Saints Francophile Association, a French Theatre Group belonging to the Alliance Franco Gambienne, over the weekend held its second annual congress at the Alliance Franco Gambienne premises on Kairaba Avenue.

The Saints Francophile Association, set up in 2007, held its Annual Congress to sensitise its members on the importance of French in modern society, to elect new members to some of the positions and to encourage its members to learn French.

Augustine Kanjia a new member of the Saints Francophile Association said, “We are living in a global village, the importance of this noble language should be felt in our daily activities. We see how the French, the English the Dutch and the Portuguese spread their languages throughout the world, if we are English we need not limit our world to only that. The need for all to speak French is very much alive,” he said.

He further said that The Gambia is like part of Senegal as it could be termed a region of that country that speaks English with the same culture. “If they say ‘oui’, we say ‘yes’, when they say ‘wao’, we all say together, ha! French got me through the borders of Guinea Conakry that were hostile during the war in Sierra Leone, leaving others there. Knowing French increases job opportunities, makes one travel without language barriers, make more friends, get international and top jobs and also increase ones study opportunities. I encourage all to be part of the French learning,” he said.

In his contribution, Baboucarr Jagne, a French teacher at St. Therese’s Upper Basic and a French student at The Gambia College, said Gambia is behind others in learning French. He complained that students call all French teachers Senegalese. “Mr. Gomez, Mr. Senghore at the UTG are exceptions and are admirable for knowing French, with a few others. French is a communicative language,” he said. He urged the young to be part of French learning. Members were elected to different offices. The constitution was reviewed and amended and Mohamed Sallah, the chairman, thanked all.