‘Dear Government…’ Billboard campaign – The Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations

Gambia Victims Centre billboard, The Gambia, West Africa ©Helen Jones-Florio, with Jason Florio
Gambia Victims Centre billboard, The Gambia ©Helen Jones-Florio, with Jason Florio.

 

We finally arrived back in The Gambia to carry on working on our long-term project – ‘Gambia – Victims, and Resisters of a Regime‘.  The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) is in full swing, and the searching for truth – and the bodies of those loved ones, who ‘disappeared‘ under the former, 22-year reign, of Yahya Jammeh – has begun.

Our families need closure…

For the past two years, we have been making portraits and filming testimonies of those who suffered, those who lost family members, and those who fought against Jammeh’s brutal autocratic rule.

#PORTRAITS4POSITIVECHANGE

In April 2000, Yusupha Mbye was shot in the back by Yahya Jammeh regime forces while attending a protest. He was left paralyzed. Image © Jason Florio
In April 2000, Yusupha was shot in the back by Yahya Jammeh regime forces while attending a protest. Image © Jason Florio .

 

With huge gratitude to the Gambia Centre for Victims of Human Rights Violations, who we have been collaborating with over the last few months, we will also be holding the first exhibition of this work, in The Gambia, early March 2019. More news, on that, to follow soon. It’s been some time since we last exhibited in the Gambia so we are honored and excited to be able to, once again, to show our work.

Thanks for stopping by!

Helen Jones-Florio & Jason Florio.

If you would like to be part of #Portraits4PositiveChange, check out our GoFundMe page.

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Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio are available for assignments.

For image licensing – Contact here

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On this day-February 18th, 2017 – New President Adama Barrow’s Inauguration Day on Gambian Soil

The arrival of President Adama Barrow of the Republic of The Gambia, to Bakau Stadium - to be sworn in on Gambia soil © Helen Jones-Florio
Arrival: President Adama Barrow of the Republic of The Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio

An incredible day in the history of The Gambia, West Africa – February 18th, 2017. A rapturous welcome, and a time of hope – after the 22-year dictatorial rule of Yayha Jammeh –  as tens of thousands of Gambians, welcome home their new president, Adama Barrow who, when the ousted Jammeh refused to step down, for his own safety exiled himself to neighbouring Senegal.  Images © Helen Jones-Florio, Inauguration Day, Bakau Independence Stadium, The Gambia.

ECOWAS troops photograph the crowds, with their phones at Bakau Stadium © Helen Jones-Florio
ECOWAS troops photograph the crowds, with their phones at Bakau Stadium © Helen Jones-Florio

#GambiaHasDecided – Jason Florio

A female singer watches President Barrow being sworn in, as she waits to sing the Gambian National Anthem, Bakau Stadium © Helen Jones-Florio
Female singer, Aurellia Prom, waits to sing the Gambian National Anthem, Bakau Stadium © Helen Jones-Florio 

More images

Gambian troops stand to attention, as they wait for the arrival of President Adama Barrow, Bakau Stadium © Helen Jones-Florio
Gambian troops wait for the arrival of President Adama Barrow, Bakau Stadium © Helen Jones-Florio

#NewGambia – jason florio

 

The brass band perform for President Adama Barrow, Bakau Stadium, The Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio
The brass band perform for President Adama Barrow, Bakau Stadium, The Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio 
The red carpet to the podium where President Barrow is sworn in, Bakau Stadium © Helen Jones-Florio
The red carpet to the podium where President Barrow is sworn in, Bakau Stadium © Helen Jones-Florio

 

See what we are up to in the Gambia, 2019.

Helen Jones-Florio & Jason Florio

 

Helen Jones-Florio at Bakau Stadium, on the eve of the inauguration ceremony, The Gambia
Helen Jones-Florio at Bakau Stadium, on the eve of the inauguration ceremony

 

Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio are available for assignments.

For image licensing – Contact here

2019 – Currently working on

‘Gambia – Victims, and Resisters of a Regime’

#Portraits4PositiveChange

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@JASONFLORIO /@FLORIOTRAVELS /
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#Portraits4PositiveChange The Gambia, West Africa © Jason Florio

Ebrima Jabang 'Gambia - Victims and Resisters of a Regime' ©Jason Florio #Portraits4PositiveChange, Victims of Yahya Jammeh
Ebrima Jabang ‘Gambia – Victims and Resisters of a Regime’ ©Jason Florio

 

#Portraits4PositiveChange

The Gambia

© Jason Florio

Ebrima Jabang, age 64, was arrested along with the opposition activist, Solo Sandeng, during the April 14th, 2016 peaceful protest for electoral reform. He was taken to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) headquarters, tied face down on a table and tortured by YahyaJammeh’s personal hit squad, the Junglers, permanently losing the sight in his right eye among other internal injuries. Jabang said that he could hear the screams of Solo Sandeng, who was being tortured in another room. Tragically, Sandeng died on the same day, as a result of being tortured. See more of this work-in-progress: floriophoto.com

Photographer, Jason Florio, making #Portraits4PositiveChange,Gambia, West Africa - victims of Yahya Jammeh © Helen Jones-Florio
Photographer, Jason Florio, making #Portraits4PositiveChange, the Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio.

 

‘Gambia – Victims, and Resisters of a Regime’

Exhibition News: We will be holding the first photography exhibition, in the Gambia, from this particular body of work, early in March 2019. We are really looking forward to exhibiting in the Gambia, again.

Watch this space for more information on that, shortly!

The Florios (Helen & Jason)

Helen Jones-Florio & Jason Florio - wet plate collodion print portrait courtesy of Marcin Andrzejewski
Helen Jones-Florio & Jason Florio – wet plate collodion print courtesy of Marcin Andrzejewski.

 

Available for assignments & for image licensing – Contact here

2019 – Currently working on

‘Gambia – Victims, and Resisters of a Regime’

#Portraits4PositiveChange

BEING SOCIAL
@JASONFLORIO /@FLORIOTRAVELS /
@DOORS_FACADES_FLORIO / @FLORIO_GALLERY
INSTAGRAM
PHOTOSTELLSTORIES – FB
@FLORIOPHOTONYC – TWITTER

Media – Traditional Masquerades, The Gambia © Jason Florio / Brussels Airlines

Media - The Zimba Masquerade, the Gambia, West Africa © Jason Florio for Brussels Airlines inflight magazine
Media – The Zimba Masquerade, the Gambia, West Africa © Jason Florio.

 

‘the non-human form of the masquerade gives the viewer the impression of a spirit being…’ Jason Florio – BInspired/Brussels Airlines inflight magazine (page 9).

See more about our masquerades series, in the Gambia, and Senegal, West Africa.

Forest Festival, Casamance, Senegal, West Africa- made for United Purpose, NGO – ©Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio.

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Available for assignments & for image licensing – Contact here

2019 – Currently working on ‘Gambia – Victims and Resisters of a Regime‘ #Portraits4PositiveChange

BEING SOCIAL
@JASONFLORIO /@FLORIOTRAVELS /
@DOORS_FACADES_FLORIO / @FLORIO_GALLERY
INSTAGRAM
PHOTOSTELLSTORIES – FB
@FLORIOPHOTONYC – TWITTER