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| George at Civil Society Forum (Photo credit: Sainey MK Marenah) |
Mr.
Christensen, 64, died on June 3, 2016 when he returned to Banjul after
attending the second ‘International Civil Society Forum on The Gambia’ in
Dakar, Senegal ahead of the ECOWAS Summit.
Survivor of press violations
In 1990, George Christensen and his wife established Radio 1 FM – the first private FM station owned by a Gambian.
Radio 1, which broadcast on the frequency modulation (FM) band 102.1, became the second private radio station in The Gambia following the establishment of Radio Syd in 1970 in Banjul by Swedish inventor Mr. Wadner.
Radio Syd, a former pirate radio in Sweden, was the first independent radio station in Africa and broadcasting on the medium wave (MW) band.
Mr. Christensen was known to be an ardent advocate for press freedom and freedom of expression and had endured burns and questioning in attacks including arson on his radio. Like journalists of his generation, Mr. Christensen has been a survivor of violations of press freedom.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in a 2007 publication, The Gambia – Violations of Press Freedom 1994-2006, documented the following: “On August 10, 2001, unknown assailants attempted to burn down Radio 1 FM. In the process, Mr. Christensen sustained burns on his body and was hospitalized for days…”
His
radio station has never fully recovered from that attack and has been off air
since. Attempts to return on air didn’t last long. Also, journalists working
for Radio 1 have faced arson attacks and death threats.
“Shortly
after that [attack on Radio 1], one of the staff, Alieu Bah who earlier
received a letter threatening his life had his house set on fire while he and
his family were asleep inside. Neighbours helped put [off] the fire before it
caused serious damage.
“In
May 2001, Seedy Ceesay, a reporter with Radio 1 FM, received a death threat
sent to his postal address by an anonymous person. The envelope contained a
drawing of a big hand holding a head, with the message ‘Seedy, leave this work
now. You’ll soon be in this state’”.
Thirteen
days after the assault on his radio, on October 23, 2001 “George Christensen
was arrested and taken to the headquarters of the National Intelligence Agency
(NIA). He was released a few hours after being questioned about his radio station’s
financial situation.”
Shock and
disbelief
Mr.
Christensen served as vice president of AMARC - World Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters
and served in its Africa and international boards between 1997 and 2006 with special
responsibilities for media technologies.
Until
his demise, he was AMARC’s special envoy on conflict resolution in Latin
America and Africa. He was also the founder and pioneer chairperson of The
Gambia-based Centre for Media and Development Research in Africa (CENMEDRA).
His
death sends shock waves across Gambian media circle and abroad. Tributes have
been pouring on via social media from individuals and organisations since his
death became public on Friday night.
One
of such tributes reads: “The Board of Trustees and management of CENMEDRA mourn
in shock and disbelief the untimely death of Mr. George Christensen, founder
and pioneering chairperson, who passed away suddenly on Friday, 3 June 2016.”
Mr.
Christensen did not only make a generation of “fine” radio and TV journalists,
he helped change lives.
Changed
lives
Gambian
tech savvy journalist and blogger, Mamadou
Edrisa Njie
said: “It’s sad that Uncle George is gone. It’s under his generosity that I was
trained on blogging; and today, I can say that I am earning my living together
with my family and colleagues in blogging. May the Almighty God grant him Jannah. He was someone who always shared
all he has to benefit others.”
Principled but
also jovial
Mr.
Christensen was known to be a principled and truth-telling man but was also
quite jovial sometimes.
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| George Christensen was known to be a principled and truth-telling man but was also quite jovial sometimes (Photo Credit: Facebook) |
Zainab Faal, a Graduate of the Gambia Press
Union School of Journalism, said Mr. Christensen was a “truly inspiring and
straightforward man.” Ms. Faal described him as a “legend” who earned respect
for speaking his mind no matter what the circumstance.
In
the latest capacity he served the Gambian media, he was chairperson of the
Panel of Judges of the Gambia Press Union National Journalism Awards 2015.
Haddija Jawara, a journalism trainer who had
worked with him, said: “He was really helpful during the journalism award, I
remember a day he worked up to 2.00 a.m., and when he told me so, I jokingly
told him he is working too much. He just laughed and said: just don’t serve me
cold chicken on the day of the award.”
Cardinal figure
In
February 2015, Mr. Christensen chaired the graduation of the first batch of the
Gambia Press Union School of Journalism. The best student, Gambian journalist Talibeh
Hydara,
remembers him.
“His
words to me after receiving my valedictorian prize were: “congratulations young
man. You have a bright future in journalism. Keep working hard.” I have always
remembered these timeless words and I will always remember them, Mr. Hydara
said.
He
described Mr. Christensen as a “cardinal figure” in the strengthening of the
Gambian media – having trained a lot of people who have turned out to become
outstanding in what they do.
“He
was a symbol of hope and resilience in the media. It is sad times for
journalism in the country. I pray the lord watch over him wherever he is, for
he had left an indelible mark on all of us. It is an irreparable loss!” he said.
Children over
airwaves
The
late Mr. Christensen also used his radio station to expose school children as
young as 10 years or even younger to host children’s programmes especially on
International Children’s Day of Broadcasting.
Binta Ceesay recalls: “My earliest memories
of any journalism training, even when I didn’t consider it as such, kicked off
from his platform at Radio 1 FM during the Lend
A Hand [Society] talk show. I was 10 years old or less.
“And
during International Children’s Day of Broadcasting he would always excitedly be
there coaching us and letting us take over his airwaves. He has indeed made an
impact in a lot of present day successful Gambian broadcasters like my former
bosses Lamin Manga and Fatou Camara.”
“Gambia
has really lost a pioneer of broadcast journalism. He will truly be missed.
Rest eternally George,” said Ms. Ceesay whose interest in studying journalism
is driven by her experience at Radio 1. She led a career in broadcasting for
six years in The Gambia and is currently pursuing a degree in journalism in
Ghana.
Words of wisdom
Dakar-based Gambian journalist and
blogger Sainey
M.K. Marenah was with Mr. Christensen hours
before his death. He wrote: “Today, at around 12pm, I was with Uncle George in
Dakar after spending nearly three days with him looking healthy and able.
“His last words to me: Keep working hard and always aim higher and keep your head up. You're stubborn (laughs) but an intelligent young man and I have no doubt you will succeed if you remain focus. Uncle George told me not knowing that he is giving me his final words of wisdom.”
The way to go
“If
everyone would go this [Christensen’s] way, I wouldn’t hesitate to go,”
Italy-based Gambian journalist Alagie
Jinkang
said, describing the late broadcaster as a “patriotic, professional and
selfless person.” Mr. Jinkang said the nation is proud of him.
George
Christensen, who was born in 1951, will be laid to rest at the Banjul Cemetery
on Friday, 10 June 2016.
Written by Modou S. Joof
Follow on Facebook: The North Bank Evening Standard
- This entry first appeared on Front Page International (FPI) on June 8, 2016
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