In an interview with AG Radio, Mr. Madi Jobarteh stated that his inspiration came from Edward Francis Small, leading him to create the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ). I could have chosen to name this organization after myself, my father, or any other person. Mr. Jobarteh remarked, “I chose Edward Francis Small due to his principles.”
Edward Francis Small was born into an affluent family. After completing his education, he was assigned to Ballanghar by the church upon his return to The Gambia. Mr. Jobarteh explained that Small witnessed the colonial administrators of the time exploiting, overworking, and underpaying the impoverished farmers in Ballanghar.
Edward Francis Small began a protest against these injustices, leading to his dismissal and later return to Sukuta. Edward Francis Small began his advocacy for workers’ rights after the Ballanghar incident. Mr. Jobarteh emphasized that his primary goal was to safeguard the rights of Gambians.
In the years to come, Edward Francis Small would establish his own newspaper to inform Gambians about their rights and to challenge the colonial administrators’ efforts to exploit them. Edward Francis Small used to write letters to the colonial administration in London, advocating for an increase in the wages of Gambian workers. “Mr. Jobarteh stated that what Edward Francis Small fought for under the colonial government is what we are fighting for in The Gambia today.”
Nana Grey-Johnson, the author of a book detailing the life of Edward Francis Small, described him as the “watchdog” of The Gambia. Mr. Jobarteh continued, “I draw inspiration from Edward Francis Small, as the workers’ rights he championed a century ago are the very same rights we are fighting for in the Gambia today.” Workers in both the public and private sectors continue to face exploitation, overworked, and underpaid. Mr. Jobarteh stated that the Gambia workers union has supported the workers’ rights that Edward Francis Small was championing.
Edward Francis Small was a journalist, and the Gambia today requires a larger number of journalists. Mr. Jobarteh stated that the freedom of expression and the freedom of the media, which Edward Francis Small championed, have also been embraced in the realm of journalism.
Edward Francis Small was a rights activist and rights defender, roles that are currently in great demand in the Gambia. Today, it is not the colonial administrators who hold power over the government; instead, it is our own people who persist in infringing upon our rights. “All of these factors combined inspired me to establish my organization and name it after Edward Francis Small.” Mr. Jobarteh stated.
