By Ramatoulie Jawo
In a historic moment for Gambian literature, the Office of The President, in collaboration with Fye Network (FyeN), a multimedia publishing, and production company, unveiled their latest creation titled “The Village Boy Who Would Be President.” This children’s book delves into the life journey of His Excellency President Adama Barrow. The unveiling took place on Wednesday at the State House in Banjul.
President Barrow’s autobiographical narrative marks the first instance of a sitting Gambian President penning a children’s book, setting a precedent in the nation’s literary landscape.
The book chronicles President Barrow’s humble origins, tracing his path from the serene village life of Mankamang Kunda to the corridors of power. It recounts his early encounters with formal education, his engagement in community service, and the nascent seeds of his political aspirations.
In his address during the launch ceremony, President Barrow expressed his aspiration to ignite inspiration among the youth, nurturing them to become future leaders and influential global citizens.
“My goal is simply to inspire the younger generation, who will grow to become leaders and prominent global citizens.I believe that while reading, the book will satisfy your curiosity about my humble beginnings and take you on a journey through my village life in Mankamang Kunda, my introduction to formal education, community service, and the spark that led to my political ambitions,” he said.
He emphasized that the book transcends his personal narrative, resonating themes of resilience, camaraderie, and the pursuit of knowledge. President Barrow envisioned these values leaving an indelible mark on readers’ minds.
“We all have stories to tell, stories of our leaders, heroes, and men and women who sacrificed their lives for the prosperity of this country and humanity. We need to share such stories with our children in the schools, in conferences, debates, marketplaces, and in religious gatherings to invoke pride and love for the nation in the younger generation,” Barrow highlighted.
Anna Fye, Co-Founder of Fyen Network, emphasized the importance of the book, expressing that as advocates for literacy, they have consistently upheld the transformative potential of storytelling to motivate, enlighten, and engage.
“We are not thrilled with the fact that our children and young folks today do not know much about their leaders and founding fathers of this beautiful and charming nation, The Gambia. We embraced the thought of writing a book about our third President so that the children can embrace the fact that he had an exciting and captivating childhood, similar to the majority of the young folks,” she said.
Dr. Nana Grey Johnson praised the book’s production quality, commending the publisher for their meticulous attention to detail.
Professor Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, hailed the book as a potent educational tool, urging its adoption to nurture civic responsibility, patriotism, and leadership among the youth.
“So let us join together in celebrating the launch of this extraordinary biography, a tribute to the head of state whose journey continues to resonate with us all. Please grab a copy and read and as we read, may we be reminded as we turn the final page that the story of leadership is one that belongs to each and every one of us. A story waiting to be written, with courage, compassion, and unwavering resolve,” he said.
Yankuba Darboe, Commissioner General of the Gambia Revenue Authority, lauded the book’s message, emphasizing its role in instilling resilience and fortitude in readers.
“The book is not just a biography; it’s a powerful message for all of you. It tells you that setbacks are inevitable in life, but they don’t have to define you. It shows you the importance of resilience, of picking yourself up when you fall, and of never letting go of your dreams, no matter how big they may seem,” said Commissioner Darboe.
Fye Network (FyeN) is a company founded by Gambian sisters Anna and YaAdam Fye