With sessions already successfully held in Jambur and Sintet, the Bantabas, as the sessions are called, provide a unique platform and safe space for victims, perpetrators and local leaders to interface. Each Bantaba targets about 100 participants. On 19th October 2024, the Jambur Badingbung Bantaba was held at Jambur Lower Basic School in Kombo South District of West Coast Region. The school is located at a place that naturally gave victims a safe space to recollect their stories with police officers present to curtail any negative fallouts.
Imam Omar Bojang of Jambur who also served as Chairman of the Badingbung Facilitators, ASP Pa Wally Njie of the Gambia Police Force, Siyat Gaye Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Beakanyang, Nfamara Jawneh Executive Director of Beakanyang among many other dignitaries attended the Bantaba at Jambur. During the session. Imam Bojang, a cleric, also made a presentation on good neighborliness and forgiveness in Islam, opening the stage for victims to recount their stories and for perpetrators to seek and forgiveness.
The second Badingbung District Bantaba took place in Sintet in Foni Jarrol District on the 29th October 2024. This Bantaba took placed at the village in a highly conducive, serene and safe space for victims. Like the Jambur Badingbung Bantaba, the Sintet Badingbung Bantaba attracted very influential people; Alkalo Lamin Badjie of Sintet, Chief Representative Abdourahman Sanyang, Lamin Darboe from the Gambia Police Force, Nfamara Jawneh Executive Director, and others. During the sessions, Mr Nfamara Jawneh facilitated the session on the overview of the Badingbung; allowing participants especially elders to state their understanding on the Badingbung, before he made his presentation.
Lawyer Lamin Sanyang did a presentation on the African Union Transitional Justice Policy. Many victims narrated their stories at the Bantaba and expressed forgiveness to their perpetrators. Other participants were also given to the opportunity to share stories, most of them talking about the importance of the Badingbung and the need to sustain the Badingbung initiative.
