The Gambia Honours Professor Mbye Cham as Scholar, Filmmaker and Servant of African Knowledge

29/12/2025, Banjul, The Gambia; Story Photos Source Mr Jim Cham of JC Peoductions. Contact Number: +220 790 0699:

Gambians from all walks of life on Monday gathered in Sir Dawda Kairaba International Conference Centre in Bijilo to honour the life, work and enduring legacy of Professor Mbye Cham, a distinguished Gambian scholar, filmmaker and mentor whose intellectual labour advanced African Studies, cultural memory and social consciousness across Africa and the diaspora. The event, “Honouring the Legacy of the Late Professor Mbye Cham”, featuring the premiere of his documentary film on Comrade Ebou Madi Sillah, was organised by the Nyang-Sanneh Institute for Social Research and Justice (NSI) and held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre. The ceremony brought together academics, artists, writers, students, policy practitioners, family members and long-time friends, reflecting the wide impact of both Professor Cham and Comrade Ebou Madi Sillah on Gambian intellectual and cultural life.

“To the world he was a professor, to us he was simply our father” Speaking on behalf of the Cham family, Ya Sunny (Suni) Cham, eldest daughter of Professor Mbye Cham, expressed gratitude to the organisers for premiering a film her father worked on for more than 20 years, completing it shortly before his passing. “To the world he was a professor, but to us he was simply our father,” she said. “He taught us the importance of family, culture and staying connected to The Gambia. This film was his passion project, and we are grateful he was able to finish it. We hope the public will receive it with the same love and care with which he made it.” She recalled how Professor Cham ensured his children spent time in The Gambia every summer, grounding them in Gambian culture and values, which she said now define their own families.

Poetry, memory and resistance The programme featured poetry as a form of remembrance and resistance. Mr Amadou Gaye, of NSI, read a poem titled “A Combatant’s Song”, written by veteran writer Baba Maxtarr Sillah, a childhood friend of Professor Cham. A second poem by Baba Maxtarr Sillah was read by Mr Imran Darboe, NSI Executive Member. The poems reflected on friendship, struggle, art, conscience and the duty of memory, drawing sustained applause from the audience.

Remembering Comrade Ebou Madi Sillah A moving tribute was delivered by Ya Sohna Sillah, daughter of Comrade Ebou Madi Sillah, whose life and activism form the subject of the documentary directed by Professor Cham. She described her father as a man of principle who believed that “silence in the face of injustice is betrayal”, and thanked Professor Cham for ensuring that his story would not fade into silence. “Through this film, my father’s ideals will continue to speak to future generations,” she said. “This is not just a family story; it is a national story.”

Her remarks were reinforced by Honourable Ousman Sillah, brother of the late Comrade,and National Assembly Member for Banjul North who recalled his humility, courage and commitment to justice, noting that true patriotism, as embodied by his brother, “is rooted not in power, but in sacrifice.” He, among others, recalled his early days when his brother indoctrinated him with political philosophy, inspiring him to become a politician. “A village without elders is like a well without water” In an intervention, Mr Abdoulie Touray Chief Executive Officer of the Sahel Investment reflected on the intellectual tradition represented by Professor Cham and his contemporaries. Recalling January 1988, when he was appointed Chairman of the National Investment Board alongside other young Gambian technocrats, he said his generation looked up to scholars and professionals not for wealth, but for knowledge and character. Quoting an African proverb, he said: “A village without elders is like a well without water.” He recalled visiting Gambia High School and seeing Professor Cham’s writings on the blackboard, which inspired him to pursue higher education abroad. Writers and scholars call for a culture of honouring intellect Dr Cherno Barry, speaking on behalf of The Gambia Writers Association, described Professor Cham as a scholar who combined rigour with humility, and whose work restored African voices to African narratives. Dr Juka Jabang emphasised the importance of documenting national memory through film, literature and scholarship, noting that societies that fail to honour their intellectuals risk losing their historical compass. Mr Nyada Yoba Baldeh added that Professor Cham’s work demonstrates how culture can be both an archive and a tool for social change.

NSI: “The Gambia is culturally rich, but lacks intellectual recognition” In an interview, Professor Abdoulie Saine, representing NSI, said the event was organised to highlight the importance of scholarship and to honour Gambians whose contributions are often recognised abroad more than at home. “The Gambia is a very rich country culturally, but what is often missing is the intellectual dimension,” he said. “We want to raise awareness and encourage a culture of celebrating those who contribute through ideas, research, art and service.” He disclosed that NSI plans to sustain the initiative through diaspora fundraising, cultural activities, and partnerships in The Gambia, noting that the institute has been active since 2022 in promoting social justice. “The country is facing serious economic and political challenges,” he said, “but tonight we are celebrating two great Gambians whose lives remind us that service, knowledge and integrity matter.” Professor Saine also announced plans to honour more Gambians in future, including women, and called for stronger media collaboration to promote national memory and pride. He later delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging family members, participants, artists, scholars and the media for supporting the initiative.