By Haddy Touray
The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice was formally launched on Jan. 29 during a ceremony commemorating the life and legacy of Edward Francis Small, a key figure in The Gambia’s early political awakening and independence movement.
The new institution positions itself as a national civil society organisation committed to advancing the principles Small championed, including civic resistance, social justice and accountable governance.
The event brought together civil society leaders, journalists, activists and members of the Small family to reflect on his role in organised political activism, journalism and trade unionism, as well as his broader campaign for freedom and justice in The Gambia.
Founder Calls Launch a Milestone
Speaking at the launch, Madi Jobarteh, the founder of the centre, described the occasion as a milestone in the country’s civic history, stating that the institution was established to preserve Small’s legacy and apply his ideas to contemporary challenges facing Gambian democracy.
“Edward Francis Small was not only a historical figure,” Jobarteh said. “He represented an idea and a movement at a time when oppression was normalised and silence enforced. His life reflected a commitment to courage, resistance and collective liberation.”
Jobarteh urged the government and public institutions to honour Small and other national figures by naming public programmes, initiatives and spaces after them. He also announced plans to establish an annual public forum, the Edward Francis Small National Lectures, intended to foster national dialogue on human rights, accountability, democracy and citizen participation.
While noting democratic gains since the end of authoritarian rule, Jobarteh cautioned that progress remained uneven, adding that accountability was still fragile, institutions vulnerable, and social inequality persistent.
Family Praises Commemoration
William Small, a nephew of Edward Francis Small, expressed the family’s gratitude for the commemoration. He described his uncle as a principled and humble man who dedicated his life to defending justice and advocating for the powerless.
“Edward Francis Small lived his life fighting the wrong and helping the right. A true Gambian patriot. He lived, he fought, he won, and he died penniless but with a crown of honour,” he said.
Keynote Lecture Highlights Legacy
The keynote lecture was delivered by Gambian journalist and author Nana Grey Johnson on the theme “Edward Francis Small: Pioneer of Civic Resistance and Democratic Consciousness in The Gambia.”
The lecture examined Small’s philosophy and assessed its relevance to present-day governance and civic engagement.
The Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice said it would focus on promoting and protecting human rights through public education, advocacy, strategic litigation, research, activism and partnerships, drawing on national, regional and international legal and institutional frameworks.