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sankalanka
270 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Apr 2011 : 19:29:37
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This is an excerpt of a story that I started, and shared before on the Gambia-l and Gambia post forums. It is a story that I would like to develop and publish into a novel, after making some research and gathering more information about the characters.
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Mam Biram was very cautious, and took notice of everything around him, as he walked briskly on the sandy street of Ebou Town. He
crossed the main highway going to Brikima. He was on his way home from the political bureau. This was his usual route, although he took the extra precaution of not using the same street every day. Some of the streets were poorly lit, and most of the other streets were in semi or total darkness, depending on the number of houses that had their lights on, casting a shadow of brightness on the looming darkness.
On the main highway going to Brikama, the street was crowded on both sides of the road, and underneath the electric light poles which stood a far distance apart, groups of women sat chatting excitedly in front of their displayed wares. They sold roasted peanuts, oranges and bananas, cassava and beans with palm oil gravy, and other food items.
The Ritz cinema, strategically located in the middle of the street a half mile from the Serrekunda market, added to the excitement of the robust comings and goings of the gleeful people on the street. The street became alive with the honking of cars. The laughter and shouting, the bantering and noisy din, reverberated into the depths of the dark and humid night.
As soon as he crossed the highway, Mam Biram quickly disappeared in one of the adjourning streets. He avoided the crowded sidewalks as much as possible, and most of the time wore a guise that made it difficult for people to recognize him.
Mam Biram exuded an aura of modesty and humility, in the manner in which he dressed and the way he approached people. This had generated a lot of curiosity and enthusiasm around him. He had a public persona that was the face of a serious, committed and a
dedicated servant who wants to serve the people. He was not afraid to say publicly what others would only utter in whispers. He exhibited a thorough understanding and mastery of the public political debate, which earned him a reputable standing among his fellow citizens.
Mam Biram fumbled with his keys in the dark, and clumsily walked into the sparsely furnished living room. He put the lights on. He sauntered into his bedroom and undressed, and then walked back into the living room. He made a steaming cup of coffee, and then sat comfortably in the brown leather couch.
Mam Biram stretched his right hand outward and picked a book from the books shelve in the corner of the room. He carefully flipped through the pages. There was a wooden mahogany table in the middle of the living room, and a portable typewriter sat discreetly on a writing desk by the bedroom door.
Mam Biram sipped his coffee and started to read. He had a long night ahead of him, and a lot of writing to do as well. He was the editor in chief of the daily independent newspaper, The Nation.
The Nation, was a leading newspaper that also served as a tool to sensitize and educate the reading public about policy issues, and other social and political matters. It also, was invariably the organ of the political organization Mam Biram had helped to found, and was the quintessential vehicle of information that kept a lot of people informed.
Mam Biram used the editorial pages of the Nation newspaper, in his unequivocal stance against the excesses of the government, to highlight everything that was wrong in the country.
Rene
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Momodou
Denmark
11645 Posts |
Posted - 03 Apr 2011 : 19:48:37
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Rene,
Thanks for sharing the story with us here. I look forward to the rest of the story. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 04 Apr 2011 : 00:44:57
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| A very leading story. The main character is familiar. Interesting though. |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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sankalanka
270 Posts |
Posted - 08 Apr 2011 : 02:02:10
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It all started a little over two decades ago, when Mam Biram visited the Gambia as a graduate student. He was then introduced to a small group of intellectuals, who had begun the task of positively trying to impact the social and political realities of the society. He became one of them.
This group of intellectuals engaged in social awareness programs, and gave political orientation to students that aim to prepare the country for a national rebirth. Thus began the long and arduous struggle to transform the nature of Gambian society. It took almost thirty years of his life.
Mam Biram left the Gambia when he was sixteen years old. He had not completed his high school. While he was at the Saint Augustine’s high school, he met and befriended an American Peace Corp who promised to take him to America. His friend took him to the US when he was going home after finishing his assignment. He enrolled Mam Biram in a private high school run by Jesuit priests in the suburbs of South Carolina. This was in the late sixties; a period in which the ashes of racism, and the embers of discrimination were deeply ingrained in the American social medium.
This also was the time, when the dialectical process of decolonization swept across Africa, and the fires of Pan-Africanism illuminated a revolutionary path that awakened the conscience, and ignited the passion of young people across the continent. Mam Biram grew up in this epoch of revolutionary struggle, and at a young age had read most of the books written by Kwame Nkrumah and other notable pan-africanist. He was also deeply immersed in the literature of Marxist ideology; historical and dialectical materialism.
By the time he enrolled in high school in the US, Mam Biram was well oriented in the politics of colonization and independence, exemplified by the likes of Nkrumah, Lumumba and Amilcar Cabral. He actively participated in student political and social demonstrations in his school, as well as in other schools in the surrounding areas. He cultivated a stubborn attitude of defiance and self respect that would defined his well crafted personality.
When Mam Biram completed his high school, he proceeded to obtain a bachelors and a master’s degree, at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He started a doctoral program, but abandoned the pursuit when he visited the Gambia.
In the Gambia, he met a mellow and conscientious high school science teacher, who had been organizing student plays and musicals in his school, to generate funds to help other needy students. Mam Biram became convinced that it was better to stay in the Gambia and contribute towards the little that others were doing, rather than to go back to the US to continue his studies. He took up an appointment with the government as a civil servant, and together with their small group of intellectuals intensified the campaign to create awareness amongst the people.
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sankalanka
270 Posts |
Posted - 23 Apr 2011 : 14:12:10
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I am in the Gambia, the first time after 20 years. I hope this experience will help me to enhance and develop all the materials I have been working on over the years.
I hope to in the coming months develop this and my other manuscripts into completed and published works.
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sankahjang
USA
78 Posts |
Posted - 04 May 2011 : 06:45:20
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| The story is interesting and I believe it will be informative to a lot of literature lovers. Keep it up, and I hope to read the finish work some day soon. |
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sankalanka
270 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2011 : 10:32:02
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Mamburay was a linguist and a seasoned educator at the education department. He was also instrumental in helping to develop a new education policy that encouraged the introduction of local languages in the school's curriculum. He had been assigned to the Curriculum department until recently, when he resigned from his position in the Civil Service. He had committed himself to work vigorously with others in the small group of intellectuals that was taking shape.
Mamburay's letter of resignation from the services of the government, which had been made public and distributed widely, touted his humble background from one of the poorest areas in the country. He had, however, demonstrated a scholastic aptitude which saw him earned degrees in the best institutions in France and elsewhere. He had come home to the notion of contributing to build his nation, only to realize that he had to persistently fought through the systemic bureaucracy, and meet its intolerant and impervious attitude that had stifled change.
Mamburay had reached the point where his principles were in conflict with the government that he served. He had a vision of helping to change the dynamics that will raise the awareness and expectations of the people, and held the government to the highest standards that would respond to their needs and aspirations.
His resignation from the services of the government had aroused some misgivings; while some supported him, some friends and family members chastised him for giving up all the opportunity and promise in his job, for what they had considered as an elusive idealism.
"This indeed is a historical gathering," Mam Biram said.
Mam Biram was of medium height and not heavily built. He spoke with a very strong emphasis that carried the weight, and import of what he wanted to say. His voice was deep, and he had a tendency to give very long speeches.He defended his positions and beliefs with vigor, and had an unrestrained ability to be candid and forthright without being too apologetic. He took great interest and pride in engaging others in polemics.
"For the first time in the history of our republic," Mam Biram continued, "the people in this group would make it their task to broaden the minds of the people, so that they can become the masters of their own destiny.
"We will explain to the people what a sovereign republic is. We will explain to the people why a constitution gives them the power to elect their own representatives. We will explain the system of taxation, and give concrete details as to how it works. We will explain why the people are paying more taxes yet their needs and aspirations are not met. We will try and reach the Gambian people and inform them about the causes of the poverty in the country; why they are powerless, and the ways in which these deficiencies can be combated.
"We are going to introduce a new kind of politics; a politics that enlightens the people. The fundamental task before us is to create a political party that will grow from being owned by a few people, to a party that will be owned by the vast majority of the Gambian people, who wants to live in dignity, liberty and prosperity.
"At the moment all the political parties are relying on the same system to generate support for their programs. They try to gain the support of the people by raising funds and they mobilize the opinion leaders to help them gain the support of the people. But the truth is, the government is always in a better position to raise more funds; the government has the resources to mobilize more opinion leaders and more people, thus making it very difficult for any political party to be able to compete. In order to be able to compete our politics has to be different. We have to evolve a new kind of tactics and a new kind of strategy."
"We also have to be able to finance our own activities and programs," Mamburay asserted. "We are going to engage in a long and protracted struggle that can take our lifetime, and we are not even sure if whatever we achieve can happen during our lifetime. But we can be rest assured with the belief that we can be survived by our deeds, which hopefully will live after us."
A draft manifesto was presented, argued and debated thoroughly, and finally accepted. A political party was going to be formed and would be made public.
An election took place to elect those who would start the management of the new party immediately. Mam Biram was elected as secretary general of the new party; Sambujang was elected as secretary of the information bureau; Mamburay was elected as the chairperson and Aunty Jorjoh, Sambujang's wife, was elected as secretary to women and child affairs. These people were to be the faces of the new party.
Aunty Jorjoh was among a handful of women in attendance, and had followed the footsteps of her older brother who was deeply involved in the politics of the late sixties and early seventies. She was a gender activist and an educator, and had suffered the indignities of prison life when she was incarcerated at the Mile Two prisons along with her husband, Sambujang. She was incarcerated at a time when she was nursing a ten months old baby.
After the formation of the new political party, there was a series of open rallies the first of which was organized at latriknda Yiringaya. The second was held in Banjul.
The participants at the meeting dispersed as silently as they
arrived. The brown cement block building hidden behind the cluster of palm trees, became as serene as the beautiful green foliage that
surrounded it. The birds chirped high up in the trees, and the rays of the sun were a golden hue as it descended steadily on the horizon. The night sneaked in surreptitiously.
*
It was a beautiful day. The afternoon sun was mild in its intensity. A cool breeze blew across the wide expanse of sandy soil. The gathering around the meeting place was getting bigger and bigger.
A cluster of young people, mostly students and teachers, stood in small groups talking animatedly. The atmosphere of excitement and curiosity was exhilarating. Some people came to hear for the first time what they had been reading in a clandestine newsletter, The Voice OF the Future, and purported to have been distributed by the people organizing the meeting.
The Voice of The Future, strangely appeared in public places; it evoked a political awakening and consciousness among the young people, and caused a great degree of alarm and consternation in the higher echelon of the political establishment.
There were four giant speakers placed strategically in the four corners of the open rectangular sandy space, in front of the magnificent mosque building in Latrikunda. A flurry of patriotic songs, accompanied by a melodious piano and rhythmic guitar, boomed aloud from the four giant speakers.
Little children were running around the open space wrestling each other. Elderly people sat in front of their compounds waiting eagerly to hear what this meeting was all about. Some people stood inconspicuously around the vicinity of the meeting place to avoid being seen. There was a heightened sense of fear and recrimination to be seen in these meetings, especially if you were a civil servant and under the employ of the government.
"Gal gang chi rebi, gal gang chi rebi
alek chi suba tell di nen dem Congo
ay suma haret nu ki len tay nku
alek chi suba tell di nen dem Congo
De nken am kenen, de nken am kenen
wande nu mel ne njun njefa Banjul."
The above song with a beautiful cadence blasted from the huge speakers, and interspersed with the deep voice of Mam Biram.
"We are not going anywhere
this also is our country
we all have a role to play in it.
We are not going anywhere
this also is our country
we will stay and contribute our part."
Mam Biram, Sambujang and Mamburay stood in a circle near the podium and talked in whispers. Aunty Jorjoh later joined in the discussion. Thereafter, she proceeded to the podium and adjusted the microphone.
"Allou, Allou, Allou. Suma ye mboka," Aunty Jorjoh began.
The noise around the gathering place suddenly subsided and everyone was listening intently.
NB: This would be the last installment I would share. This was just a sketch. I would now start to write the whole story, and hopefully in the coming months bring it to you as a completed novel.
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Momodou
Denmark
11645 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2011 : 19:10:29
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| Rene, thanks for sharing. I look forward to reading the finished novel. Keep it up. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2011 : 21:30:12
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Sanka
Are you in USA? |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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sankalanka
270 Posts |
Posted - 06 May 2011 : 23:16:31
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Sanka
Are you in USA?
Turk, just left the Gambia. Kind Regards. |
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2011 : 00:10:11
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Sanka
I was just interested in about if you are doing this professionally or just hobby. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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sankalanka
270 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2011 : 15:33:46
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Turk, I am not sure about professionally, but I love writing. And I see myself having a vocation taking up writing, especially contemporary Gambian issues and realities.
Yes, I am in the U.S
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turk
USA
3356 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2011 : 16:25:06
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I have a project. I have started writing a diary for my daughter. What would be the best thing to inherit from her daddy. Her story, our story, my experience, my knowledge to be let known for my daughter in the future.
My story is chronological, in multiple languages, pictures, videos. It is not a typical story. It is more like combination of text, picture, video and I even include the news articles. |
diaspora! Too many Chiefs and Very Few Indians.
Halifa Salah: PDOIS is however realistic. It is fully aware that the Gambian voters are yet to reach a level of political consciousness that they rely on to vote on the basis of Principles, policies and programmes and practices. |
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sankalanka
270 Posts |
Posted - 07 May 2011 : 20:17:37
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| Turk, you have a very interesting project. I like it's novelty. You never know what can come of it. Anyway, wish you all the best with the project. |
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