The Gambia

Poster advertising the screening of 'I Cannot Bury My Father' short documentary at the African Film Festival, New York. Director of Photography - Jason Florio

‘I Cannot Bury My Father’ documentary – African Film Festival, New York, 2021

documentary, Jason Florio, multimedia, The Gambia, , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I am honoured to have worked as Director of Photography on the short documentary film, ‘I Cannot Bury My Father’. And, thrilled that it has been selected for this year’s African Film Festival, New York, 2021. More news and links coming soon.

Poster advertising the screening of 'I Cannot Bury My Father' short documentary at the African Film Festival, New York. Director of Photography - Jason Florio
Advertising the screening of ‘I Cannot Bury My Father’ short documentary at the African Film Festival, New York. Director of Photography – Jason Florio

In 2005, Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh murdered 56 West African migrants out of fear they were mercenaries intending to overthrow him. The disappearance of their slain bodies robbed families of healing and closure by being unable to bury their loved ones. Isaac Mensah, one of the victim’s sons, shares the emotional toll of this atrocity and his quest for answers… ‘I Cannot Bury My Father’, African Film Festival

Isaac Mensah, James Town beach, Accra, Ghana © Jason Florio. Isaac is the son of one of 44 murdered Ghanian migrants, by Gambian security forces, in The Gambia, in 2005.
Presenter of ‘I Cannot Bury My Father’: Isaac Mensah, James Town beach, Accra, Ghana. The son of Peter Mensah, one of 44 Ghanaians killed by Gambian security forces in July 2005. Portrait © Jason Florio / Helen Jones-Florio ‘Gambia – victims, and resisters’ series

‘I Cannot Bury My Father’

Director/Producer – Nana_Jo_Ndow

Presenter – Isaac Mensah

Director of Photography – Jason Florio

Second Camera – Festus Jackson-Davis

Editor – Gabriel Baron

‘Gambia – victims, and resisters‘

Photographer, and filmmaker, Jason Florio, with Isaac Mensah and his family, during the filming of ‘I Cannot Bury My Father’, Ghana. Image courtesy of Festus-Jackson Davies

See more of Jason Florio’s multimedia work:

‘Motion’

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CURRENT LOCATION: FEBRUARY, 2021

THE GAMBIA, WEST AFRICA

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President Adama Barrow of The Gambia arriving back to home crowds of well wishes estimated in the hundreds of thousands.© Jason Florio

On this day: Jan 26, 2017 – President Adama Barrow returns home to The Gambia, West Africa

documentary, Jason Florio, multimedia, photography, photojournalism, reportage, The Gambia, , , , , , Leave a comment

On this day Jan 26th, 2017

A triumphant, and momentous day for The Gambia, West Africa. Ten’s of thousands of euphoric Gambians lined the streets for miles – and miles! (an estimated over 100,000 Gambians flocked the main road) – to welcome home their new president, Adama Barrow. Due to potential security risks, Barrow had briefly exiled himself to neighbouring Senegal, where he was inaugurated at the Gambian Embassy, Dakar.

President Adama Barrow of The Republic of The Gambia, arrives back into the country after his self-imposed exile in Senegal © jason_florio-9706
President Adama Barrow, returns home from exile, to The Gambia, West Africa © Jason Florio

#GambiaHasDecided

On December 1st, 2016, the Gambian people voted out their autocratic President Yahya Jammeh, after 22 years in power, and elected Adama Barrow as their new president. Jammeh conceded defeat, but a week later announced that he was annulling the election results and would not step down. A grassroots movement #GambiaHasDecided emerged in reaction.

Activists initially set up billboards with the slogan #GambiaHasDecided. The billboards were torn down by Jammeh loyalists. Not to be intimidated, the activists around the country turned to spray painting the slogan.

Gambian’s new president Adama Barrow, who was sworn into power in Dakar due to security concerns arrives back to Gambia, marking the first democratic transfer of power since 1965. Image ©Jason Florio

100's of 1000's of people welcome back their new President, Adama Barrow, of the Republic of The Gambia © Jason Florio
100’s of 1000’s of people welcome back their new President, Adama Barrow, of the Republic of The Gambia © Jason Florio

‘Gambia – victims, and resisters’

Gambia's new president, Adama Barrow, at Banjul Airport, The Gambia, after being sworn in in Dakar, Senegal, for security reasons ©Jason Florio
Gambia’s new president, Adama Barrow, reception at Banjul Airport, The Gambia – returning from exile in Dakar, Senegal, where, for security reasons, he was sworn into office ©Jason Florio

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100's of 1000's of people welcome back their new President, Adama Barrow, of the Republic of The Gambia © Jason Florio
100’s of 1000’s of people welcome back their new President, Adama Barrow, of the Republic of The Gambia © Jason Florio

On this day: Jan 26, 2017 – President Adama Barrow returns home to The Gambia, West Africa

VIMEO: President, Adama Barrow, arrives back to The Gambia to a rapturous reception, Banjul Airport. iPhone footage ©Jason Florio

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CURRENT LOCATION: JANUARY-FEBRUARY, 2021

 THE GAMBIA, WEST AFRICA

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Happy New Year, 2021 – River Gambia, West Africa

Jason Florio, photography, The Gambia, travel, , , Leave a comment

A woman checks her traps on the River Gambia, Senegal, in the early hours of the morning, West Africa. Image ©Jason Florio
A migrant fisherwoman checks her traps on the River Gambia, The Gambia, West Africa. Image ©Jason Florio

Here’s hoping for a happier, healthier 2021 for one and all

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CURRENT LOCATION: JANUARY 2021

THE GAMBIA, WEST AFRICA

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International Photography Awards – Honorable Mention: ‘The Gambia – victims, and resisters’

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International Photography Awards – Honorable Mention: ‘The Gambia – victims, and resisters’ ©Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio

Thank you to all the jurors of the International Photography Awards (IPA), 2020, for honoring our multimedia series, ‘Gambia – victims, and resisters‘ This honorable mention – in the Deeper Perspective category – is yet another step towards reaching a wider audience with this body of work, particularly for all the victims, resisters, and survivors who have been part of this ongoing project. We thank them for sharing their experiences with us. 

#Portraits4PositiveChange

From 1994 -2017 President Yahya Jammeh ruled the Gambia, West Africa as his fiefdom, crushing dissent and opposition with brutality. His hit squad and security services carried out tortures, assassinations and acts of sexual violence with impunity – journalists were gunned down and disappeared, students shot in cold blood, and even his cousins were murdered on his order. The portraits and collected testimonies are part of an ongoing project to share the stories of the victims and resisters and to be a tool of advocacy in the international campaign to bring Jammeh and his cadre to justice. Gambia – victims, and resisters’ by Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio

‘Gambia – victims, and resisters’

Le Monde - #Portraits4PositiveChange Former deputy sheriff, Alagie Sonko was imprisoned after denouncing corruption in his service. ©Jason Florio
International Photography Awards – Honorable Mention: ‘The Gambia – victims, and resisters’ ©Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio. Former deputy sheriff, Alagie Sonko was imprisoned after denouncing corruption in his service.

#Jammeh2Justice

Related posts: The Photoville FENCE, 2020: ‘The Gambia-victims, and resisters’

El Pais – ‘Gambia, The Hidden Horrors of Africa’s Silent Dictatorship’

TRRC billboard, depicting portraits from ‘Gambia – victims. and resisters’ Image ©Jason Florio/Helen Jones-Florio, The Gambia, West Africa

CURRENT LOCATION: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2020 – THE GAMBIA, WEST AFRICA

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