Posted on by Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio

Photo of the Day – Sunset over Kunta Kinte Island, River Gambia ©Helen Jones-Florio

The sun sets over Kunta Kinte Island, River Gambia, The Gambia, West Africa © Helen Jones-Florio
The sun sets over Kunta Kinte Island, River Gambia, West Africa © Helen Jones-Florio

 

The sun sets over baobab trees and Kunta Kinte Island

Formally known as James Island (an important historical site in the West African slave trade), situated on the River Gambia, near to the villages of Juffureh and Albreda. Taken in 2009, whilst on a 930km African adventure – the first ever circumnavigation, completely by foot, of The Gambia, West Africa,  by award-winning photojournalist, Jason Florio, and photography producer, Helen Jones-Florio, three Gambians, two donkeys and a cart. Jason shot what was to become award-winning portraits of village chiefs (Alkalos) and elders: ‘Silafando – a gift to you on behalf of my journey’ 

 

Gambia expedition 2009. Portrait of Dadi Bah, Al Kalo of Tuba Dabbo with Jason Florio and Helen Jones.
‘930km African Odyssey‘ Jason & Helen with village chief – alkalo – Dadi Bah, Tubba Dabbo, The Gambia, West Africa, 2009

 

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Posted on by Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio

Throwback Friday: ‘Radio Man’ The Gambia, West Africa ©Jason Florio

MAN WITH RADIO GAMBIA
‘Radio Man’ – with his boom box – portrait ©Jason Florio, 2009 – The Gambia, West Africa

‘We met this very talented musician who just happened to walk past our campsite, by the side of the road, in the village of Chamois Bunda, The Gambia.

He played us his own music on the boom box that he carried everywhere. He even performed a nifty little dance for us too! His music was amazing – like Bluegrass, with a twist of Cuban influence. We hadn’t heard any music for a while, by that point, on our walk around the small West African country. Therefore, it was a real treat to hear such great music. What a talented young man he was. This photo, and the memory which it evokes, still makes me smile. ‘

Helen Jones-Florio – excerpt from ‘A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush – 930km African odyssey‘ blog

Posted on by Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio

Press: IRIN News – Gambians seek justice after Jammeh’s fall

IRIN NEWS - tortured under Jammeh's rule, Gambian's seek justice - image © Jason Florio
IRIN NEWS – tortured under Jammeh’s rule, Gambian’s seek justice – image © Jason Florio

 

Mariama Saine - one of the last Gambian's to be arrested and tortured under Jammeh's regime, The Gambia, West Africa - portrait © Jason Florio
Mariama Saine – one of the last Gambian’s to be arrested and tortured under Jammeh’s regime – portrait © Jason Florio
“They were beating me while I could hear the election results being announced on a television,” said Saine. “When Jammeh was ahead in the polls, the meanest one kicked me and said ‘Tomorrow, your head will be on a plate’. I was really scared.” read more IRIN News
Mariama Saine interview for IRIN News - one of the last Gambian's to be tortured under Jammeh's regime, The Gambia, West Africa - image © Helen Jones-Florio
“Not only for my case. I want to see all those people who have committed these atrocities prosecuted, all of them.” – Mariama Saine interview for IRIN News – image © Helen Jones-Florio

 

 

See also: ‘Documenting a Past Regime – ex-Mile II prisoners, The Gambia‘

Posted on by Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio

Press: photographing repatriated Gambians for IRIN News – images © Jason Florio

Mohammed - repatriated Gambian from Libya, by IOM - image © Jason Florio
IRIN News – Mohammed – one of 140 Gambians who was repatriated from Libya by IOM- image © Jason Florio   

 

Repatriated Gambian, Mohammed, with his uncle, Alieu, The Gambia ©Jason Florio
Repatriated Gambian, Mohammed, with his uncle, Alieu, The Gambia ©Jason Florio

 

‘Just two weeks earlier, he was languishing in a prison near Tripoli; his third spell in detention during the nine months he spent in Libya trying to board a boat to cross the Mediterranean…’ read more at IRIN News – words by Louise Hunt + additional reporting from Banjul by Jason Florio
Jason Florio photographing repatriated Gambian, Mohammed, The Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio
Jason Florio photographing repatriated Gambian, Mohammed, The Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio