Swaebou Conateh's Boigraphy

Banjul, The Gambia(MB)- Alhaji Swaebou Jow Siramahang Conateh, Journalist, Broadcaster,
Writer, Poet, Publisher and Media Consultant, was born in Dippakunda
in Kombo St. Mary Division in the early 1940s in a polygamous family
setting, (KSMD).
In 1948, following initial attendance at the local
Koranic School, he started formal scholing at Ast. Therese's Primary
School in Kanifing, when that school first opened its doors. After
nine years of primary schooling, he entered St. Augustine Secondary
School in Banjul, and obtained excellent results at that year's
Secondary School Entrance Examination to be given the first Government
Scholarship in Kombo St Mary's Division.
When he completed high school in 1963, Swaebou Conateh joined
Government Services as a third grade Clerk at the Crown Law and Lands
Office and this was after he successfully passed the government
entrance examination. Three months later, after passing with Division
One in the year's WAEC Exam, Conateh resigned his position to enter
the Sixth Form at the Gambia High School as an art student. In 1964,
he passed the Scholarship exam of the African American Institute and
was awarded a scholarship under the African Scholarship Programme of
American Universities (ASPAU).
He entered the University of Kansa's
William Allen White School of Journalism and Public Information to
pause his life- long ambition of becoming the Fist Profesionally
Qualified Journalist in The gambia and of becoming Director of
Information Services.
During his student days , Conateh has worked for the student daily
parer, two American dailies, and a US based news Agency at the United
Nations(UN). Some four years after Tha Gambia became independent, and
with his ambitions fulfilled having earned the degree of Bachelor of
Science in Journalism, he returned home Banjul in January 1969. Later
that year, he joined the Civil Service , this time as the First News
Editor at the New Radio Gambia Studious in Bakau. Six months later, he
was promoted to the post of Broadcasting Officer and worked with his
staff to develop and upgrade Radio Gambia programming, extend the
broadcasting time and enter new fields of broadcasting, such as
Schools Broadcasting and Farm and Rural Broadcasting.
Conateh achived his childhood dream of becoming Director when in 1974,
he was promoted Director of Information and Broadcasting, a position
he held for 12 years. He was then seconded to the Pan African News
Agency(PANA) in Dakar, where he was initially assigned to open their
regional office in Lagos, Nigeria, and then to serve as
Editor-in-Chief of the English Desk at the Head Office. He left PANA
in June 1992, which was the year he also retired from the Civil
Service.
Mr Conateh then set out to fulfil; another life-long ambition, which
was to set up a multi-media business concerne for newspaper and book
publishing, advertising and business promotions. This business
enterprise, known as the Gambia Communcation Agency and Baroueli
Enterprises, he published books, newspapers and magazine. He created,
published , and produced various advertising and business promotion
and publicity materials such as calendars, newsletters, flyers and
posters and engaged in Media Consultancies for various clients both
local and overseas.
He has also published The Gambia Nerws and Report
Weekly Magazine the only current affairs Magazine since 1992. The
magazine is well -known for the "Man of the Year" it awards annually
and for its well-balanced and in-depth reporting.
Conateh who also holds Master's Degree in Mass Communication from
Lagos University and a post Graduate Certificate in Broadcasting
Station Management from the British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) and
the Polytechnic of Central London, presently serves as The Gambia
Correspondent of the African Press Agency (APA) in Dakar, Senegal.
During this period of active service, Conateh has contributed greatly
to Gambia's development in various other ways, including the
editorship of Ndaanan, The Gambia Literary Magazine , membership of
the Library Board, the Public Service Commission, the National Council
for Law Reporting, the National Council for Arts and Culture and the
now defunct National Project Monitoring Committee, among others. He
served as Treasurer for The Gambia Press Union , a union which he
still remains an active member. He is a Media Consultant to UNESCO,
UNDP,WHO, PANA, APA and to many parastatal bodies. He is and active
member of the Dippakunda Mosque Committe and serves as Chairman of the
Pubilicity Committe of its annual Gamos. Conateh is married and
blessed with several children.
In recognition of his contribution to Journalism and development of
this nation, he was insignia Medal of the National Order of The
Republic of The Gambia by His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Yahya
AJJ Jammeh in 2009.