23/09/2025
We are proud of you Fatou Sillah!
SPOTLIGHT: Meet Fatoumata Sillah, a trailblazing journalist-turned-chef who epitomises the transformative power of pursuing one's passion.
Currently at the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute of the Gambia, her inspiring journey showcases the limitless potential of reinvention and exploring new frontiers. As a certified chef and mentor, she pays it forward, empowering aspiring hospitality professionals to realise their dreams.
As a high school student, she vividly recalls declaring her ambition to become a chef to her classmates. "This spark was ignited after attending a 3-month mentorship program with SaFE, where she discovered her passion for cooking."
Her friends can attest that she was driven to pursue a career in the culinary arts, even back then, she noted.
After graduating, she took the first step towards realising her dream by applying to the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute in 2019.
However, her family encouraged her to explore journalism, given her interest in writing and storytelling. She had been an active member of the Mingdaw press club, where they wrote and presented news stories, and this experience had sparked her curiosity about the field.
She went on to study journalism at the Media Academy for Journalism and Communications but ultimately decided to pursue her true passion. In 2022, she embarked on her culinary journey, and with each passing day, she grew more confident in her skills and knowledge.
Every new experience deepened her love for cooking and serving others. She is currently working at the Gambia Tourism and Hospitality Institute as a Communication Officer and a chef.
"Today, I proudly embrace my identity as an aspiring chef, and I'm excited to see where this journey takes me. With every new recipe, every new technique, and every new opportunity, I'm reminded that it's never too late to pursue your passion and turn your dreams into reality," she said.
