By Haddy Gaye
In The Gambia, often called the “Smiling Coast of Africa,” the pursuit of gender equality remains challenging. Though women make up over half of the country’s 2.4 million people, deeply rooted traditions restrict their full participation, especially in the media. Ranked 121 out of 146 on the 2022 Global Gender Gap Index, The Gambia faces steep hurdles to advance women in fields like health, education, and leadership.
This imbalance is starkly visible in media, where public narratives are shaped and shared.
Despite comprising 37% of the media workforce, Gambian women often find their voices overshadowed, with men at the helm of most editorial decisions. UNESCO’s 2019 report highlights this is a global issue, with women holding only 27% of top media management roles worldwide. The result is a male-dominated media landscape where women’s stories and perspectives are sidelined.
Yet, in The Gambia, a new generation of women journalists is determined to change this reality.
Figures like Fatou Touray, founder of Kerr Fatou, and Fatou Camara of The Fatu Network are leading this charge. Their platforms serve as safe spaces for women’s voices, challenging narratives long controlled by men and giving women a chance to tell their stories.
For many, their efforts symbolize a shift toward a more inclusive media landscape that better reflects the experiences of Gambian women.
Among the pioneers of this movement is Annette Camara, President of the Women Journalists Association of The Gambia (WOJAG). Reflecting on her journey, Annette explains the obstacles she faced early in her career. “I started 11 years ago at a time when women’s voices were largely absent from the media landscape,” she says. But this absence only fueled her commitment. Today, her work includes mentoring young female journalists and reviving school press clubs, empowering the next generation to take the lead in storytelling. “It’s about creating a space where women don’t just contribute to the media but also have a real voice in shaping it,” she says with determination. The impact of these efforts extends far beyond individual careers.
Aminatta E. Sanyang shares a similar drive to challenge the status quo. She is one of very few women journalists who have made such an impact on her work. After spending nearly a decade at the state Broadcaster GRTS, she has been working on compelling stories that reflect society.
Reflecting on female journalists’ unique pressures, Aminata says, “Journalism is inherently challenging, but being a woman in this field raises the stakes even higher.”
Her words echo the experience of many women in Gambian media, who find themselves assigned less visible roles or denied opportunities reserved for their male counterparts. “Many newsrooms see female journalists as an additional burden rather than valuable contributors,” she explains. Yet, Aminata’s resolve is unwavering. “I believe the presence of women in leadership roles will change the narrative, ensuring equal representation and amplifying the stories that matter to women.”
The push for inclusion has not gone unnoticed among male allies in the media. Managing Director of the Media Academy for Journalism and Communication (MAJaC), Sang Mendy, recognizes women’s challenges due to gender biases embedded in media organizations. Often, male journalists are assigned to cover high-stakes or risky stories, while women are held back under the guise of protection. Mendy notes that these decisions reinforce exclusionary practices. “If women are not in senior positions, their voices are missing from decisions that shape public discourse,” he says. He urges WOJAG to advocate more actively for women’s inclusion in leadership, especially within editorial boards, where decisions about coverage and content are made.
However, challenges remain, as not all women actively step into the roles that could advance gender balance in media.
According to Algassimu Jallow, who has had a series of engagements with women, some hesitate to take on leadership positions, waiting for opportunities to come to them rather than actively pursuing these roles. This reluctance can stem from a variety of factors, including cultural conditioning, lack of confidence, or even a perception that such roles should be handed to them in the interest of fairness.
Yet, true progress in gender equality requires open doors and a proactive approach from women, who are ready to step forward and lead in shaping the narratives that impact Gambian society.
While this is ongoing, the commitment of women like Annette, Aminata, and others signals a promising shift. The Gambia’s media landscape is evolving, propelled by the voices of those who refuse to let tradition define their limits. With sustained efforts to elevate women into leadership roles, foster mentorship, and create policies for gender inclusion, the future holds the potential for a media environment that truly reflects all Gambian stories. For Annette and her peers, it is not only about being present in the newsroom—it is about leading the narrative for generations to come.
