By: Awa Conteh
A powerful new voice in Gambian literature emerges this November as Jainaba Bah, a poet and community advocate, prepares to release her debut poetry collection, ‘The Poet’s Journey.’ This deeply personal work, set to launch in bookstores and online, weaves a narrative of resilience, healing, and self-discovery through evocative verses that resonate with universal human experiences.
Born and raised in Wellingara, Bah’s path to poetry reflects her diverse background. A graduate of the Gambia College School of Education, where she studied English Language and Agricultural Science, she is currently pursuing a degree in Nursing at the American International University. Her academic journey, combined with her work in community development, has honed her ability to capture the complexities of human emotion. “My studies in literature deepened my understanding of both language and human experience,” Bah told The Alkamba Times. “Working in education and community development kept me close to people’s emotions, struggles, and resilience—themes that often appear in my poems.”
The Poet’s Journey was born during a transformative period in Bah’s life, marked by personal loss and introspection. The collection transforms raw emotions into a tapestry of hope and strength, guiding readers through stages of emotional growth. “The darkness represents moments of confusion or loss, while the light stands for clarity, peace, and hope,” Bah explained. “It reflects how I moved from inner struggle to finding strength again.”
Unlike traditional poetry collections, Bah’s book unfolds like a story, with each poem representing a chapter in her emotional evolution. “I wanted it to feel like a story, not just separate poems,” she said. “Every piece had to add to the sense of moving forward.” This narrative structure invites readers to embark on a personal journey, reflecting on their own challenges and triumphs.
Crafting the collection was not without its difficulties. Revisiting painful memories during the editing process forced Bah to confront emotions she had long set aside. Yet, she embraced this vulnerability as essential to her craft. “Poetry lets me express emotions that are hard to say out loud,” she noted. “When someone connects with your words, healing happens on both sides.” Her willingness to lay bare her struggles imbues the work with authenticity, offering readers a mirror to their own experiences.
As the November launch nears, Bah admits to feeling both nervous and grateful. She hopes The Poet’s Journey will inspire readers to embrace their own struggles and find solace in shared humanity. “I want readers to feel seen and understand that it’s okay to struggle, break, and rebuild,” she said. With plans to continue writing, Bah sees this debut as the start of a long literary career.
Jainaba Bah’s The Poet’s Journey introduces a compelling voice in Gambian poetry, marked by honesty and emotional depth. As readers await its release, the collection promises to illuminate the beauty of life’s imperfections, inviting reflection on the universal journey toward healing and self-discovery.
