By Alieu Jallow
Banjul came alive on Friday evening with rhythm, color, and movement as 45 climate ambassadors took the stage for the Dance for Nature Festival, the grand culmination of the Dance for Nature Project. The event fused dance, masquerade, and storytelling into a powerful call to action, urging Gambians to confront the reality of climate change.
At the heart of the initiative is Flex Fusion, a creative arts organization led by founder Ndey Fatou Jabang, who believes that art is one of the most effective tools for climate advocacy. Speaking to The Fatu Network on the sidelines, Jabang explained her motivation.
“We are inspired to use dance as an advocacy tool to educate and sensitise people on the devastating effects of climate change, given the vulnerability of Banjul, a city heavily affected by floods and rising sea levels.
“Our long-term plan is to incorporate climate messages into every big festival, music video, and cultural celebration in The Gambia. We also want to engage more young people by conducting capacity-building trainings in not just dance, but also music, theatre, and poetry. That way, whatever platform they have, they can use it to create skits or music that educate while entertaining,” she said
Her vision found strong backing from the Gambia Environmental Alliance. Its president, Momodou Inkeh Bah, hailed the project as a breakthrough in environmental communication.
“Most of the time, when we talk about environmental challenges, the messages are in English, and many people in rural and even urban Gambia don’t fully understand. But art, dance, and traditional communicators break that barrier. They reach every layer of society, foster understanding, and create lasting impact,” Bah said.
The initiative funded through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative, with support to build the capacity of dance and cultural groups in Banjul. Latri Kah, a petroleum engineer and consultant for the initiative, explained the thinking behind the grant.
“There are many cultural and dance groups, but they often lack the knowledge of how to integrate activism into their work. Art itself is activism. What Flex Fusion has done is train both young and older groups on how to educate the city on protecting the environment, segregating waste, and safeguarding the shoreline using dance and music as their platform,” Kah said.
The event also had the blessing of the Banjul City Council. Representing the Mayoress, Deputy Mayor Aziz Dabakh Gaye underscored the city’s commitment to supporting such initiatives.
“This festival is more than a showcase, it is a demonstration of resilience, creativity, and vision. Forty-five young men and women have used dance, storytelling, and expression to transform climate action into something alive, moving, and unforgettable. They remind us that change is not only debated in boardrooms or written in policies, it is also danced into our consciousness, carried by the rhythm of our communities, and led by the voices of our youth.”
As the drums echoed through Banjul’s streets, the Dance for Nature Festival highlighted a powerful truth: climate change may be a global challenge, but its solutions can be rooted in culture, creativity, and community.
By Alieu Jallow Banjul came alive on Friday evening with rhythm, color, and movement as 45 climate ambassadors took the stage for the Dance for Nature Festival, the grand culmination of the Dance for Nature Project. The event fused dance, masquerade, and storytelling into a powerful call to action, urging Gambians to confront the reality The Fatu Network
