20/12/2024
๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฝ๐น๐ฎ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ง๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ฎ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ณ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฐ!
The Wednesday Nayconf event was a mesmerizing experience, highlighted by a stunning performance from Banjul's own gifted poet, Dodou Sowe. With his extraordinary spoken word poetry, Dodou captivated the hearts of the audience, earning enthusiastic applause and deep admiration. The powerful impact of his words and his charismatic delivery resonated with attendees, leaving a lasting impression that lingered long after the event.
However, amidst the celebration and acclaim, concerns have emerged regarding the judging process. The Banjul Academia Team issued a letter highlighting potential conflicts of interest that may have influenced the results, leading to Dodou being awarded the 3rd position by judges with close connections to other participants. This significant oversight has raised questions about the fairness and objectivity of the competition.
In response, the National Organising Committee recognized this valuable feedback from the Banjul Academia and others. They have committed to addressing these issues to ensure transparency and integrity in future events. Currently, action is yet to be visibly taken to either validate or refute these concerns. The following statement was received from the committee head:
> "I appreciate your feedback and will send it to the concerned parties. Moving forward, although we understand your frustration, we would have appreciated if your reservations about these judges came earlier than now. We look forward to building this nation together with you, regardless of our origins, in a more accountable, responsive, and inclusive mannerโfostering honest conversations that will significantly enhance our country's progress."
Similar issues were observed during the 2022 Banjul Hosted Nayconf, where Banjul was notably overlooked during the finalist announcement. Upon confronting the Nayconf head of Academics, it was discovered that Banjul's scores were not accurately tallied, which, when corrected, led to Banjul's deserving recognition as the winner through "Genius Janha". Such recurring oversights suggest a need for improvements in the selection process to avoid perceptions of bias and to foster trust among participants.
To address these challenges and ensure the ongoing interest of youth in these events, the National Youth Council might consider engaging international judges to mitigate any biases in judging. This step is essential to encourage participation and to rebuild confidence among the talented youth of Banjul.
As we continue to celebrate and support our vibrant young talents, advocating for fairness and transparency in competitive platforms is crucial. Every young star deserves the opportunity to shine based on their merit alone.
Congratulations once again to Dodou Sowe for your breathtaking performance! Your talent and passion are a beacon of inspiration for us all. ๐โจ
National Youth Council - The Gambia
Kingdom of Speakers
Banjul City Council BCC
Hon. Abdoulie Njai MP - Banjul Central
Banjul Regional Youth Committee
