SOFFIA MAGAZINE 6TH EDITION

2 | SOFFIA MAGAZINE +220 9913854

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TEAM

PUBLISHER

ISATU M. BOKUM

KADDY SANYANG

MARKETING CONSULTANTS

MODOU SILLAH

JAINABA MBOWE

CONTENTS

FEATURES

Exclusive

Interview with Aji Kumba Daffeh

Page 4

Fashion

Koriteh Fashion Night

Page 12

Festive Event

How is Eid ul-Adha Celebrated?

Page 14

Beauty

Same Beauty Saloon

Page 16

Travels

The Gambia International Airline

Page 18

Exclusive

Interview with Ida Saine Conteh

Page 20

Women & Trade

Tresor Women Warriors groundnut

farm at Faraba Banta

Page 26

Page 26

AWA’S HEALTH TIPS

Tribute

C.E.O. of Universal Properties

Alhagie Sanyang

Page 31

Health

Awa1’s Health Awareness

Platform

Page 32

SkinCare

Simple steps to healthy skin

Page 33

2022 Menstrual Hygiene day

celebration in The Gambia

Page 34

MOTION & GRAPHIC DESIGNER

MUHAMMED SAWANEH

PHOTOGRAPHERS

MAMO KORA (MAMOS PHOTOGRAPHY)

ALPHA OMAR JALLOW (PANDI)

OUSMAN FYE

PRODUCTION

SOFFIA MAGAZINE & MEDIA

MAKE UP ARTIST

SAME BEAUTY

GUEST EDITOR

FATIMA SY

SOFFIA MAGAZINE +220 9913854 | 3

AJI KUMBA DAFFEH KAH

It is a great honour to have you on our

6th Edition of Soffia Magazine Aji Kumba

Daffeh. Tell us a little about yourself.

Hello. A pleasure to be here. My name is

Kumba Daffeh-Kah. I am the CEO of Tresor

Inc, a retail chain that I founded based

in Senegal, The Gambia, and the United

States. In this role, I oversee various business

subsidiaries, more specifically The

Agi Daffeh Brand, an apparel line with a

fusion of both African and western designs

as well as Tresor Modesty, another outlet

that designs for women looking for a more

refined look. Before this, however, I studied

International Business and Finance at the

Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

Currently, I am the President of the Tresor

Women warriors (TWW), a network of 7000

women across the different regions of The

Gambia.



It is a great honour to have you

on our 6th Edition of Soffia Magazine

Aji Kumba Daffeh. Tell us a

little about yourself.

Hello. A pleasure to be here. My

name is Kumba Daffeh-Kah. I am

the CEO of Tresor Inc, a retail

chain that I founded based in Senegal,

The Gambia, and the United

States. In this role, I oversee various

business subsidiaries, more

specifically The Agi Daffeh Brand,

an apparel line with a fusion of

both African and western designs

as well as Tresor Modesty, another

outlet that designs for women

looking for a more refined look.

Before this, however, I studied

International Business and Finance

at the Golden Gate University in

San Francisco. Currently, I am the

President of the Tresor Women

warriors (TWW), a network of 7000

women across the different regions

of The Gambia.

What lead you to becoming an

entrepreneur?

Foundation. This has allowed us

to work with women and children

here in The Gambia for over a

decade, starting the “Yes we can

read’’ program which facilitated

reading for children. We went

on to build and furnish libraries

across the country. That is actually

how I started my journey

working with women in Pallen,

Ballanghar, so it’s all been a domino

effect.

Are you involved in the design

process?

In my position as the CEO of

Tresor Inc, I primarily focus

on our investment portfolios

and allocating funds. My twin

sister, Aji Daffeh is the Creative

Director and runs “The Agi Daffeh

Brand” formerly known as

La Excellence Design where

she designs premium couture

for other high-end stores in

Ghana, Nigeria, and more.

When I got married, I had a baby

not too long after, and decided to

take off at least five years to give

her a good start. As women, often

there are sacrifices we must make,

and my family has always been my

first priority.

During that time, I came to The

Gambia and began to look into the

different opportunities, to build generational

wealth for my family, so I

began to look for options we could

invest in, and through that process,

I wanted to see what could be

done to give back to my country as

well, so I got to work on a business

plan and with my experience

working in business and finance, I

was able to start my own ventures.

Tresor The Closet And Beyond

was my first retail store. A couple

of years later we opened another

store in Dakar Senegal, where the

subsidiaries I’d mentioned earlier

(Tresor Modesty, The Agi Daffeh

Brand, etc.) are hosted. At Tresor

Inc, 10% of revenues from all our

businesses go into the Tresor

You are also a women’s right

activist, and you champion

economic empowerment for

families through women.

How did it all start?

Women build societies, but we

must be in the right state of

mind to be able to build not only

a strong but functional society.

When I came back to The Gambia,

I found that women had been

working for so many years without

being able to bear the fruits of

their hard labor. I believe wholeheartedly

that women are the

solution to many of the problems

we are facing as a country. If you

look at the number of women providing

for their children and their

entire family members, it’s overwhelmingly

large. As the Gambia

transitions towards a more equitable

society, it’s very important to

empower more women economically

so they can make choices

that not only impact their lives but

the lives of their families and

eventually our nation. Women

Rights are Human rights. As a

progressive society it’s imperative

that all rights are protected and

nurtured, so the empowerment of

women is no longer a debate, but

a national issue.

Have you always had big

dreams?

Yes! I was not raised by my

biological parents. When I was

12 years old, I remember long

days of washing dishes, and even

longer nights of studying; empowering

myself daily that I would

succeed no matter what, even

as the tears rolled down my face.

The woman you see today didn’t

just happen by chance; it was by

hard work, perseverance, and

design. When other kids were

playing with dolls, I was focusing

on my education, and envisioning


a life of

meaning,

success,

and impact.

I just

had big

dreams

about the

future with

so many

possibilities.

I also

wanted

to ensure

other

young girls

would never

have to

go through

some of

the things

I went

through. I

wanted to

not only

change my

life but the

life of others.

When

I moved to

the United

States, I

worked

three different jobs and paid my

own way through college. My

twin sister and I had paid our own

rent, bills, everything. We didn’t

let our obstacles deter us, and

instead focused on our goals.

You are the President of Tresor

Women Warriors. Tell us about

the Organisation.

Tresor Women Warriors is a

women-led organization. Our goal

has always been to uplift women

towards financial freedom.

Through focusing on economic

empowerment, we see the direct

and positive impact we’re having

on so many lives. Ultimately,

these same women will be able

to positively impact the lives of

their own families, the community

and eventually the entire country.

Women make up 52% of The

Gambia’s population. You cannot

have 52% of a population that is

not only underutilized but actively

marginalized as well. If we

were economically empowered,

socially, we would be aware of

the things around us that need to

change and work towards them.

I believe Women can become

leaders in our communities and

we deserve to have our voices

heard, not just to be expected to

clap and follow along, especially

in policymaking and political

spaces - because if we are not

at the table where decisions are

being made, then our efforts will

be futile.

What are some of the activities

you do at Tresor Women Warriors?

More recently, we’ve established

and structured a Village Savings

and Loans Scheme, with a D4.5M

investment to loan to women

using the Islamic model of profit

sharing. Seventy-five percent

of these loans are for women in

Agriculture. This has enabled our

women to have access to fertilizers

and create other facilities

to expand their Agricultural production.

This year, with little to no

mechanization, the Tresor women

warriors cultivated over 27 Hectares

across the country and plan

to expand another 32 Hectares,

this upcoming rainy season.

Our work in acquiring more land

have been the driving force to our

success and increase in production.

As an advocate for land

rights ownership for women, we

hope to champion more access

to land for women in agriculture.

The Tresor Warrior Women network

allows us to trade amongst

ourselves both locally and regionally.

This has made it easier for

our TWW groundnut farmers to

sell directly to other TWW traders

directly who are in the processing,

and marketing of Peanut butter.

This is just an example of the

many creative ways we market

and push our products across the

country. In addition to these efforts,

we are investing and building

trading posts in the communities

we trade-in. These structures

will allow us to have brick and

mortar stores, giving us greater

visibility, as well as allow us to

effectively display our products to

market.

As poultry farmers, we have

expanded our poultry production

to include both layers and broilers,

increasing production, and

with the right policies in place,

Gambian poultry farmers can

meet the demand and supply for

poultry products. We hope to be

amongst the champions to push

for this policy. The Tresor women

warriors produces Groundnuts,

Maize, Wonjo, Coos, and Sesame.

Horticulture is also a major

aspect of our agricultural efforts.

We are also in the rearing of

small ruminants. At Tresor Warrior

Women we want to be part of the

solution in creating food security

in The Gambia.

As the founder and the president

of the Tresor Warrior

Women, what is your understanding

of the needs of women

in this new era, especially

women in rural Gambia?

As stated previously, I truly believe

rural women will save this

country. We can see from our

GDP and the number of women

working in the agricultural sector,

that they are critical to helping

The Gambian economy grow

through Agriculture and Trade.

So when you consider these

factors, as well as more women

rising up to leadership positions,

there is no denying the fact that

women are leaning into positions

of power and influence to impact

real and meaningful change. The

more voices of women heard, the

more our society exponentially

progresses towards a better, and

more equitable society.

Are these women motivated to

see changes within themselves


and within their communities?

I have been overwhelmed by the

love and support I’ve received

from these communities. I cannot

imagine what this initiative

would’ve been without them.

The mind is the most powerful

tool in the universe, and when we

believe in ourselves the possibilities

are endless. None of these

women had ever entered a bank

or even owned a bank account

before joining this network. A couple

of weeks ago, they were discussing

their first bank experiences,

and this woman said to me,

“I never thought that I would ever

enter a bank.” It’s things like this

that really get my emotions flowing,

When she entered the bank,

she asked to sit on a swinging

chair, after swinging nonstop, she

said the bank was like heaven,

that it was so cold. One of them

also told me that they thought life

was all about eating and brewing

“ataya” (Chinese tea) every

day, which is exactly what they

did, and now this same woman

trades gaweh across regions.

In Ballangharr, they mine “gaweh”

and sell it wholesale. These are

just some examples that prove

to us, our warriors are not only

beginning to think differently but

building successful business.

Do we need to change our mentality

towards women in order

to make positive changes, or

should women change their

mentality for their own good as

well?

Right there, you hit the mark.

Absolutely. The mentality of men

towards women will not change

until women change how they see

themselves and other women.

Women need to learn to let go

of the limitations that have been

placed on them by society. It’s the

toxic belief that we’re “just women”

that we need to break away

from. A classic example, In Kerr

Nderry, we established a Convenience

store, previously the villagers

had to travel miles to buy

basic necessities, so we opened

it a shop at the “Pencha”, where

everyone congregates. Before

we opened the store, the women

told us “Kumba”, we are only

women, we can’t even manage a

store” and I responded with “You

have the same gifts as anybody

else who can manage a store.”

Today not only are the managing

a store they are running one of

the most successful businesses

in that region. Consequently,

we’ve opened two other stores

in the same region. We are now

in Jalamba, and Choyen so the

women continue to expand. It’s

all about mindset.

Do you involve men in this

initiative?

I happen to be a strong advocate

for men, and though my focus

is female empowerment, I am a

champion for families more than

anything else. I’m very fortunate

to be with a man that is also a

strong advocate for women, and

his support has been invaluable

to this journey; My ability to do

what I do would not be possible

if I were “against men” because

they will also be benefiting from a

society of strong and empowered

women too.

How do you think we should

approach gender gaps; thus

the issue of gender equality is

still a challenge in our society?

Firstly, as a society, the way men

have been raised in our households

has done a disservice to

themselves and their female

counterparts. Men cannot be

raised to honor us as mothers,

and then disregard everyone

else. We must raise men to be

compassionate, empathetic, loyal,

and supportive. To be a man,


you don’t have to boss your sisters

around or exude toxic masculinity.

When I look at my husband

and so many other men who work

on farms, I know they came from

strong mothers and fathers who

were strong pillars in their society,

I see harmony and respect within

these households. Men with such

upbringings are less likely to maltreat,

rape, or marginalize women.

These are not traits of men that

were raised right. My husband

used to buy fish for his mother, at

the market. Even though I never

met my mother-in-law, I pray for

her for raising an honorable man.

To this day, I don’t even know

where the fish market is located

because he continues that tradition.

So, again, it’s how men

are conditioned. Men who live in

homes where women are abused

or are seen as objects, in most

cases will have difficulty treating

women with respect. Hence, we

must raise our sons with a sense

of responsibility and expectation.

You are also a member of the

Cancer Association League.

What is it all about?

Ten organizations came together

to form the Cancer League. With

my sister, I co-founded African

Women Against Cancer. Several

years ago, we staged a rally in

Banjul’s Macarthy Square, but we

realized that we cannot fight this

disease alone. Our team engaged

all the cancer organizations in the

country, including Ida Ceesay,

a cancer survivor who also runs

an organization to fight cancer in

Africa.

In 2019, under one umbrella,

we came together to advocate,

create awareness, and engage

NGOs. Through working with the

government, we continue in our

efforts to make women’s health a

priority. Additionally, we advocated

for a Mammogram Machine to

be made available in The Gambia,

but more importantly for a

comprehensive cancer plan that

includes a Cancer Center.

As the government is tasked with

providing healthcare, we engaged

with The Ministry of Health from

the to work together to ensure

more Gambia women would

get the treatment they need

to survive Cancer, particularly

cervical and breast Cancer.

Something as critical as a

mammogram machine should

not be negotiable. Other countries

have moved beyond this

stage in their development.

The women in Senegal, for

example, are surviving breast

cancer at much higher rates

than we are. Most women

diagnosed with cancer do get

treatment, and go on to live

meaningful lives. This is because

early detection is crucial.

In The Gambia, statistically, all

the women who had cancer 5

years ago have died in the last

5 years, according to a doctor.

This is a problem.

We understand that the

Cancer League provided free

cancer screenings for Gambian

Women. What were the

next steps for those who had

been tested and found to

have cancer?

The hospitals here in The

Gambia are equipped to handle

cervical cancer cases. So

we referred most of the patients

who had it to the proper

specialists, and they were

treated at the SOS Clinic and

EFSTH. Dr. Nafisatou Ceesay,

a doctor from America who

comes to The Gambia every

6 months was also present at

the Cancer screening clinic,

offering her medical expertise,

and guidance. On behalf of the

Koro Ceesay Foundation, she

provided free medicines to all

the patients who got prescriptions.

She also specializes in

work with diabetes and hypertension,

so any women with

those ailments were referred to

Faji Kunda Hospital where she

could see them, free of charge.

Through our partnership with

the Cancer League of Senegal,

and Albert Royal Hospital,

we had eight oncologist onsite

who were able to perform

biopsies on women who had

breast discharge to see if it

was cancerous, and if so, what

stage. Echogram’s were also

ordered through the agreement

with Senegalese doctors,

allowing us to treat a good

number of patients for free. In

addition to this, the league was

able to raise approximately 1

million dalasi to secure a Mammogram

Machine, that money

is still in the account as we

continue to raise more funds

to purchase a Mammogram

Machine. The fight for our lives

matters. Gambian Women’s

Lives Matter.

What impact has your work

had on women and children’s

lives overall?


Aside from working with women, I’ve always been passionate about access to quality education,

particularly in the most remote parts of the country. My main goal was to ensure that children in

the rural communities have the same access to education so they could compete with the rest of

the country. A lot of these families were unable to prioritize education, because they couldn’t even

afford uniforms, let alone tuition and materials for education. For over ten years, My organization

has been able to provide, not only opportunities to learn and grow but provided the much-needed

materials for these children to succeed in their academic endeavors.

When I arrived at Paleen, Ballangharr, I urged the principal and school administration to enact a

non-uniform policy for the early ECD classes. From that moment on, their enrollment increased

dramatically. In the morning, I would teach in Ballangharr, and in the afternoon, I’d be doing the

same in Kwinnela, Kiang. I taught Grade 10 students reading and English comprehension. I am

trying to build a strong foundation

for these children, because tinue that legacy. We are also building our own legacy, continu-

to ensure that work does not go in vain, and to stand up to con-

I believe everyone deserves a ously sowing seeds that we hope will grow into something fruitful

quality education. Though this in the near future. As Gambians, we are part of the solution and

started as a pilot program, we we’re working diligently to be the change we want to see. That is

are continuing to make sure exactly why I keep doing what I do, and my loyalty to The Gambia

is what inspires me to be amongst the transformational lead-

as many kids in The Gambia

can expect the basic dignity ers in this country.

of a good education regardless

of their socio-economic Finally, would you be interested in running for office someday?

background. This impact and

intervention is important for all

women and their families.

What do you want to be remembered

for?

The message is clear, ask not

what your country can do for

you, but rather what you can

do for your country. Those

were the words of John F.

Kennedy. These words carry

a great deal of meaning

to me. I always say it is very

convenient to say what you

are against, but to stand up for

what you believe in is legendary.

What are you doing about

the things you want to change?

My father, Jerreh LB Daffeh

served as a former Minister of

Health, followed by Agriculture

for over 25 years in the First

Republic. He was also a National

Assembly member for all

those years. It was men and

women like him that laid the

foundation and groundwork for

all of us. I believe it is very important

for the next generation

(Laughs) It’s been rumored that I have ambitions to run for office.

Regardless of whether it’s political or social, every citizen should

have ambitions, I am just out here living the dreams and aspirations

of my ancestors. We all have a purpose and a destiny in

life, and whatever is meant to be for you, it will be, simple as that.

I will not sit here and tell you that I have political ambitions. Allah

gives positions to people. Whatever comes my way, is part of my

destiny. Perhaps people are unaware that I have worked with

women in this country for the past 15 years. All I want is to see

a Gambia where all people have the right to live in dignity irrespective

of your gender, creed and background. I want to leave

a lasting legacy for this country. I just want to do good and uplift

more women into their power,

this way whenever they

talk about women empowerment,

my name will appear

in the stories of these women.

Everything else we leave

for Allah (SWT).

It was indeed a pleasure to

have you on our 6th edition.

I thank you on behalf

of the entire team for your

time and selfless efforts in

empowering our women.

Thank you SOFFIA Magazine.


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The Gambia’s

Koriteh Fashion Night

ifferent activities and programs take place during Eid

al-Fitr celebrations in The Gambia. One of our favourite

programs to cover is the Koriteh Fashion Night and this

year’s edition featured Senegalese artist Bass Thioung.

During the first day of Koriteh, the event took place

at Pencha Mi Hall. In their beautiful African outfits, attendees of

the event filled Pencha Mi Hall with glimpses and glamour. Enjoy

some of the dazzling and beautiful looks on the red carpet and

during the event.

Bass Thioung, Musician

Attack Gaye, Artist

Badibunka, Artist


Jali Madi, Artist

Fafa Mbye

OLDA

Ida Sosseh

Binbunka, Wife

Jaha Dukureh


How is Eid Adha celebrated?

Eid ul-Adha is a public holiday celebrated

throughout the Islamic world and in countries

where Islam is recognized as one of

the major religions. Regardless of nationality,

ethnicity, or locality, the main observance

of Eid ul-Adha is the symbolic reenactment

of Ibrahim’s obedience. Depending on

which part of the world the celebration is

being observed, the sacrifice may extend

to a cow, sheep, lamb, goat, ram, and even

camel.

The bounty obtained from the sacrifice must

be allocated accordingly; the individual,

group of individuals or family providing the

sacrifice is entitled to a third of the meat,

while their friends and relatives are entitled

to another third. The remaining third strictly

belongs to the needy and less fortunate.

By taking part in this Feast of Sacrifice,

Muslims around the world pledge their willingness

to submit to the will of the Creator

not just by way of performing the Qurban or

sacrificing an animal, but also by committing

themselves to other acts of charity. It is customary

for Muslims with the financial means

to do so to donate sums of money, food and

clothes to the homeless and the poor during

Eid ul-Adha.

Though on a smaller scale than that of the

Eid ul-Fitr, Muslims do take advantage of the

celebration to dress up and visit family and

friends offering and receiving presents in the

process.



Samera Sanneh is the Chief Executive Officer of SAME Beauty Saloon & Academy

professional make-up artist from Tallinding.

A With over six years experience Known for her

detailed skills and impressive make-up results,

Why did you choose makeup as a profession?

As a kid, I always enjoyed making up. This made

me passionate about the field and I decided to

pursue it professionally. My favourite thing growing

up was to make people’s faces. In addition, I loved

dressing up, braiding, and fashion. When I was in

school, I braided the hair of my friends and neighbours.

What are some of the challenges you face

in this field?

It is truly not an easy task. There is always a ton

of work to do, especially during the holidays. and

I spend hours in the salon satisfying their needs.

I rarely get the chance to rest. I just keep going to

push boundries.

Do you do make-up for special events?

Sure, I do. I’m available for all kinds of events,

such as weddings, naming ceremonies, and

high-level events. This is something I have been

doing for several years now. So, I serve a very

large clientele who come here for make-up for a

variety of activities.

Tell me what is the one product you can’t

work without?

Mac is my favourite. For my work, I can’t function

without the Mac brand.

Tell us what three make-up items no woman

should leave home without.

Make sure you have lipstick, powder, and a brush.

You can never go wrong with those.

What is your advice for upcoming make-up

artists?

The best advice I can give them is to keep going.

This is not an easy task. Stay focused and keep

learning to improve your skills. Stay true to your

dreams and do not give up.



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IDA SAINE CONTEH

Ida Saine Conteh is an Entrepreneur and the Chief Executive Officer of Ida’s Ideas. Ida is one of the

blazing fashion designers in the country. She is the Vice President of the Fashion Designer’s Association

of The Gambia and a member of the Women Chamber of Commerce of the Gambia, as well

as the Senegalo Gambia Federation. We get to know Ida through this exclusive interview, where she

discusses her childhood, how she started designing, and how she is currently inspiring and teaching

the next generation of fashion designers in The Gambia.


We are pleased to meet with

you. Can you tell us who Ida’s

Ideas is and how the company

started?

Pleasure, and yes of course I

can. My name is Ida Saine Conteh.

I was born in Banjul and

raised by my grandparents in

Bakau. My journey begins at

Bakau Primary School where I

started my education, and then

proceeded to attend St Joseph’s

High School. Afterward, I began

my career as a clerk and was

able to become an accountant

general after just one year. Then

GTTI was founded and some

of us gained admission through

scholarships. As far as tailoring

goes, after one year at GTTI, I

passed with flying colours, but

my mind was already set on

sewing, so sometimes instead

of attending class, I went to my

friend’s house instead. In the

sitting room, one day, my friend

and I met her sister, who is a

designer and tailor, and I asked

my friend to introduce me to

her sister so that she could help

me with my sewing skills. Thus,

I started to go there whenever

I got off work until I became

more skilled at sewing and could

sew on my own. It was then

that I opened my own tailoring

business, Ida’s Top Fashion.

My parents had not expected

me to be a designer or a tailor.

All they wanted was for their

brilliant daughter to complete

school and hold good positions

in big institutions. Even before

that though, as a young girl, my

grandmother would let me play

with her hand sewing machine

so that I was not out just idling or

spending all my time doing playful

things. My grandparents were

very protective of me; even my

friends had visiting hours; if they

stayed at our house until five pm,


my grandmother would tell them to go home until the

next day, and I had a hard time entertaining myself

until one day she told me to play with the sewing machine,

and I’d start putting things together, hemming

and sewing my torn uniforms. As I got older, I realized

that I excelled in both accounting and needlework. In

a class of ten, only five students were interested in

needles work and it was not very popular amongst the

other girls, so the teacher noticed my willingness and

creative ability and gave me more attention for it just

furthering my passion for sewing.

What was business like in those days compared to

now?

It was not the same then, only a few women ventured

into the tailoring business since it was mostly a

male-dominated industry. A few pioneers I can name

off the top of my head are Aunty Ida Sallah, Aunty

Soffie Jobe, and Aunty Ramon.

Did you hire tailors to work for you when you started

your own tailoring business?

No, I did not. Due to the passion, I have for the work,

I began sewing free of charge for my friends. That

was when my grandmother gave me a hand sewing

machine; I was young and small at that time, so she

gave me a chair with a pillow on it to reach the table.

Because I sewed as a hobby starting out, there was

never a charge, and with lots of practice on my friends

primarily, my skills were better, and I enjoyed that the

most. When I realized that the business was getting

bigger and bigger and I could no longer handle it alone,

my grandfather gave me a space in his compound and

built a shop for me. My grandparents were extremely

supportive and did everything they could for

me, so I started asking for small amounts of

money from my clients. After I had saved a

certain amount of money, I bought another

machine and hired a tailor, a Senegalese

named Musa Njie. Together, we sewed

highly creative designs for customers, and

the business grew. I later bought another

machine. It was during this time that I got

married to Alhagie Conteh, who is also

very understanding and supportive and has

played a vital role in my life. He helped me

buy my first industrial machine.

It was great to hear that your family and

husband supported you! However, every

success story comes with challenges.

What were your challenges?

When you first venture into business, especially

as a woman, you constantly have

difficulties penetrating the market in the

Gambia, but hard work and determination

will lead you to success. Since my husband

advised me not to take loans, in my case it

was difficult, but thank goodness. Up until

where I am now, I have no debts with anyone

in the government or private sectors.

All the support I had come from my family

and my husband, both financially and morally.

I am grateful that Gambian valued my

work. If people do not like the designs you


sew, they won’t buy or wear

them, most of the time. My

customers always tell me,

“Design for us, you’re creative”,

so I have their support,

both in the Gambia and

abroad.

Our society believes that

when you receive an education,

you must become a

lawyer, doctor, or even an

accountant! We want to hear

from you about the importance

of skill work.

In those days, skill work was

not recommended that much.

People believed that after

completing school, you should

only work in an office. The

world is evolving, and people

are realizing how many benefits

there are to learning a

trade/skill. A month’s worth

of salary earned by working

for yourself is far greater

than what someone in a suit

is making for someone else

in that same month, and at

least for yourself, the money

is coming in almost every

day, as opposed to monthly.

Furthermore, no matter where

you are, the skill you acquire

can be useful to you. It is clear

we live in a fashion era, which

means fashion shows can be

found at any event you attend,

wherever you go. The Gambia

might be lagging when

it comes to that, but we’re

catching up. The first thing you

ask yourself when you wake

up in the morning is what do I

wear today and what matches

what. This is where skill work

comes in. Office work is not

for everyone. Initially, there

were a few conflicts between

parents and their children

when I started my design

school. Despite their parent’s

wishes, the kids wanted to

go into the fashion industry. I

convinced the parents to allow

their children to choose their

area of interest and now, alhamdulillah,

they realize this is

what their kids are good at.

What inspired you to start a

designing school?

I have travelled to various

international trade fairs and

fashion shows representing

The Gambia. Most of the time

I hear my colleagues from

different countries talk about

the different design schools

they have in their respective

countries, and it occurred to

me that the Gambia only has

tailoring workshops and our

sewing skills aren’t up to par.

Often, Gambians will travel to

foreign countries for proper

designs, and you can’t blame

them since we have very few

good, and well-trained designers

here. A designing class is

a must to perfect your craft.

Most tailoring workshops in

The Gambia are filled with

magazines where other designers’

designs are just being

copied. It’s at this point that I

concurred that this wasn’t going

to help our industry. I found

a talented group of students

and strongly recommend

those who wanted to become

designers to attend a training

school, one that I’d be opening

myself to. My only solution

was to open something in the

Gambia for these young people

could get the opportunities

we were not able to have

and help grow the country’s

fashion industry. The school

is working as expected, there

are many different complected

aspects of fashion, some

of which is knowing which

material goes with which, how

to choose colours, and how

to cut patterns. They learn

all those things. I faced a lot

of challenges in building the

school, but I am glad that

it is complete, and classes

are taking place. The hiring

of designing teachers was

the most challenging party; I

could not find one in the Gambia

that met the standards I

was looking for. I had to hire

people from outside of the

Gambia, house them and pay

them in Dollars, but I went

into this knowing these challenges

would arise, so I sent

my daughter to study abroad

in order to at least have one

lecturer to start with.

In addition to sewing and

designing school, what other

activities do you engage in?

I am currently the vice president

of the fashion designer’s

association of the Gambia.

I am also a member of the

Women’s Chamber of Commerce

of the Gambia, as well

as the Senegal Gambia Federation.

In the Gambia, the

fashion designer’s association

is the first ever to be established.

When I joined, I was the

youngest person in the group.

We also organize events in

order to raise funds for young

designers. So, aside from sewing

that is what I devote my

time to.

How do you balance work

and family life?

That’s a very good question,

and I’m blessed to have a very

supportive husband who has

supported me throughout my

career, but balancing work life

and family isn’t easy. In order


to balance the two, I worked in this industry while

raising all of my kids, which meant I took care of

them, fed them, and played with them all while

working to ensure that the mother-child relationship

was not affected in any way until they all became

adults. That’s why my oldest daughter ventured

into the fashion industry after she graduated.

Another thing I always made sure to do was close

shop by 6pm so that I could get home and cook

dinner. I always try to cook for my whole family and

make sure that I’m off during the weekends. I never

work the weekends.

The interview is nearing its end! Is there anything

you’d like to add?

My sincere gratitude goes to my staff, some of

whom I have worked with for over seventeen

years. It is vital to have a good relationship

with your employees as this ensures that your

work is accomplished the way you intended it

to be. If you are not disciplined, no matter how

much you have, you may lose it all. When I

travel and leave the shop with my staff, everything

is in perfect condition when I return.

Therefore, it is especially important to respect

your employees but also set a good standard.

I have very loyal people that work with me.

Even one man whose been working for me

so many years, his son works alongside him

now, indicating how comfortable they are with

me and the work environment. We are like a

family now.

What is the relationship between you and

your customers?

I value my customers above all else. My

customers have helped me to become who I

am today, starting with my childhood friends

who first trusted me, to those in The Gambia

and the diaspora. Several gifts I receive from

customers are tokens of appreciation, and

that keeps me going, knowing that my customers

appreciate the work I do for them.

What final message do you have for the

next generation of designers?

My advice for young designers is to keep

researching and learn more about the process

but especially; how to design. Don’t just focus

on the money-making process, because once

you’re able to master what you do, the people

will seek you out and your work will sell out

naturally, respect one another and give the

work its due.


TRESOR WOMEN WARRIORS GROUNDNUT

FARM AT FARABA BANTA

TRESOR WOMEN WARRIORS

is a non-profit, non-political and

non-religious organization that

engages in empowering women

and enhancing the general

wellbeing of its targeted

beneficiaries in The Gambia.

Vision

Tresor Women Warriors envision

a Gambia where all girls

and women are nurtured and

empowered to reach their

full potential irrespective of

their ethnicity, income level or

social status. We champion

and advocate for the aspirations

of women and their socio-economic

development.

Mission

In order to accomplish and

achieve our vision, TWW will

facilitate, promote opportunities

to support, empower,

connect and grow women in

business and leadership. as

an organization our desire

is to uplift girls and women

through the following objectives:

• ➢ Facilitating enterprise

development.

• ➢ Networking and supporting

women for success

and growth.

• ➢ Negotiating on behalf of

members for wealth generation.

• ➢ Lobbying, policy advocacy

and environmental

support towards self-sustenance.

• ➢Training and building

leadership skills to enable

women to gain financial

impact and build their

community.

TWW Operates in The Following

Areas:

Education

Through our voluntary teaching

programs, we provide

support to schools.

Entrepreneurship

Providing life skills training to

women to become job creators

and replicate the knowl

edge gained to others to build

sustainable businesses.


TWW also provide capital

invest

ment for women businesses

through a control mechanism

and a fund monitoring process.

Agriculture

As value chain players in the

agricultural sector, we commit

ourselves to operating farms,

community gardens growing

crops such as maize, groundnuts,

vegetables, cashews

and oranges.

Mentorship

We assist in building the

capacities of women to

enhance their life skills to

become key players in the

economy.

In our capacity as Tresor

women warriors, we are

currently working with 4000

women farmers, 6 schools,

more than 6 communities and

3 orphanages

Tresor Women Warriors of

Faraba Banata are hardworking

women and they are part

of the TWW network with a

total number of 120 women.

TWW is doing all this to empower

women to be self-sustainable,

self-reliant and to

believe in the Gambia. These

women are also funding other

women who are part of the

network to uplift them to

financial freedom and help

them to be self-sustainable.

These women farmers established

on a 7-hectare groundnut

farm in Faraba Banta.

Despite the failure of the rain

season, these women were

able to pull out a harvest of 10

tons of groundnuts.

We also have partnerships

with groundnut dealers across

the country where we sell our

TWW provided the seed capital

for them to setup the farm

and that includes the buying

of the seeds and ploughing as

well. However, they also did all

the labour needed; clearing,

seed sowing, weeding and

harvesting.

products.

TWW also has the firm belief

that, we can make it in the

Gambia without the help of

any international aid and we

are quest as an organization

to achieve that goal.



SUPER KANJA

(Okra Stew)

Okra soup is a common local dish in the Gambia.

It is normally served at lunchtime and you can

eat it with rice or fufu. Okras are low in saturated

fat, sodium and very low in cholesterol. It is

also a good source of protein, riboflavin, niacin

phosphorus, potassium, zinc, and copper. Okra is

a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins A, C & K,

vitamin B6, folate, calcium, magnesium, and

manganese. Here are the basic steps to cooking

this nutritious and healthy meal.

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound stewing beef or lamb, washed and cut

into 1” cubes

4 quarts water

½ pound piece of smoked fish

1 medium onion, peeled and cut into chunks

1 bunch of spring onions, trimmed and chopped

1 or 2 habanero pepper (optional; carefully

seeded if you don’t want it too hot)

1 teaspoon ground/powdered netetu (fermented

African locust bean)

Salt to taste

1 large or 2 small Maggi cubes (OR substitute

beef bouillon cubes)

1 or 2 boxes of frozen chopped “keren keren”

(Okra Leaves)

1 and ½ cups palm oil

2 bags of chopped okra

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a pot, combine meat and water, cover, and

bring to a boil. Add smoked fish and continue

cooking, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Grind

together onion, spring onion and optional

habanero pepper.

2. Add the ground mixture, netetu or fish sauce,

1/8 teaspoon of salt, and Maggi or bouillon

cubes. Reduce the heat slightly and cook for 20

minutes.

3. Then add the chopped okra leaves and cook

for another 20 minutes.

4. Add okra and palm oil. Once the sauce returns

to a boil, cook for 10 minutes.

5. Stir frequently to avoid the ingredients sticking

to the bottom of the pot as the sauce reduces

and thickens for about 30 minutes.

6. Put smoked fish back in the pot, reduce heat

and simmer for a few minutes. You can serve

this over rice or fufu.

Note: You can also add shrimps and crabs to

this dish.


It

gives us

great

pleasure

to bring

you the

sixth issue

of SOF-

FIA Magazine. In 2020, COVID 19 outbreak disrupted our

services, making it a long and arduous ride. This issue took

a lot of courage and hard work after the outbreak, but we

persevere, because we wanted to bring you a quality edition

packed with authentic content and information about interesting

topics in The Gambia. This magazine is devoted

to showcasing The Gambia to the world by highlighting the

most thrilling topics, events, and activities, including health

tips that will blow your mind.

As our cover for this issue, we are pleased to feature Kumba

Daffeh, Founder and CEO of Tresor Women Warriors. We

had an extremely interesting conversation with the humanitarian

and business tycoon, so turn to page 4 to read the

exclusive. In our previous issues, SOFFIA Magazine has

been promoting women’s empowerment as one of its central

themes. Thus, in this issue as well, we had a one-on-one exclusive

with Ida Saine, CEO of Ida’s Ideas. We learn about

the challenges she faced prior to starting her business and

how it has worked out for her. We also have Samera Sanneh

from Same Beauty Saloon, a young beauty entrepreneur

who is establishing her business and simultaneously training

young Gambian beauticians.

Be assured that we will go the extra mile to ensure that you

will be entertained to the fullest. We also featured the hustle

and bustle of Serrekunda Market followed by the glamour

and glitz of the Koriteh (EID) Fashion night. Not only is this

issue filled with exciting conversations but we have also

PUBLISHER’S

NOTE

included articles covering health, like

the Menstrual hygiene day celebration

in The Gambia this year.

Last but not least, we send our deepest

condolences to the family of our once

loyal client, Mr. Alhagie Sanyang, who

was the General Manager for Universal

Properties. We spoke to someone

who was close to him about the man

he was as part of this edition’s tribute.

We would like to thank all the companies

and businesses that advertise with

us because we are dedicated to provide

businesses with the platform to have

their products and services globally.

Our appreciation goes out to the entire

team for their dedication, patience,

meticulousness, and innovative ideas

in creating this edition of SOFFIA

Magazine.

Moreover, we offer a variety of other

services to members of the general

public. Interested parties should feel

free to contact us by phone at +220

9913854 or by email at soffiamagazine@gmail.com.

Publishing

Magazine Design, Printing and Distribution

Advertising and Publicity

Social Media promotion (YouTube,

Twitter, Facebook and Instagram)

As you flip through this issue filled

with pages written and designed with

love from all of us, we wish you a wonderful

reading experience.


IN LOVING MEMORY OF ALAGIE SANYANG,

FORMER CEO OF UNIVERSAL PROPERTIES

At Soffia Magazine, we extend our deepest condolences to the Sanyang

family at home and abroad. Mr Sanyang was not only one of our clients

but also a genuine and good colleague with whom we have shared excellent

working relations. Throughout his career, he remained loyal to his

words and passionate about what he did. This edition of Soffia Magazine

would not be complete without a tribute to him, so we interviewed

Mr Omar Touray, a family member and the General Manager of Universal

Properties, to learn more about the man he was.

Can you give us a brief biography of the late Alhagie Sanyang and

how he came to own a business?

Alhagie Sanyang was born and raised in Sukuta. His father is from Gunjur,

and his mother is from Sukuta. So he has some of his family here

and others aboard. Sukuta is where he did his primary and junior school,

followed by Kotu Senior Secondary School, where he completed his high

school education. Mr Sanyang started working as a contractor after his

diploma in 2000 with Atlantic and Palm Beach Hotel, both in Banjul. The

job entailed the supply of fruits, foodstuff and general goods. He learned

to fend for himself and his family early as an only son. He worked with

many companies, including World Link Internet Café and Printing Press as

a Manager. Afterwards, he worked for Premier Properties Ltd., rising to

the position of General Manager in 2007. He then left excitedly to join

Global Properties because he saw an opportunity to pioneer business

with the Proprietor and became a General Manager there. They grew this

business until he had the nudge to start his own. In 2009, he started his

own real estate agency, Universal Properties Ltd. It has been a story of steady growth and success.

In general, how was Mr Sanyang’s relationship with people?

Alhagie was a man of peace. He made peace with everybody in Kombo, including his entire family members. If

you ask anyone about Mr Sanyang, they will only say good things about him. He was so humble in nature, you

would never believe that he was the boss if you came in as a stranger to the office. He was also a humanitarian;

he had such a big heart and was always giving charity to the needy. Around this time of the year, when

Tobaski approaches, he usually buys more than 50 Rams to give away to the needy. I have always been a

beneficiary and haven’t bought a single Ram for the past eight (8) years. May God forgive his shortcomings and

lay him in Jannah-Tul-Firdaws.

What was the cause of his sudden death?

He had closed from work and was travelling to the provinces to a village called Baragel to spend the weekend

with his friends as he usually does. On his way to Kiang Kwinella, his vehicle was knocked to the side by a truck,

and he was the one sitting behind the driver. Unfortunately, he lost his life on the spot.

How is Universal Properties coping in these difficult times?

We are still mourning him. Being in this office reminds us of him every day because he had a vision: to see

everybody in their own compounds. That’s why he used to mortgage a piece of property for eight years. The

Company has been greatly affected by his sudden departure, as we are still uncertain where to continue. Since

everyone has secrets, confidential information or data that would never be shared with anyone, and seeing

how he passed away, he could not tell everyone everything, making it hard for us to accelerate our operations.

Nevertheless, to make his vision a reality, we need to put ourselves together and work tirelessly and know

where to pick it up.

Your last word, please?

In life, we are all human beings and bound to make mistakes or do things the wrong way we think is correct.

This is why, on Mr Sanyang’s behalf, we would seize this opportunity to appeal to the general public to forgive

him. REST IN PEACE!!!


Awa1’s Health Awareness Platform

Hypertension is called a “silent killer” because

most peope may have no warning

signs or symptoms. For this reason, it is

essential that blood pressure is measured

regularly, especially for those tha are known

Symptoms of hypertension can include:

headaches, blurry vision, nosebleeds and

buzzing in the ears.

severe form can cause fatigue, confusion,

anxiety, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, and

muslcle tremors.

Risk factors for Hypertension

• Physical inactivity

• Excessive salt consumption

• Diet high in saturated/alcohol

• Low intake of fruits & vegetables

• Being overweight or obese.

How infection occur and transfer:

For infections to occur the germ would have

to be tranferered from the toilet sit to your

urethra and genital track or through a cut or

sore or sore on the buttocks or thighs which

is possible but very unlikely. Sex toy can

also pass on the infection on some cases.

Symtoms:

The lumps appear on the outer surface of the vagina, Penis, scrotum and around the anus or cervix.

Prevention of Infection:

Prevention is through sexual abstainance or by HPV vaccinations.

Condoms will only reduce the risk but does not totally prevent transmission of genital warts

Advice: You cant have sex during the treament as the chance of passing it on to your partner is

very high.

ULCER

If you’ve been told you have ulcer and see any of these below, there are red flags and you should

go to a hospital

-problem or pain swallowing - Blood in your Poo-Loosing weight

- Persistently vomiting - Feel weak and tired

- Swelling in your abdomen

Red flags meaning there might be something more dangerous than ulcer or might be the ulcer is

getting worse or you’re having complications, Worst on this is the cancer of your stomach.

Before you say you have an ulcer, try and do what is called an endoscopy ( which is a camera

inside to look into your stomach)

What a lot of people have is a Dyspepsia and labelled themselves as Ulcer without doing appropriate

test.

Some early stomach cancer signs have been missed too.

32 | SOFFIA MAGAZINE +220

Skincare tips: simple steps to healthy skin

Time-consuming skincare isn't your

thing? Master the basics instead.

Skin problems can be avoided and

delayed by maintaining a healthy

lifestyle and taking good care of the

skin. Here are five easy tips to get

you started.

Take precautions against the sun

1.

A good way to take care of your

skin is to protect it from the sun.

The sun’s rays can cause wrinkles,

age spots, and other skin

problems over time. Apply sunscreen

generously and reapply

every couple of hours to protect

yourself from the sun. When the

sun’s rays are strongest, especially

during the day, avoid the

sun as much as possible.

4.

Maintain a healthy diet

Having a healthy diet can improve

your appearance and well-being.

Include plenty of fruits, vegetables,

grains, and lean proteins in your diet.

Keep your skin hydrated by drinking

plenty of water.

2.

3.

Avoid smoking

Smoking ages the skin and

causes wrinkles. In the outermost

layers of skin, smoking

narrows the tiny blood vessels,

decreasing blood flow and

fading the skin. As a result, the

skin also loses the oxygen and

nutrients it needs to survive.

Additionally, smoking causes

collagen and elastin to break

down, which is responsible for the strength

and elasticity of your skin.

Gently care for your skin

Shaving and cleansing your skin daily can

harm it. Be gentle with your skin. Keep bath

time to a minimum. Showering and bathing in

hot water strip the skin of its natural oils. Utilize

warm - rather than hot - water when taking

a bath or shower. Also, do not use strong

soaps. Such products can strip the skin of its

natural oils. Stick to gentle cleansers instead.

Whenever you shave, use shaving cream,

lotion or gel to protect and lubricate your skin.

5.

Manage your stress

When you’re stressed out, your skin

will become more sensitive and may

break out in acne. Managing your

stress can keep your skin healthy -

and your mind healthy too. Getting

enough sleep, establishing reasonable

limits, and narrowing your to-do

list will help you to make time for the

things you enjoy. It might surprise

you how much difference it makes.


22 MENSTRUAL HYGIENE DAY CELEBRATION IN THE

20GAMBIA

Throughout the world, Menstrual Hygiene Day is officially observed

on May 28. It is celebrated on 28 May due to the fact that

menstrual cycles last 28 days on average and people menstruate

five days on average each month (May is the fifth month of the

year). It aims to advance menstrual health as a biological process so

that people do not feel stigmatised or excluded as a result of menstruation,

and that they are treated more fairly and don’t feel like less. The

campaign also raises awareness of period poverty, a phenomenon of

being unable to purchase the menstrual supplies necessary for managing

health and hygiene.

In The Gambia, several organisations commemorate this day each year,

but this year was special because most of the organisations focused on

improving menstrual hygiene and addressing menstruation-related issues

formed a coalition. It was intended to gather efforts and host a larger celebration.

There are about eleven different non-profit organisations in The

Gambia that make up the coalition.

On Saturday, the 28th of May 2022, the coalition held a match-past

from Senegambia to the Sir Dawda Kairaba Conference Center,

where they joined UNFPA, The Gambia for an event filled with activities

on menstrual hygiene and health. Among the attendees were students

from all over the country as well as high level personalities, including the

Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare. There were two panel

discussions held, in which students talked about period shaming and

menstrual health. To decrease pad puberty, reusable sanitary pads were

given to young girls and women at the end of the event.


SANTA YALLA

Tabokoto, right Opposite Nice Building, Tabokoto-Brikama Highway.

Courtesy of Mr. Abubacarr S. Camara Director General of The

Gambia Tourism Board and his entire staff.

ECOTOURISM

OCEAN SUNSET

AGRICULTURE

RIVER GAMBIA CULTURE WILDLIFE

CITY OF BANJUL

SOFFIA MAGAZINE 6TH EDITION

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