Certain passions are evident from childhood. For Gina Ndèye Fatou Goudiaby, writing has always been a refuge and a vocation. From a very young age, this Senegalese woman, now recognized in the country’s literary and screenwriting landscape, found in words a way of expressing her emotions and connecting to the world. As a teenager, she wrote letters to her mother or made up stories in school notebooks that her classmates read with admiration. This early connection with writing has never faded, quite the contrary: it has transformed into a prolific career, punctuated with success.
Writing, for Gina, has never been just a hobby. “It was a way to express what I felt deeply, an intimate language to say the unspeakable,” she confides. However, turning this passion into a career was not easy for those around him. His mother, anxious to guarantee him a stable future, required him to complete his baccalaureate before fully committing to this path.
Patient and determined, Gina respected this condition, then launching herself with new ardor into professional writing. Her first big opportunity came thanks to the late Mansour Dieng, an influential figure in the Senegalese media landscape, who encouraged her to write for Icône, a cultural magazine. This first springboard marked the beginning of a long road towards recognition.
The interuniversity competition: a decisive turning point
Consecration came when she participated in an inter-university radio script competition, organized by the UN and the International Labor Office. His screenplay, focused on the fight against child labor, won first prize. This victory opens the doors to a prestigious collaboration: the co-writing of the feature film, “Le Cheval Blanc”, a poignant work exploring the phenomenon of child begging in Senegal.
This project marks a turning point in his career. Seduced by the power of images and words, Gina is resolutely moving towards screenwriting. “Writing for the screen is to directly touch sensibilities, it is to bring to life ideas that resonate with the viewer,” she explains.
A committed writer
But Gina is not limited to scenarios. She also pursues a literary career, tackling subjects deeply rooted in social realities. His short story, “The Courage to Live”, is an illustration of this. In this text, she explores the issue of depression, a subject rarely treated in Senegalese society. Through intimate reflection, she seeks to break taboos: “Life is made up of ups and downs. We must have the courage to embrace our moments of weakness and not run away from them. Repressing our internal conflicts can make us sink,” she emphasizes forcefully.
In 2024, Gina participated in a collective work entitled “Liées et Déchaînées”, under the direction of the author Amina Seck, on the occasion of the Women’s Book Fair in Dakar. This collection of short stories addresses a sensitive subject: mental health. Gina brings her pen to it, mixing finesse and depth to open dialogue on often neglected issues.
A versatile career
In addition to her literary activities, Gina is a design consultant at Marodi TV, a renowned Senegalese production company. She juggles between scripts, advertising creations and various projects. This versatility demonstrates its ability to adapt to different formats and audiences, while remaining faithful to its main objective: telling meaningful stories.
My goal is to touch hearts, open perspectives and show that we can transform our trials into strengths,” she says. This philosophy guides each of his projects, whether it is a script intended for the big screen or a published short story.
Writing, an act of resilience
For Gina Ndèye Fatou Goudiaby, writing is much more than a vocation: it is an act of resilience and commitment. She draws on her experiences, her observations and the social realities that surround her to create deeply human works. Her writings reflect a constant quest for authenticity, whether in the social themes she addresses or in the sincerity of her characters.
Today, she is seen as a rising figure in literary and screenwriting creation in Senegal. Her journey inspires many young people, especially women, who see in her an example of success built on passion, hard work and faith in one’s dreams.
Gina doesn’t plan to stop there. “I want to continue to explore subjects that touch me, while collaborating with talents who share my vision. Writing, whether literary or screenwriting, is a powerful tool for bringing about positive change,” she says. With current projects, including a television series and a new novel, Gina Ndèye Fatou Goudiaby has established herself as an essential voice in contemporary Senegal. Through her pen, she builds a legacy which, without a doubt, will continue to leave its mark.
