is released in UK cinemas on 6 March.
Plácido Domingo apologies to women who accused him of sexual harassment
Plácido Domingo has apologised for “causing hurt” to several women who have accused him of sexual harassment.
The opera star resigned as general manager of the Los Angeles Opera after several allegations were made.
A total of 20 women have now accused Domingo of harassment and inappropriate behaviour. He denies all the claims.
“I respect that these women finally felt comfortable enough to speak out,” Domingo said in a statement issued to the Los Angeles Times.
“I want them to know that I am truly sorry for the hurt that I caused them,”
He added: “I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I have grown from this experience.”
His statement was issued following an investigation into Domingo by a US union which represents opera performers.
The LA Times reported the investigation found more than two dozen people had said they were sexually harassed or witnessed inappropriate behaviour by Domingo when he held senior management positions at Washington National Opera and Los Angeles Opera.
The accusations, which go back as far as the 1980s, were first reported in August by the Associated Press.
It said Domingo had frequently pressured women into sexual relationships, and sometimes professionally punished those who rejected him.
In his statement, Domingo said he had “taken time over the last several months to reflect on the allegations that various colleagues of mine have made against me.
“I understand now that some women may have feared expressing themselves honestly because of a concern that their careers would be adversely affected if they did so. While that was never my intention, no-one should ever be made to feel that way.”
Domingo, who is 79, is one of opera’s biggest stars, commanding sell-out audiences around the world.
He has been married to his second wife, the soprano Marta Ornelas, since 1962.
Naomi Campbell hits runway at Nigerian designer debut
British supermodel Naomi Campbell closed the show on Monday during the debut of Nigerian designer Kenneth Ize at the Paris Fashion Week.
The Lagos-born fashion designer’s collection in Paris is inspired by his childhood memories of going to church with his mother, the state-owned France 24 reports
that images of Naomi Campbell striding down Ize’s runway in a traditional Nigerian fabric, known as Asoke, caused a media frenzy.
The show’s organisers shared a video on Twitter of Naomi Campbell on Ize’s runway.
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