GAMWRITERS

The New Ndaanan, Volume 1 N°1, was published in January 2009 under the auspices of the University of The Gambia. It is composed of 32 pages (33 actually considering there are two page 1s). It has 11 contributors (including two non-Gambians) and is divided into 5 columns. There is a statement from the Vice Chancellor's Desk presented by Associate Professor Ousman Nyan who is presently the Acting Vice Chancellor (p. 4). Then the Foreword is an updated version of the foreword written by Dr Lenrie Peters in the first edition of the old Ndaanan (p. 4). On page 5, Dr Gomez delved into a short historic of the existence of Ndaanan from its first conception to date. The columns are entitled thus: Commentary, Story, Poetry, Book review and Report.
Under commentary there are two articles contributed by Cherno Omar Barry and Dr Pierre Gomez. The first article is entitled Gambian literature and writings: the way forward (Barry, p. 6) and the second is Western Domination, Imperialism and Exploitation (Dr Gomez, p. 11).
Under the second column only one story is featured contributed by Cherno Omar Barry and entitled The Lady of the River (p. 16).
Poetry seems to be the most contributed portion of the magazine with 18 poems from 8 contributors. Below are the poems contributed:

Willie James King (AL, Orrville, USA) 5 poems: Old Cahawba, From an Open Window, I Got a Glimpse of God, I Tell You, Neither Fretful nor Forgetful (p. 21-22)
Seedy Fatty (Student, University of The Gambia) 2 poems: The African Woman, End to Colonial Rule (p. 22)
Roland Bankole Marke (Florida, USA) 4 poems: Dance of Democrary, Life of a Refugee, Africa's Shores, Mecca of Freed Slaves (p. 23)
Arafang Keita (Talinding, The Gambia) 1 poems: In the Ocean Way Mill (p. 24)
Cherno Omar Barry (University of The Gambia) 2 poems: Break Your Bondage, My Heart Bleeds (p. 24)
Ramatoulie Othman (Gambia Ports Authority, The Gambia) 2 poems: Extreme Ends, Hurstlers (p. 25)
Anthony Mendy (Student, Department of Social Sciences, University of The Gambia) 1 poem: When There is No Trust (p. 25)
Jerreh Barrow (Geophysicist, The Gambia) 1 poem: Journey of the River (p. 26)
Hassoum Ceesay reviewed a book by Gabriel Roberts under the title A Character Construction of Gabriel Roberts' Play The Trial of Busumbala (p. 26).
Finally, Momodou L. S. Sambou, a Lecturer of the University of The Gambia, presented a report on Gambia Literature Day (p. 28).

This first edition can be considered a success. Further details will be published here soon. The Committee is appealing to all and sundry (Gambian and non-Gambian, individuals and organizations) to help sponsor the magazine as this is the first among many other publications to come. Presently efforts are being made to sell it online on this website.