The Writers’ Association of the Gambia (WAG) has celebrated World Book and Copyright Day on the theme, “Stay At Home”, to fight the novel Coronavirus.
The President of WAG, Dr.C herno Omar Barry (PhD), has disclosed that the event was not going to be celebrated as it’s expected because of the social distancing order.
“It is celebrated in unique manner as a result of COVID-19 pandemic,” Barry, who published several articles, both in The Gambia and outside, on Gambian literature and education, stated in a video statement marking the Day.
He informed that the event would be differently celebrated, and that WAG is pleased to take part in the fight against the killer disease.
In sensitising people on how to protect and prevent themselves from getting the Covid-19, the acclaimed writer, consultant and French lecturer reported that WAG has provided sensitization materials that are circulated as widely as possible. And that WAG members have been writing poetry, prose and short stories as part of the fight against the pandemic.
“I want to commend all poets, all the writers for participating in this laudable venture in 2020,” the head of the Gambian writers’ grouping remarked.
He noted that from January 2019 to April 2020, there had been a lot of publications, adding that twenty-one (21) published works of Gambians were recorded by the WAG Secretariat.
Among the twenty-one published works, Dr. Barry said they have eight women, most of whom are youth; adding they have a lot of contributions from these female writers and poets.
The World Book and Copyright Day event is normally celebrated to recognize the scope of books every year-23rd April. The date was chosen by UNESCO’s general conference held in Paris in 1995.
