Not anymore. The Gambia is not at crossroads. The question as to which way to take – democracy or alternatives to it – is relevant only for junk academic debate. For, this land and its people, badly battered and bruised by systems of governance that offered less, have decided on a democratic path as the surest and safest way to launch us onto prosperity and sustainable peace.

There is a new dawn in a nation that at birth was deemed improbable. But our democracy, even if clad in an iron, would need oxygen that is vibrant journalism for its survival. To read after Nelson Mandela, ‘a critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy.’

This is besides the fact that as the country limps into the fifth year since the most consequential election of 2016/2017, there is anxiety over the presence and utilisation of the trappings – and vestiges – of systems that terrorised the people and left them underserved. The case is therefore that we may no longer be standing at the crossroads debating which way to take. But clearly, we have not travelled a safe distance from that intersection.

On this journey – one which leads to real democracy, The Gambia must be accompanied by a ‘critical, independent and investigative press’. And this is where Malagen comes in; to join the oft forgotten army of press men and women in the selfless and thankless public service role of watching over the safety and the welfare of the people. When it comes to freedom of expression and the issue of accountability, the more voices you have and the more platforms there are, the merrier it becomes, particularly when they are of quality and conscience.

This choice, Malagen, is made consciously and conscientiously, keeping in mind the history of our peoples and our Republic and our firm belief in the Pulitzer creed that “Our Republic and its Press will rise and fall together.”

Our history tells us that our fight for independence from colonialism, unlike in many other places in Africa, was less about guns and blood. It was a battle fought out in the pages of the newspapers more than any other front. The fight to defeat the dictatorship of the former regime was unquestionably championed by the press. So, the struggle to entrench democracy and respect for human rights; to promote inclusive politics and sustainable development, will therefore see no less of the press.

Malagen means truth. And truth we worship! It is the principle that shall guide us as we ‘peer through the fog and storm’ to expose wrongdoing and drive solutions to the challenges facing the country. This platform is not and does not seek to be different from the existing platforms that have been doing incredible work for the Republic. But Malagen is uniquely positioned in more ways than just the name. It is the first and so far only Gambian news media organisation that specialises in and combines two journalism genres: investigative reporting and public affairs journalism. In terms of its business model, as a publication of Open Media Centre, it is the first and so far only non-profit media outlet in West Africa. This is as far as our knowledge of the media landscape is concerned.

Since this maiden editorial is coming many months after we hit the newsstands, we can take pride in our impact and credibility in full view of our deliverables. We have published groundbreaking stories that exposed public sector corruption. One of our stories led to the suspension of a senior government – the first of its kind in the recent history of journalism in The Gambia. Several other stories that we have published have led to reforms. All of the stories have contributed to deeper understanding of the issues that matter to the public.  

The feedback from the public is overwhelmingly positive. We enjoy broad support from the members of the public of diverse political persuasions. This we shall not take for granted. To you reading this piece, thank you for your support. We hear you and we will point our searchlights to where you want to see. And if you believe in our journalism and wish to contribute, you are welcome to do so by donating here. Since we do not accept funding from our government or corporate outlets, we rely on support from good people like you to carry out our work with independence.