Desperately Seeking Travel : April 2019

Women in Fashion and Arts

One thing is very clear tourist like to shop! Most economies depend on tourist dollars for their economy and Gambia is no different. Travel and tourism is one of the countries top earning and employment sectors which accounts for 22% of GDP of this small country. The fashion industry fits perfectly in the tourism economy and it is a major employer for many Gambians so it was very important for me to share this industry on my show not just in Gambia but all the places I travel around the world. In season 2 episode 122019 I speak to 2 designers that presented at Gambia's biggest fashion event Fashion Weekend Gambia. This event is the premier event where designers flock from neighboring african countries, europe, canada and the united states to present their luxurious brands to large fashion enthusiastic crowds. My first guest is not only a talented luxury handbag designer she is also one of the coordinators of Fashion Weekend Gambia. Adi Conteh is the Creative Director of Daraja Boutique a luxurious handbag company that features unique one of a kind designs. We talk all about her unique brand and what to expect from her brand in the future.

Photo taken at the Fashion Weekend Gambia 2018

Also on this episode I spoke to the young and talented

Lisa Sawaneh CEO of Lizmond Glamour.

She made her inaugural appearance on the Fashion Weekend Gambia 2018 stage this past December. Her line is young, fresh and distinctly african lux. I talk to this young designer about her brand and her experience on the big stage of FWG.

Photo by Mamos Photography

I concluded this episode with the multi-talented Mariama Colley who is a radio personality, gender right activist, stage and film actress with the passion of utilizing her platforms to effect change within her community. I had the pleasure of meeting Mariama while I was on my PR tour for The Desperately Seeking Travel Show in Gambia July 2018 on her very popular afternoon radio show on The Chill Zone.

I have a big passion for the performing arts so we talk about the state of the performing arts in Gambia and how she is making a name for herself in the acting community. With her 2013 nomination for the Africa Movie Academy Awards for her performance in the film "Hand of Fate" Directed by Ibrahim Ceesay I wanted to know what are her future plans on the big screen in Gambia and beyond.

To listen to the full episode with all the interviews listed please choose the Subscribe to Podcast option on this page.

LOCKEDN APPAREL is a PROUD SPONSOR of The DESPERATELY SEEKING TRAVEL SHOW

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Food, Art, Beauty and Business

When I travel I love to discover new thing like restaurants, music, museums, spas etc... So while I was in Gambia my first trip I discovered one of my favorite places in the world to eat The Butchers Shop. The fine culinary dining experience at this restaurant is excellent. On Ep 4-9 of Destination Spotlight Gambia I had the pleasure of interviewing the owner of this gambian treasure Driss Bensouda while in Gambia. We talk about why he chose Gambia and what his future plans are for his very popular restaurant.

Interview at the Butchers Shop

The Butchers Shop

Driss Bensouda

Also on this episode I sat down at Wax Media Studios with the media mogul Sista Njie creator of the only music awards in the Gambia WMA. WMA is the Grammys for the Gambia so it is the must have awards in the music industry. Sister Njie is also the CEO of Brand Plus a multimedia company that offers branding, consulting and media production. Listen to my full interview on Ep 4-9 with Sista Njie via my podcast links on my website.

Sista Njie creator of WMA Awards

This episode I got very person with featuring my first love the beauty industry. My first guest is internationally known in the beauty industry with more than 50 years experience working with some of the beauty powerhouses like Vidal Sassoon London, Loreal and also the Artistic Director for Elizabeth Arden New York and he is the owner of The Salon in Gambia. He is also the owner of the African Living Art Gallery with amazing art for artist all over africa. He has been featured in many prestigious publications for his art collection. To hear our entire interview pleach choose the subscribe to my blog link on my website.

Suelle Nachif Owner of The Salon,

Artwork for the African Living Art Gallery

The other beauty professional featured on this episode is the talented Aminata Jawara owner of Mina's Hair and Makeup

I went to her salon not only to interview her but to get one of the best make up applications I have ever had! Aminata is not only an entrepreneur she is pursuing higher education as a student at the University of Gambia studying Biology. To hear the entire interview on episode 4-9 click the subscribe to my podcast option on my website.

A happy client of Mina's

My makeup application

Happy Mina's Client

To listen to Ep 4-9 please click the link on the side bar labeled Subscribe to Podcast

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Owning A Piece Of Paradise

One of my dreams have been to own properties in all the locations I fall in love with not just for me to enjoy but as a sound investment for my portfolio. On my Destination Spotlight of Gambia Ep 4-8 I talk with the world renowned land developer Mr. Mustapha NJie CEO of Taf Africa Global Limited. Mr Njie is one of Africa's premier developers developing master planned communities in 8 african countries with the largest presence in Gambia and Nigeria. Mr Njie also emerged the winner of the prestigious AABLA Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in 2017. With a goal of being the leading developer in Africa and with a vision of developing one million homes by 2038 I knew TAF Africa Global Limited was the perfect company to inspire my listeners to own property on the continent of Africa.

Mr Njie designs master planned communities with all the amenities of an american subdivision. His homes comes with an affordable price tag and can be financed easily for those who wish to finance. The company offers beachfront developments to golf course communities in many of the communities in Africa. To view many of the communities click the links below.

Also on this episode I talk to Dave Adams founder of Fair Play, Gambia. Fair Play, Gambia mission is to provide the best unique travel experience for free thinking guests and bring the benefits of ecotourism to the up river area of Gambia. I had the lovely experience of visiting the up country and i can honestly say I felt like I experienced the true culture of Gambia. Dave gives you an experience most wish they had the privilege of experiencing on he=is boat THE FULA PRINCESS. The boat takes you up the Gambia river where you can bird watch and see the beautiful wildlife of gambia from your vip seat on his boat.

Please book your next adventure with Fair Play, Gambia

Full interview available on my podcast. Subscribe today!

3:22 PM
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Avoiding the Backway

As I began to interview many people in Gambia the organization Youths Against Irregular Migration came up many times so I wanted to learn exactly what this organization was all about. I was referred to its co founder Mustapha Sallah who had taken the dangerous backway path himself so I knew I not only needed to feature his organization on my program but dedicate the entire hour to this very important subject. In Ep 4-6 our conversation touched on the root cause of so many youths in Gambia to risk their lives in search of a better life in Europe and the deadly realities of that journey.

What is the root cause of the backway epidemic? Many factors are to blame but one of the main ones being the lack of adequate employment opportunities for the Gambian youth. With lack of employment and education some feel thier only option to feed their families is to flee the country and go on the deadly path to europe thru Libya. Many endured enslavement, beating, rape, starvation and death. For the ones that survived the tortuous journey to Libya they still faced the even more deadly task of reaching europe by unsafe rubber dinghies through the rough seas of the mediterranean.