DESPITE the inherent challenges of traveling to Europe, get rich quick, build a house, buy a car or marry syndromes, a fraction of Gambian youths are of the opinion that there are a lot of opportunities waiting to be tapped. Where as in the past, Gambians had little or no interest in investing in the country; nowadays the trend is changing. For the first time in the history of the country, the Greater Banjul Area boasts of at least 6 radio stations. In this exclusive interview with the Chief Executive Officer of Mediamatic and Proprietor Paradise FM, Gambia’s newest radio station, (inaugurated in Jan 2009) Harona Drammeh gave us an insight into some of the places and issues that shaped him.
Ebrima Baldeh: Tell me about yourself; I mean how did it all started?
Harona Drammeh: It all began in the early 1990s when the first FM license was issued in The Gambia.Its proprietor George Christensen approached young Harona while he was attending Saint Augustine's High School. He told Harona he has a good voice can make a great radio personality...... this is how I got into the media business and loving it everyday..... 17yrs and counting!
What motivated to leave Radio 1FM to join GRTS was it for fame; or for the fact that you were going to be part of history being one of the pioneering staff of the country's only TV station?
Harona Drammeh: Infact I had such a hard time on the one hand joining GRTS and so easy on the other hand. The Head of News and Current Affairs then, Jainaba Nyang was pleading with me to join the TV where the then Director thought I was not of any value to the institution. It was not for the fame I had already made a name before the TV however not that many could put the name and the face together..... I love media; fame is the least I had on my mind when joining GRTS
Your programme Talking Point in those days was very interesting; you managed to interview so many topnotch Gambians whose success stories inspired today's generation of young Gambians. Where did you draw your inspiration from?
Harona Drammeh: Since TV was a novelty here we had to draw a lot of our inspiration from other well established media.... these included BBC and CNN for the most part. I also had the opportunity to travel and meeting many high profile journalists around the world. With youth mobilisation background i also thought of doing something for young people. There were many reasons and inspirations to design and continue conducting the Talking Point and i am glad it made the impact it did for many......Talking Point was inspired by the world itself!
The fact that your prgramme was famous; you robbed shoulders with diplomats, government officials: Virtually everybody. You had traveled with the President on reporting assignments overseas, did you at any point in time considered yourself; intelligent, smart and lucky?
Okay, I will take it; after all a Nigerian writer once said If the lizard that jumps from one oroko tree fell down, and nobody praise him, he will praise himself. (It’s a joke). Okay, now tell me was it easy for you to marry the woman of your choice; the one you have been praying to God give yo
Harona Drammeh: For some reason I hate talking about my family life in the public arena. You, when i married my first wife I was thinking that’s it for me for the rest of my life. Boy! Was I wrong?!In that area I think i have failed contrary to my believe that failure doesn’t exist.I am happy as i talk to you now with 4 beautiful children and i dont hold much regrets in my life
Aside from that, let’s talk about your visit to the United States, was it a mission fait accompli; What did you do there basically?
Harona Drammeh: The USA unleashed the Harona in me! I attended Wayne County Community College in Detroit, MI but it was not the College education that put the icing on the cake for me it was the country itself, the people, the lifestyle, the TV, the businesslike nature of every American I met. Yes, the USA made a very positive impact in my life! Mission accomplished! Oui oui cava!
When you left GRTS, you decided to open a restaurant (Fine wine and Dine) and eventually started mediamatic jobs. How and where did you get the funds to start such projects?
Harona Drammeh: I had Fine, Wine and Dine before I left GRTS. Its set up was funded on monies I have received from the USA and came home with. As for Mediamatic you know we had very humble beginnings having started with only one computer which primarily funded by a family friend. www.mediamatic.gm
Knowing fully well that there are more than six radio stations within the Greater Banjul Area; all competing for a small market. Why did you squeeze yourself on the bandwagon? Do you think you will come up with something that other stations don't have?
Certainly and we are already succeeding in that arena. You must remember that radios survive from commercials and these generate revenue for the stations. With our background in multi media productions from Mediamatic you realise we already have clientele base that trust us and have been dealing with us over the years. Our style of programming is equally different from the rest. We have are currently broadcasting to over 50% of the country. So you see we are already ahead of the game even before we take off. We are not scared of the competition and nor do we think we are in a saturated market there still remains room for even more radios
The Gambia is yet to have a local radio station on the internet, what are you doing about this?
Harona Drammeh: Infact the Gambia has a radio online.... www.uniquefm.gmwe were working together on it but they beat us to it.We are currently working on satlinks for paradise and and a 24hrs streaming on the internet.Ebrima we are really moving on the technology bit.
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What about programme content, are you seriously working on that because some of the local radio stations play lot music?
Harona Drammeh: We have since inception in January come up with different prog ideas. The knikiliba show is the first daily morning show on radio devoted to making people getting into the mood to go to work/school etc. We have educational progs in all the major different languages. A health weekly prog, The lawyer, youth show etc are some of our educational progs. Not to mention we also do music like other FM station.
During the tail end of 2008, you left the country briefly on a visit to some European countries. Can you tell us more about the outcome of this visit?
Harona Drammeh: The European mission was to acquire more digital solutions and hardware to expand signal strength inland. We are now covering more than 50% of the country. Meaning paradise FM goes farther than all other private radios in the country.
As a youth, and as individual who has traveled outside the country, what are your views on ‘Barcelona or basaka’ in short illegal migration to Spain?
Harona Drammeh: My view on anything illegal stays the same. Whether it is wealth or otherwise the best is to acquire it legally. Quite a number of our young people have died trying to travel to Europe illegally. I see no sense whatsoever why i should lose my life trying to go to a country i have no idea about, it beats common sense altogether! Generally speaking, the streets in Europe are not littered with gold as perceived by many of our young people. My advice - they stay in the country to make our own Europe too.
When are you going to marry a second wife?
Harona Drammeh: Ebrima, you dont put time to those things and besides we dont encourage public discuss of our private lives, you know that.
OK thank u for granting me time out of your busy schedule for ebrimagambia.blogspot.com
Harona Drammeh: Anytime! Best REGARDS!
NB: READERS MAY REACT OR COMMENT ON ITEMS PUBLISHED ON THE BLOG.
EBRIMA BALDEH chiefbaldeh@yahoo.com
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