By: Sainabou Sambou
The University of The Gambia kicks off the 2025 edition of the Cinekambiya International Film Festival (CIFF) on Friday evening, marking the event’s sixth edition and its strongest international flavour yet, with Spain making its debut.
Under the theme of authentic African storytelling, the five-day festival opened to a packed audience of students, diplomats, filmmakers, and cultural enthusiasts at the university’s Kanifing campus.
Professor Melchizedek Onobe, Dean of the School of Journalism and Digital Media, described Cinekambiya as more than a film festival. “It is part of our collective vision built on storytelling, talent, and a strong sense of identity,” he said. “Gambian stories are best told by Gambians themselves. Our story is original, and it is ours to tell.”
This year’s edition places special emphasis on cultural exchange. Violeta Insa, Chargée d’Affaires at the Spanish Embassy in Banjul, announced Spain’s first-ever involvement through the cultural initiative “Gambia E Scena”.
“We are delighted to celebrate The Gambia’s flourishing film sector and the creativity of its young people,” Insa told the opening ceremony. She highlighted historical cultural connections, noting that both countries share “a deep love for dance, music and community life”.
Spain’s contribution includes screening a documentary exploring African influences in flamenco – the UNESCO-recognised art form born of Spanish, Arabic, Jewish, Gypsy and African roots. On Sunday, 7 December, Gambian audiences will witness a rare live performance fusing Afro-dance and flamenco.
Insa revealed that Madrid is already exploring future collaboration to help preserve Gambian oral traditions through short films, underscoring the importance of intergenerational storytelling in Gambian society.
Rocío Naranjo, president of Barcelona-based cultural association Africadoolu, also addressed the ceremony. Her organisation, which promotes African arts in Spain and runs a women-focused film festival in Barcelona, is partnering with Cinekambiya for the first time.
Africadoolu will present the Spanish film *The Songs of Your Black Memory*, which traces African roots in flamenco, further strengthening the Spain–Gambia cultural bridge.
Festival founder Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankanu used the occasion to call for the event’s institutionalisation. “Even when I die, Cinekambiya must go on,” he declared, emphasising the need to sustain the festival with minimal resources to guarantee its longevity.
With a built-in audience of over 7,000 university students and growing international partnerships – Germany participated in 2024, Spain in 2025 – Sankanu urged young Gambians to seize the professional opportunities the festival offers.
The opening night featured the student-produced film “Manyo Be Kumboka”, embodying Cinekambiya’s core mission of amplifying local voices. Another highlight of the 2025 programme is the screening of an internationally-acclaimed documentary on Gambian salsa legend Laba Sosseh.
Running across 5–7 and 12–13 December, the 6th Cinekambiya International Film Festival continues to establish itself as a vital platform for Gambian cinema and a growing hub for South–South cultural dialogue.
