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Momodou
Denmark
11713 Posts |
 Posted - 15 Nov 2006 : 12:49:05
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THE DEPARTURE OF INDEFATIGABLE MODOU MANNEH
By Ousman Sillah
The life of an indefatigable community servant has again been eclipsed by the unavoidable death. However, death can only rob the life of a good human being, but it cannot obliterate the fond memory of the good deeds of such a person from the minds of those left behind who have deep sense of appreciation or gratitude.
Modou Manneh, a.k.a Bro, has departed from our midst but will never be forgotten because of his sense of community commitment and sociable nature which had led him to amass not material wealth but a wide circle of affectionate friendship from his family and the community.
Modou Manneh was born in 1949 in Dippa Kunda. He had attended Serekunda Primary School and Latrikunda Junior Secondary School (L.K). Bro did his childhood with brothers and friends in the environs of Dippa Kunda, Serekunda and Latrikunda. After completing his secondary school education, Modou Manneh first started work at the then Water Works Department under the tutelage of his late father who was the Pump Attendant for Kombo the St. Mary division. He later left to board the Merchant ships as a sailor for two years which took him to many European countries, such as, Italy, Greece, Spain, etc. Following his return home the late Bro worked as a summary clerk for the Cooperative Union for two years. Modou Manneh was one of the first bus conductors who started the GPTC. He again left for Cote D'Ivoire and later settled in Nigeria where he established a successful business running a carpentry workshop and employing many Gambians.
Back in The Gambia, the late Modou Manneh became politically active and was serving as a militant of PDOIS. He was also fully involved in the management of the Mass Sosseh Shipyard Football Club and later the Bakau United F.C.
Modou Manneh was one of the most instrumental initiators of the Serrekunda West sports Association (SWESA).
In order to professionalise his involvement he became a trained sports journalist together with the likes of Peter Gomez and Moses Ndene and had inspired others like Pa Assan Badjan into the profession.
Modou Manneh was one of the co-anchorpersons of that famous yet short lived "Sunday News Hours Programme" of Radio 1 FM together with George Christenson, Modou Thomas and Seedy Ceesay.
According to his brother Imam Abdoulie Manneh 'Modou was a devout Muslim and a selfless and good human being who was so helpful to both his family and society. His departure is a great loss and has created a vacuum that is very difficult to fill." Another younger brother Alieu Manneh, described Modou as a 'respectful and socially responsible person who never neglects family and social duties.'
As a testimony of the community's acknowledgement of the late Modou Manneh's sense of social duty, relatives, neighbours, friends and acquaintances from a broad spectrum of society thronged the mosque and the cemetery to convey this departed colleague and relative to his final resting place. The sporting fraternity, especially Football, and colleagues in the political experience and religious and community leaders were well represented.
Modou Manneh died on the 26th October in the United kingdom after a brief illness and was flown back to The Gambia and laid to final rest on Saturday 11th November 2006 at the Dippa Kunda cemetery. He is survived by two wives Yamu Ndow and Sainabou Jobe and two girls and two boys.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 99/2006, 13-14 November, 2006
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