President Adama Barrow launched his storybook: “The Village Boy Who Would Be President: The Story of President Adama Barrow,” at the State House in Banjul on Wednesday. This book, tailored for children, tells the true life journey of The President through his village of Mankamang Kunda to becoming a President.
Born on 15th February 1965 in the small village of Mankamang Kunda, located far from Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, President Adama Barrow was born into a humble family with few opportunities.
This 41-page book, tailored for young minds, explores the true life journey of President Barrow from a humble beginning to holding the highest office of the land. The book tells how President Barrow defied the challenges and turned them into opportunities to become what he is today.
In telling the President’s story, Fye Network, the publishers use written and unique engaging illustrations to captivate the young minds to better understand the story.
Ya Adam Fye and Anna Fye, Co-founders of Fye Network, the publisher, hoped the book would inspire the young generation to live their dreams and implore parents to encourage their kids to read the book.
Yankuba Darboe, the Commissioner General of The Gambia Revenue Authority, played a critical role in facilitating the journey, which started two years ago, said the book tells a remarkable story of the President, representing the life story of many others.
Though all three Presidents of The Gambia come from the Villages, this is the first children’s book authored by a sitting Gambian President.
Claudia Cole, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Book Launcher, and Professor Pierre Gomez, the Minister of High Education, Research, Science, and Technology, respectively, hope the books reignite the reading culture and inspire the young generation.
Reviewing the book, Nana Grey Johnson, a journalist and writer and founding dean of the School of Journalism at the University of The Gambia, said the moral lessons from the book are immense.
For President Adama Barrow, he would not have imagined, over five decades ago, that his life story would be the subject of a book to inspire young minds. He said his story proves that nothing is impossible.
Several other speakers, including the event’s moderator, Dr Cherno Barry, the President of the Writers Association, Sola Mahoney, and Author Aisha Jawara, hailed the publication as symbolically significant for The Gambia’s writing and reading community. The book will be available across the country.
