The Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture has said that The Gambia is keen to partner with ICESCO in its new initiatives on the cultural rights project, which is designed to last three years (2023-2025).
The Honorable Abdoulie Jobe made this statement during the 13th Conference of Culture Ministers meeting in the Islamic World, held from 12 to 13 February 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“Through this program The Gambia can re-appropriate her cultural reality, and assets of the right to culture, providing access to culture through training, and supporting quality scientific production in the field of culture, arts, and heritage. My Ministry and its allied agencies such as the National Centre for Arts and Culture, managers of cultural services in decentralized local authorities, civil society bodies, and youth and women’s movements can also benefit from such partnership,” he said.
According to Minister Jobe, another area where The Gambia requires urgent support is to rehabilitate and better interpret the several historic mosques in The Gambia; such as the Banjul Independence Drive Mosque, the Sami Pachonki Mosque, Wuli Touba Mosque, and the Sand Dune Mosque in Gunjur.
“These are mosques that date back to over 150 years, and symbolize the Islamic heritage of our country. Our desire to leverage the growing Halal tourism will also receive a boost when such sites are preserved and better presented,” Jobe pointed out.
The Arts and Culture Minister stated that as the chair of the OIC for the next three years, The Gambia desires to play an increasingly active role in ICESCO’s work and contribute its rightful quota to the progress of Islamic heritage and culture.
“In 2005, ICESCO supported an exhibition on Islamic Heritage at the National Museum. The Gambia has also participated in Islamic calligraphy contests organized by ICESCO in 2009, 2012, and 2020. The Gambia has also participated in the ICESCO project on African Traditional Games,” he noted.
He further stated that in 2023, The Gambia submitted three board games under this category for possible inscription into the ICESCO Traditional African Board Games of the Islamic Intangible and Natural Heritage Listing.
“Currently, ICESCO has requested The Gambia to participate in the Hajj Routes Project and Historical Mosques Inscriptions. The Hon. Minister’s Office is considering the list of possible National Committee members for the Hajj Routes Project and Historical Mosques,” he concluded.
By Lamin Njie
Communications Officer
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture