State of Mic (SOM) is a creative production company established in 2007 in Gambia, West Africa to provide audiovisual education and media training. SOM has trained over 40 Gambian media professionals who now work for companies like Africell and Qcell or as freelancers. As a result of its training, SOM has produced several media programs for Gambian television covering topics like entertainment, culture, and traditions. SOM's future aims are to continue raising standards of multimedia production in Gambia through promoting freedom of expression and creating cultural and historical productions to deliver high quality Gambian and West African media content.

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State of Mic, multimedia centre, the Gambia.
S.O.M. is an independent creative production company within the Gambia,
West- Africa. SOM focuses on multimedia production, communication and
education. Our motto: Creativity is key!
S.O.M. is a registered organization within the Gambia and was established in
2007 by Dutch creative director Bas Ackermann & Danny Akker in
cooperation with Gambian artists and upcoming talented Gambian multimedia
developers. It was supported by the Dutch funds HIVOS and NCDO UNTILL
2011.
Mission statement
State of Mic. it's main goal is to provide audiovisual education & media
training to stimulate talent development of young people in Gambia and
through international cooperation and exchange raise the level of audiovisual
and multimedia productions within the Gambian media industry.
Achievement 2007 - 2014
S.O.M. has worked on improving the knowledge, skills and awareness of its
students to become media professionals since 2007
Basic and advanced training to increase the investigative capacities of media
workers and the management expertise has resulted in an output of 40 young
Gambians working in the multimedia field for themselves as for the following
companies: Alpha Jallow - Africell, Modou Joof - Qcell, Babucarr Manka -
Iclick US, Isatou Tunkara - Tedungal Multimedia, Pa Ebou Sosseh - Qcell,
Ansu Mboge - Freelancer, Sarja Daffeh - GRTS , Alhagie Manka CEO State
Of Mic.
As a result of the S.O.M. trainings and expertise, several media programs has
been developed, including co productions with GRTS, by S.O.M. and its
members:
1. BNL nightlife info/entertainment for all ages.
2. SAF connect: entertainment connecting Gambians and Gambians in
diaspora.
3. Girl Talk: Ladies Talk Show on What’s Trending
4. Kim Doon: Focusing on Gambian Legends
5. Jarranka: TV Series for Mandinkas Traditions & Culture

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Future Aim
S.O.M. continues its status as independent creative production company to
raise the level of multimedia production & education in Gambia. Freedom of
expression through multimedia: video, film and audio (music) is at its basic
principle to stay up on an international level.
The future aim of S.O.M. is to deliver new trends in communication, raise
awareness through cultural and historical productions and to deliver high-end
media content in Gambia & the West-African region.
Nominations & Awards
- 2012 Best Equip Media Company / State of Mic.
- 2013 Best indigenous Film / To Hand Of Fate, a movie on the subject of
early marriage. (Directed by Ibrahim Ceesay & Director of photography
Alhagie Manka ,State of Mic)
- 2016 Nominated For AMAA Film Festival / Welcome to The Smiling
Coast
CREATIVITY IS KEY!!!