They Say

Spoken Word of Obama Onema was released on the self-titled album "OBAFA". The poem is a powerful and moving indictment of the corruption and injustice that the speaker has experienced in his life. It is a cry for justice and equality, and a call for change.

ABOUT OBAFA ONEMA

Obafa Onema is a young Gambian who is seeking to understand and navigate the opportunities, rights, politics, and the life he is faced with. His spoken word pieces are a powerful perspective on life in the Gambia, West Africa.

Obafa grew up in Busumbala, the Gambia, with his mother and eight siblings. When he was 15 years old, his father was killed in the war, leaving Obafa, the eldest male, as the head of the household. To provide for his family, he was forced to quit high school and get a job, ending his dream of becoming a medical doctor. Reading became his passion, and he writes continuously. Today, he works in construction as a day laborer. He is 24 years old.

Obafa is a talented and insightful writer. His spoken word pieces are both personal and political, and they offer a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of life in the Gambia. He is a powerful voice for change, and his work is an important contribution to the conversation about the future of the Gambia.

CREDITS

Voiceover: Obafa Onema
Produced by Cellular Vibrations in association with MaximillianGroup
Director: Muhammed Dibbasey
Executive Producer: Muhammed Dibbasey
Spoken Word: by Muhammed Dibbasey
Video: CottonBro
Film Editing: Max Barrett / MaximillianGroup
Art Direction: MaximillianGroup
Cover Art: Max Barrett / MaximillianGroup
Distributed by MaximillianGroup

  • Muhammed Dibbasey
    Director
  • Muhammed Dibbasey
    Writer
  • Cellular Vibrations
    Producer
  • MaximillianGroup
    Producer
  • Muhammed Dibbasey
    Key Cast
    "Obafa Onema"
  • Cotton Bro
    Video
  • Max Barrett
    Editing
  • MaximillianGroup
    Art Direction
  • Project Type:
    Short, Web / New Media, Other
  • Genres:
    Africa, Spoken Word
  • Runtime:
    1 minute 54 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Gambia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Lift-Off Session Film Festival
    Buckinghamshire
    United Kingdom
    April 27, 2023
    UK Premier
  • Lift-Off First-Time Filmmakers
    Pinewood
    United Kingdom
    May 15, 2023
Distribution Information
  • Max Barrett
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Muhammed Dibbasey

Muhammed Dibbasey is a dynamic and ambitious 24-year-old entrepreneur who is highly regarded within the community of Busumbala. He is passionate about the arts and has made it his mission to unite the youth in his community and beyond, igniting their passion for music and creating a platform for them to showcase their talents.
As the Executive Producer of Grab Di Mic, Muhammed has been instrumental in transforming the music scene in Gambia. Under his leadership, the event has grown from a small concert for 500 people to Gambia's fastest-growing performance event, attracting over 2000 attendees and featuring the country's top hip-hop and pop artists.

Muhammed is currently working to transform Cellular Vibrations from a music promotion company to a digital marketing agency. It will be one of few Agencies in The Gambia, let alone West Africa, that at it's core is a focus on Marketing and will provide Social Media Marketing, Web Development as well as marketing for musicians, artists and poets.

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