Oyster festival: successful

Women trading in oyster farming, on Friday organised end of season oyster festival at their processing sites along the Banjul-Serrekunda Highway.

Yankuba Colley, Deputy Mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council, Justice Manageng, a judge at the Banjul High Court, Lawyer Musa Bittaye, a Commissioner of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Amadou Samba, proprietor of Gamwater, were among the dignitaries that attended the festival. The festival, which was punctuated with a spectacular traditional ‘Bukarabu’ performance, saw an oyster food fair that attracted a good number of passers by. 

The festival, which aimed at improving the working condition of the women, was conceived and engineered by Fatou Janha of Kadisa Boutique, near Cotton Club on Kairaba Avenue.

In recent times, the women’s struggle in oyster farming to make ends for themselves and their families had been endangered by criminal attacks. Last year, the women lost a colleague who was murdered and buried in mud in mangroves near the Sting Corner on Banjul-Serrekunda highway. The situation continued to deteriorate as two other oyster women farmers sustained injuries in a violent attack in the mangroves two weeks ago, before they were reportedly hospitalised at the RVTH. Despite the precarious nature of this risky and difficult trade, the women continued to operate in constant fear of criminal assaults, as they do not know whether the anonymous criminals will strike again.

Speaking at the event, Ms Janha said these women engage in “difficult and dangerous activity”, adding that this became known to her when she joined them on one of their field trips. Mrs. Janha informed the gathering that the women, who operate at various spots in the mangroves, have now formed an organisation called TRY to address their welfare and working conditions.

“This festival is just the beginning. The intention is not just to improve their working condition but also help them to involve in other business ventures since their work is very seasonal. This means that during the off-season, they can engage in other work to sustain themselves,” she explained.

However, she stressed that for this to happen, they need the help of everybody. “I urge everyone to help and support their venture by not only buying their product, but donating generously to TRY Group,” she added.
Ms Janha then thanked the dignitaries and other invitees for their patronage and support.

Yankuba Colley, Deputy Mayor of KMC, who deputised for his mayor, assured the women of his Council’s support, saying “we will stand by you for the realisation of your aspirations. We will try our best to solve your problems because you work in the Kanifing Municipality”.

Mr. Colley pointed out that many people do not know the difficulties embedded in oyster farming, saying society hardly takes note of their plight. He added that these women risk their lives paddling canoes in the tributaries of River Gambia. “Risking to drown and injury from the razor-sharp oyster shells, they pad their feet and hands as if getting ready for a war,” Mr. Colley portrayed the risky nature of the trade. He then questioned why people complain when the women slightly increase the prices of their product.

The KMC number two condemned the violence being meted on the women and then called on society to extend a helping hand to improve their conditions.

Fatou Jatta, who spoke on behalf of the women, appealed for support to enhance their livelihood, especially in the provision of canoes and other forms of support for TRY, as well as security.

At the event, Amadou Samba donated the women D10,000, while Yankuba Colley pledged D5,000.