From: C. Omar Kebbeh <[log in to unmask]>
To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thu, May 9, 2013 8:13 am
Subject: [G_L] The Gambia Echo launches Radio: KUDOS TO MR. SANKAREH
The Gambia Echo launches Radio; Doyen broadcaster, Bora Mboge, among hosts
By egsankara 7 hours 42 minutes ago
Bora Mboge, host of Gambian Perspectives, is a former Director of Gambian Radio & TV Services
Readers:152
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Twitter“And so it is to the printing press--to the recorder of man's deeds, the keeper of his conscience, the courier of his news--that we look for strength and assistance, confident that with your help man will be what he was born to be: free and independent.”― John F. Kennedy, former US President
By Ebrima G. Sankareh, proprietor and Editor-in-Chief, The Gambia Echo newspaper
As we inch towards the seventh year anniversary of the launching of The Gambia Echo newspaper (June 15, 2013), it is with a profound sense of pleasure to announce the launching of The Gambia Echo & Democracy Radio as part of our continuing modest efforts to reach out to our news-thirsty Gambian readers/listeners sick and tired of tested partisan monologues over GRTS. It was the same noble ideals—the promotion of unfettered freedoms of expression and thought, assembly and association, anchored in an unflinching determination to speak truth to power no matter how powerful as well as a commitment to journalistic balance that led to our bold sacrifice to launch the paper.
It was almost seven years ago that a news release was sent out to the Gambian media announcing our launching and looking back, we cannot be humbler given the over eight million readers we encountered as testified to by our electronic counter at the very bottom of this website. Considering the fact that the majority of Gambians are hooked to one computer, it is even more difficult to say exactly how many people have accessed the paper in seven years. We are also aware of those foot soldiers of free expression who defy President Jammeh’s continuous blockade of the paper and vociferously print our bombshell articles as well as acerbic editorials dishing them out to thirsty readers back home. This bravery captures the motto of our paper: vox populi vox dei; for truly, the voice of the people is the voice of God and no matter what Jammeh and his bandits may come up with, we are here to stay!
What is even more gratifying however, is the sense of satisfaction that The Echocontinues to generate through the hundreds of immigrants and asylum seekers whose asylum applications could not have seen the light of day were it not our diligently cataloguing of Yahya Jammeh’s harrowing authoritarianism. Over the years, our chief editor has testified in jurisdictions in the United States, the UK, Germany, Middle East and elsewhere for Gambian asylum applicants and the joy that we continue to derive from our successes as respectable experts on Gambian affairs, is humbling. The continuous citation of The Gambia Echo’s well researched pieces; a footprint of our investigative reporting by numerous researchers and scholars, is in itself instructive.
This undaunted feat of journalistic trials and tribulations could not have been realized without an equally determined population to root out the blatant wrongs and pervasive cancer of impunity that has plagued Gambian society over the past eighteen years of quasi-military rule. To all our loyal readers as well as critics—genuine, demagogic as well as the prophets of doom who continue to speculate our demise as The Echocaravan speeds away, we say thank you so very much. We may have differing views; the very essence of democracy; we still love you all!
Considering the requisite degree of sacrifice and commitment of running a reputable newspaper and not to talk about a radio, we ask that our readers/and now listeners, continue to be patient with our slow pace of maturation. There will be times when we will not deliver on time or even deliver to your expectations and it is during those moments that we need your genuine criticisms and encouragement to support our efforts to bring to you, the most credible news items.
Therefore, for a start, here is our tentative program schedule which is purely tentative and may change in the coming days. Over the past four days we been blasting music interspersed with announcements as well as excellent programming from National Public Radio (WUNC-Radio) and the BBC World Service, programs that will continue here each day after our normal schedules.
Our maiden program debuts this Saturday at 12:00pm and focusses on the up-coming Raleigh Conference on Good Governance and Democracy in The Gambia scheduled for May 18th and 19th.
Tentative Program outline
“Modou-Modou”- (Wollof metaphor for immigrant dream chaser): A two-hour long show with famed artist Waka Mbaye of Raleigh, NC, airs Sundays @ 1pm EDT and features members of the Sene-Gambian immigrant community in the Diaspora. This live show combines guest interviews interspersed with melodies from old and new African and world artists. This program highlights the story of the consummate immigrant and draws from the experiences of numerous others who continue to chase the American dream.
Talk of The Gambia- Airs Mondays @1:00pm EDT is a two-hour radio magazine show that focuses on very important issues affecting Gambian affairs both home and abroad.
Echo Women Magazine: Airs on Wednesdays @ 2:00pm EDT. This two-hour radio magazine programme is devoted to development and gender related ideas to women affairs and women empowerment in Senegambia. (Female host will be announced soon).
Gambian Perspectives with Bora Mboge Airs on Fridays @ 2 pm EDT. This 2-hour radio show focuses on Gambians who have distinguished themselves in various works of life and whose combined expertise we hope, will help to inspire every human. As a veteran broadcaster with a career spanning over three decades, Bora Mboge once served as Chief of Gambia’s Radio and TV services (GRTS) and holds a Master’s degree in journalism from Cardiff University in Swansea, Wales, in the United Kingdom. Currently in Sweden, Scandinavia, Bora debuts his live show in about two weeks and hopes to deal with issues across the spectrum. In a dispatch sent to this editor last night, my mentor and former Radio Gambia icon said, “Sanks, I have been monitoring EDR-Echo Democracy Radio since you started your test run and glad that the sound quality is excellent. I am so excited and I have more programme ideas but don't want to bite too much at the beginning. All programmes will be open forums that will look at all sides regardless of one’s political leaning.” That precisely is what we seek— inform, educate, entertain and listen to what our listeners have to say!
Weekend Spectrum-Presenter Ebrima G. Sankareh @ 12:00pm EDT. This is a Saturday noon special 2-hour radio show from Raleigh, North Carolina, that combines personality live or recorded interviews with national and international news analysis and a press review segment in English.
How do you access The Gambia Echo Radio? Call The Gambia Echo on: 919-747-4014. You can also reach us via SKYPE @: gambia.echodemocracyradio (all letters in lower case). To listen to The Echo Radio without necessarily using a computer dial:415-655-0831 or simply log in to our website: www.thegambiaecho.com and click on the radio option at upper left of the paper. Many, many thanks!
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