Eminent Gambian opposition politician and National Assembly member Madi Ceesay has embarked on a path to establishing himself as an active author.
Hon. Ceesay, a veteran journalist, who has just authored an edifying book on his life as an active media practitioner, said the book is an inclusive piece of work that would satisfy the curiosity of varied audiences.
The book, his debut, goes by the title Journalism: Is it a Blessing or a Curse and depicts his career as a Gambian journalist, the grim treatment he was subjected to by the Jammeh regime and some of his career attainments.
In an exclusive interview after the book was officially released, Ceesay said the book would meet the taste and satisfy the curiosity of varied audiences. Thus, while acknowledging the innumerable benefits journalists could derive from the book, he says it is a great read for non-journalists as well: “For those people, it would be inspiring for them because it would tell them that the job [journalism] is a noble job and that most people have skeletons in their cupboards that are of public interest.
“It would be inspiring for non-journalists, and it could even inspire them to become journalists or entice them to allow their children to go into the profession because it is one of the noblest jobs in the world; you write, you educate, you entertain and also particularly inform people. And we know without news what the world would look like.”
Quizzed as to whether more good books could be expected from him, the parliamentarian responded in the positive: “As I speak to you, I have submitted two drafts of other books. One would be talking about the life of Jaliba Kuyateh, who is also an icon in The Gambia.”
He added: “The other third book is all-encompassing; it is a one-stop shop where you can find a lot of things that have happened in this country from the First Republic, even beyond that, from 1929 when key figures the likes of Edward Francis Small, Garba Jahumpa, Sir Dawda Jawara, Pierre Njie and others played roles in our independence, coming down to Adama Barrow. So the book is going to be voluminous.” Ceesay says these are just some of the works to anticipate as yet, but many more would come.
