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Moe
USA
2326 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Jan 2008 : 18:10:55
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Yep good job santa, by the way kay that was a good analysis..........Peacequote:
Originally posted by kayjatta
Good job, Santa.
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I am Jebel Musa better yet rock of Gibraltar,either or,still a stronghold and a Pillar commanding direction
The GPU wants Me Hunted Down for what I don't know ..... |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 00:17:36
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Santanfara
Going by your very beefy sourcing on Dr Momodou Manneh you have practically sent Samsudeen Sarr packing. If he is reading, Sam please refute these sources with some stuffy evidence and let the readers debate between yours and what obtains. Where it turns out that Dr Momodou Manneh has not truly obtained a Doctorate there is still good evidence of his ability to deliver. Stories has it that Manneh whipped political opponents to bolster his electoral numbers. The same Manneh is acclaimed for paving road networks linking several villages in Jokadu and Niumi.
On the topical issue of tribalism and ethnic tolerance there are some cases to cite in Banjul the capital Sarr wants us believe as the boiling point of tribal dominance and what not. Anyone who knows the social blend of Banjul can testify that inter-ethnic marriage is not new. There are prominent families in Banjul where from a typically Wollof family a woman is married to a Wollof man and later to a Mandingo man. The extended relations become half brothers and sisters sharing different ethnic origin. The same case is found between Fula and other ethnic groups in the same little island of Banjul. This is not long history and those affected are still alive in large numbers. There are Wollf traders from Banjul who married Mandingo, Fula or Jola women to later settle with them in Banjul. Several other Wollof elders out of generosity adopted Mandingo youth from their trading posts. These became big parts of the adopted families. They are many in Banjul and nobody can refute that without toiling for good reason. The bottom line is that Sam has failed to anchor firm enough on this tribal issue. Ethnic harmony is very much a character of Banjul. The number of Akus married to Mandingo men form part of this ethnic harmony to repair the prospective damage that Sarr wished to wedge within the cordial superstructure of diverse ethnic Gambia.
Sarr this is not about the ability to write school essays for a strict grammar teacher. A debate with pinch of tolerance has better prospects of bearing richer fruits. Don't you agree Mr Sarr? You claim noy knowing the author Suntu Touray. Similarly there are many Gambians who don't you too. |
Karamba |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 17:45:35
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Mr lamin Darboe a Gambian resident in u.k Liecester city email me his
take on sarr's article.Mr Darboe said he mail the letter to Sankareh
some days ago but the editor did not publish his piece. he then mail me
the article to post it for public reading.
read along.
I have never contributed to your paper before; I have a strong
feeling that Mr. Sarr need to be admonished for trumpeting the tune of
tribalism in a well read media of yours.
I have acknowledged my strong regard for Mr Samsideen Sarr since his
book "Meet me in Conakry". However his extant piece on tribal politics
exudes an obnoxious stench of tribal partisanship. Moreover it
manifested a total lack of respect for dead Muslim brothers which is
unethical in Islam. Dr Saho is dead and cannot defend himself beyond the grave,
and we are in no position to verify Mr Sarr's claim. His claim of rude
encounter with Dr Manneh is at most speculative. In Islam it is
abhorrent to talk ill of non-living brothers and thus is considered to be
sinful. Allah subhannah wattallah warn us to be aware of speculation
because it is no surrogate for truth; (sura naijmi verse 28). Also in sura
(hujurat 49:12) Allah (ajja wajanllah) warns us against speculation,
backbiting and slander with much vehemence. Backbiting is compared with
eating the flesh of your dead brother. It is even more evil to slander
your dead Muslim brother who is in no position to defend himself.
I have some knowledge of Mr Sarr beyond his media image. I know his
Dad and also his fleeting teaching career; there are some skeletons
in his cupboard which I would not discuss because it is unbecoming of
a Muslim to character assassinate others especially your Muslims
brothers.
Rasooullah (sallanllahu alaihe wasallam) was reported to have said
something like “the property, blood and honour of a Muslim is sacred to
another Muslim”, therefore do not dishonor each other.
No one is perfect except Allah (ajja wajallah) and his Rasool (sallal
lahu alahe wa sallam). I agree we all have failings and almost
everyone backbite but to parade one's slandering prowess in the international
media is rather an undesirable abomination.
For seven years I have worked at the Treasury and the reminiscence of
the fraternal environment, team consensus and tribal harmony that
existed there still reverberate in my memory cells. The Doom and gloom of
tribal politics and all its pedestrian overtures glaring in MR Sarr's
piece smacks off mal-contention and utter frustration. It deciphers more
of Mr Sarr’s enigma than Dr Manneh’s tribal effervescence. Mr Sarr
should sought out with Manneh on the spot but choose to wait until now. A
gallant soldier indeed; I hope not Don Quixote.
More enigmatic is, how one distasteful encounter with an individual
epitomizes the content of his character more so be the default character
of a whole tribe.
I know this encounter with Dr Manneh was contextualized; the topical
issues raised will be discussed by many others inshallah. However I
have to admit, I failed to discern the perspicacity of enumerating the
scars of tribal politics now. What is the benefit? Is it uniting, is it
instructing; or is it virtuous
Also a poignant whiff discernable from Mr Sarr's piece is his
contempt for Suntu Ture. The comments exude arrogance which some times
educated people do have for their peers. People with such intellectual malady
have an inflated image of themselves and often think their intellect
agility hovers over everyone else's’. This is an undesirable trait.
You know sometimes people think they are wise but they are otherwise.
Rasoolullah was reported to have said something like this “anyone in
whose heart there is a modicum pride will not enter paradise”. Allah
buttresses this point in Surah 53:32.” so do not claim purity for selves.
He knows best him who fees Allah and keep his duty to Him”.
In no way I am alleging that Mr Sarr has the trait but incase he has
semblance of such an esoteric predisposition; he must exorcise himself
before it is too late. Imam Ghazalli in his monumental book (ihya
ulum-i-deen), not only promulgated the ills of disputation but also the
qualities one should possess if you want to engage in debate. You must not
be scornful of your opponent, you must not be arrogant, intransigent
and dogmatic; you must not think your ideas are unarguable and thus
refuse to accept the truth because it come from your opponent. Etc:
Tribalism is obnoxious and abominable. No one will enter paradise as
a result of his tribal or racial pigmentation (land, language or
label). Any person whose internal dispensation has strong tribal inclination
(we are all brothers) is likened to saitan because he was the first
racist and also the first tribalist. To him the notion of superiority
should be based on the constitution of a person. That is, he was made from
fire and Adam was made from earth so he was superior. Allah (subhanna
watallah) created everything and accordingly established the criteria
for superiority. Therefore, anyone who claim superiority base on his
tribe is brethren of saitan. We all know what befell saitan even though
he use to be paragon of worship.
I could not end this article without advising every Muslim reader or
any reader for that matter to please read Ibn Kathir tafsir on Surat Al
hujurat. That sura and beginning of sura a-nissa should be a universal
manifesto. May Allah (subhanah wattallat) bless us all and forgive us
our shortcomings.
Thanks
Lamin Darboe. Leicester. UK
¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ |
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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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 18:17:25
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Thanks Santafara for posting Lamin's piece. I also wrote a piece but I decided to drop it because it wouldn't help the situation. I once had a bitter argument with Shankareh during the NADD stalmate. So he would not probably publish it anyway.
As for Sarr, I am the most dissappointed. I think we should start looking at the pictures beaming from kenya and just let this go in the interest of peaceful co-existence.
I personally find this topic very annoying and insulting to every mandingo.
Thanks |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 05 Jan 2008 22:57:02 |
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ebou4th
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jan 2008 : 15:30:31
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| If you guys feel Echo is engaging in censorship why do we patronize them by sending them articles. Gainako prides in non-censorship, we have options. If it is true that Brother Sankareh plays those games he should be call on it. |
“Revolutions are brought about by men, by men who think as men of action and act as men of thought.”
Kwame Nkrumah
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Edited by - ebou4th on 06 Jan 2008 15:31:06 |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jan 2008 : 15:47:58
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Ebou, it is not about censorship as such. Sankareh happens to belong to a political school of taught whose belief is that stirring Mandinkaphobia is the only way of achieving their political goal. If you write some demeanour about mandinkas, He will rush to publication without hesitation. But try to counter that, woooo! that is when he would be hesitant if not reluctant.
If you remember the interview he conducted with Jabel, he even prided himself by taking a photo with him. Jabel accused Ousainu Darboe of tribalism because the latter didn't give him a phone call when he visited America. That is all his crime was. How can any reasonable person consider that news worthy? What about those UDP mandinkas who did not also get that Phone call? Is it possible for Ousainu to give every one a phone call? Does he know every UDP supporter's PhOne number? Is it realistic that he should know every body who supports his party? After all we are talking about the leader of the largest opposition party in the country. This is nonsense. If they want a political fight, let them bring on a decent fight, not a tribal fight. If they choose the former,decent people will surely take them on.
You talked about Gainako, I rather keep my silence than to have my name printed on that grotesque Website.
Thanks
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 06 Jan 2008 16:45:38 |
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ebou4th
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 06 Jan 2008 : 16:32:32
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Thanks Nyari
What I cannot understand for the life of me is the way Gambians in the West act, if we in the west are still stuck on trivial issues like what tribe one belongs to then we are a long way from uniting and working for national development. I did not want to engage in Sam’s debate because it is petty. Gambians deserve a Diaspora that is more sophisticated than the one we have today. About two years after APRC's landslide victory we should be focused on more important issues.
Tribalism is a bankrupt idea that impedes progress, peace, innovation, and it fractures the fabric of society. The best and the brightest in society should lead regardless of what tribal he or she belongs. Each and every one of us should sit with ourselfs and ask this question; Am I willing to back the best candidate for the job regardless of tribe? If and when this happens Gambia will head in the right direction.
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“Revolutions are brought about by men, by men who think as men of action and act as men of thought.”
Kwame Nkrumah
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BornAfrican
United Kingdom
119 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2008 : 16:24:52
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i believe that Sam is right with the issue of tribalism, but having read his article, i think he still hold some grudges himself because he can't let go some of the personal encounters he had with some individuals. one example was how he explained his encounter with Dr. Manneh.
we all have our personal encounters with unenlightened persons because they see us different from themselves based on our color, tribal or religious backgrounds.
once again, i agree with most of his article and i think we should enlighten each other about the disastrous consequences of racism(which tribalism is) so that we can collectively fight against it.
so sam, in your next article, please write in a more generic manner as you did in most of this one. |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2008 : 14:20:00
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The Gambia -The Genesis of Tribal Politics is a good example of a Europhonic mindset. For example, in his response to Suntu Touray the author mentioned what he would not teach his children, he wrote; “They don’t know about those crappy mumbo-jumbo stuffs like the “Domas”, “Buwaas”, “Fangbondis”, and the primitive segregations based on family trade or skill background.” The author shares the perspective of the anthropologists of the 20s and 30´s that our traditional worldview and social structure is PRIMITIVE. The difference is the anthropologists used the notion of Primitivism to strengthen and alleviate the status of their own societies over the rest of the world whiles the author uses it to harm the reputation of his own society and people.
The author threw the baby with the birth water,
i) by manifesting the very tribalism tendencies he intends to resolve
ii) by on the one hand blaming so-called ethnic indifferences on colonialism but on the other hand using it as a positive argument for lack of interest in learning to speak other languages.
Interesting is that the author’s good intention is defected by the inadequacy of knowledge about the formation of political parties. The juxtapositioning of facts makes it difficult to grasp the red thread in the article. The only distinguished characteristic in the article is the magnitude of contradiction.
Is the eradication of elementary political history intentional or unknowing?
The author made no mention of the fact that M C. Cham, M C. Jallow, Andrew Camara were all UP candidates elected under the UP banner and later cross-carpeted to PPP. That Dibba broke away from the People’s Protectorate Party (PPP) when it became the People’s Progressive Party clearly indicate a revisionist rather than a reconciliatory attitude. Dibba did not form NCP because PPP changed name.
The author claims to have grownup in a homogenous community, Serra Kunda but the picture painted in the article is the opposite, heterogeneous, a “melting pot”.
Post colonialism a term used by the author is misleading because it implies a utopia; “Africa after colonialism” but colonialism has not left Africa it rather changed form to Neo colonialism. Hence, the mindset of the political everyday is Europhonic (not Eurocentric or Afrocentric), that is to say; everyday political reality is perceived in colonial and not local languages, the instrument of governance is English/French not local languages.
I fully agree with the author’s intention of the need to discuss and debate issues pertaining to ethnic relations but this call for a mindfulness that does not strengthen ethnic stereotypes. It demands a historical understanding based on reality not wishful thinking, or revisionism.
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Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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mbay
Germany
1007 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2008 : 14:54:25
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ebou4th=
Tribalism is a bankrupt idea that impedes progress, peace, innovation, and it fractures the fabric of society. The best and the brightest in society should lead regardless of what tribal he or she belongs. Each and every one of us should sit with ourselfs and ask this question; Am I willing to back the best candidate for the job regardless of tribe? If and when this happens Gambia will head in the right direction. You said it all!! Who else have something to aid?.
Tribalism is a dangerous in every societies and it exits in every where just it depends how one took it. I am just wondering why some are still denying it including here. Waiting till it comes out like Volcano? That is not good!.
Lucky for us Gambians because we haven't mixed it Before with politics, At least not in the first sight. but i believed that its getting to changed, as we can see in that sense that the voice are getting too loud!
Took it serious brothers and sisters, We are siting at edge of lava field but am afraid for how long? unless we do something about it!.
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2008 : 15:43:05
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| janko ,that was an accurate analysis of the author's mindset. my response will be drop shortly. |
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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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jan 2008 : 18:23:58
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It appears that we haven't seen tribalism operative, institutionalised or not at play in Gambian politics. I promised to expound on Sam Sarr' article and some of the contributions posted so far as time permits.
However would like to taked this opportunity to thank Lamin Darboe, Yalowe amongst others for your personal positions and enlightening us. We have general situations, personal experiences by those who suffered direct confrontations, abused and bullied for tribal reasons, caste and political reasons. Also we have seen certain precedents that unfold over time in Gambian politics, power struggles, priveledges and positions.
Special thanks to Lamin Darboe once again for the food of thoughts on our 'deen'. However the politics is nasty at home. Isn't it
May God forbid it triggers to the level of Kenya's sad situation on which Sam expressed concern. |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jan 2008 : 22:08:23
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guys ,i have sent my reply to sam's rejoinder to the echo but it seems sankareh's paper is too busy for poor old suntou's reply. i took part in the debate to correct sam's misplaced intentions ,i hearby post the reply for others to read my opinion. i quoted some good bits from the bantaba here to give a different dimension to the debate.the reply was posted to the editor of thegambiaecho some days ago.
please read on.
Refocusing Samsideen Sarr
By Suntou Touray
Further to Samsideen Sarr's rejoinder on the topic 'the genesis of tribalism is Gambian politics'', there is compelling reason to track the issue on sharp focus.
Mr Editor E Sankareh, please post this response to our brother, Samsideen Sarr's reply to my earlier rejoinder. For Sam to take my piece as supporting tribalism is a grave error on his part needing correction. I have not and will not subscribe to promoting tribalism. The comment pertaining to problems of tribalism I made was just to highlight that NO ONE CAN ELIMINATE TRIBALISM IN TOTALITY .I advise that each and every one of us must do his/her best to be tolerant and accommodating towards others in our diverse society. Sam did his best to make me look like some ‘mandingocentric’ hell-bent on fanning tribal war. That is unjustified and intellectually dishonest on the part of Sarr.
The wider gains of this topic are for interested Gambians to debate. It is not a response and counter-response between me and Sarr. I have to give credit to Samsideen for providing ample historical side to the topic but in reality all he narrated is available in many written text and the information is widely shared among Gambians.
The warning Sam should consider is not to narrow the issue as personal attack. Sam needs to differentiate where to personalize issues and where not to. This topic is so fundamentally important that making self-promotional remarks will divert readership attention. He could have avoided his usual bigot and self-exhibition. Sam went out of his way to question my person as if the topic is about me or him. The key reason for taking part in this sensitive and important topic is not trade my person but to add the little facts and information available as way flavoring the debate.
I am not Doctor Momodou Manneh. I have never seen him or talked to him. I am not the least connected to him by family. My humble origin is of the Upper River Division URD from the district of Sandu. Doctor Momodou Manneh coming from the North Bank Division is a far stretch. The editor of this paper is informed about my person. Let’s move on from there.
Samsideen Sarr placed himself in an uncomfortable situation. It is now proven that Dr Manneh truly obtained a doctorate degree in a well known American university and the link is here for Sam to check for himself.
Gambians will be terribly disappointed in you Samsideen. You personally attacked Dr Manneh's credibility and truthfulness. You insulted his intellectual integrity beyond all ethical conformity. You raised doubts about his competence and trustworthiness.
It is proven yet again that the comments you made against Dr Manneh with closed eyes and blocked mind are all wrong. What are you going to do Mr Sarr? I took no offence for the fact you questioned my person in me defending Dr Manneh and Dr Saho. I am not new with fellow Gambians on different online forums of debate. We each grow from different experiences. Harbouring hate and malicious grievances is unhealthy. This is the link to Dr manneh's former university in U.S.
http://africanastudies.rutgers.edu/historyrutgers.html .The burden of proof now lies squarely in-front of your very eminent Rtd Lt. Colonel Samsideen Sarr. Those who feel Sam is right then you search the link for yourself.
This is what another Gambian by the name Kay Jatta observed about Sam's comments.
''the author ( Sam) made what seem to me another preposterous claim that "...it was not until the PPP in their quest for independence from the British started to spreading the inaccurate political message that the Wollofs had stolen their country...and kept them under suppression for centuries...". Could the author provide any sources for this giant claim? The author talked about "Wollof hegemony" ? Hello!
Perhaps it will be relevant for the author to understand that the PPP initially represented the rural dwellers which included all the ethnic groups of the Gambia. The author's concept of Wollof seems to be limited to Banjul and Serekunda only.
I am afraid I will have to say that Sam's paper, which other wise could be a good paper, is charged with animosity against Dr's. Manneh and Saho. I do not know about Dr. Saho who is believed to have obtained his doctorate from Germany , but Dr. Manneh's doctorate title I believe is kind of a street tile not of his own making. There used to be rumours that he bought his doctorate certificate in the U.S., but that is never substantiated. Here is a one time incident with Dr. Manneh elevated to the level of tribalism. Perhaps tribalism is in the eyes of the beholder in this case. I have heard someone narrated his encounter with Dr. Saja Taal also, then Parm. Sec. DOSE, who scornfully crawled at him (a Mandingo) 'yen lemalen sibeh' meaning how he hated Mandingos. Funny isn't it ? But these incidents are exceptions rather than the norm in Gambian society.
The author referenced the case of Kenyan conflict to make his point about the Gambia. Well Kenya's case is very important and perhaps generally symptomatic of the broad African tribal dilemma, but we must not simply transpose the Kenyan question on the Gambian socio-political landscape. I have a Kenyan co-worker, a Kikuyu who is very supportive of Kibaki, but another Kenyan of my acquaintance , a Luo who is very angry about the sham election in Kenya even talk about dividing the country. That is how grave the Kenyan situation is, it breaks my heart.
Perhaps one has to understand the forces in the society in order to have some proper perspective of the nature of the conflict in that given society. All societies are divided into race, class, religion, gender, region, etc. There is actually very few homogeneous societies. These societal divisions can either act to neutralise one another or reinforce one another. Where they neutralise one another, peace is usually maintained, but if they reinforce one another then conflict usually result.
In the Gambia for example, our tribal, religious, and economic divisions tends to have neutralised one another, so that our political (and other behaviour) cut across tribe , religion, economic, and other affiliations.No particular group is completely marginalised to the point of feeling angry. This perhaps is the source of our stability. Now in Kenya, this might not be the case. If you look at Kenyan political and economic life since independence, it has arguably been dominated predominantly by the Kikuyus to the almost total exclusion of others. So what might be happening in Kenya is that the economic disparity between the different tribes is reinforcing their ethnic divide thereby creating a conflict we are witnessing today. This is different from what obtain in the Gambia. The Gambia has a tradition of political and economic inclusiveness. I hope Jammeh does not destroy that tradition''.
Thanks.
Kay Jatta and many other Gambians currently debating this topic can be access at this link.
http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5141&whichpage=1
Janko, another contributor on the same forum made this observation:
“The Gambia -The Genesis of Tribal Politics is a good example of a Europhonic mindset. For example, in his response to Suntu Touray the author mentioned what he would not teach his children, he wrote; “They don’t know about those crappy mumbo-jumbo stuffs like the “Domas”, “Buwaas”, “Fangbondis”, and the primitive segregations based on family trade or skill background.” The author shares the perspective of the anthropologists of the 20s and 30´s that our traditional worldview and social structure is PRIMITIVE. The difference is the anthropologists used the notion of Primitivism to strengthen and alleviate the status of their own societies over the rest of the world whiles the author uses it to harm the reputation of his own society and people.
The author threw the baby with the birth water,
i) by manifesting the very tribalism tendencies he intends to resolve
ii) by on the one hand blaming so-called ethnic indifferences on colonialism but on the other hand using it as a positive argument for lack of interest in learning to speak other languages.
Interesting is that the author’s good intention is defected by the inadequacy of knowledge about the formation of political parties. The juxtapositioning of facts makes it difficult to grasp the red thread in the article. The only distinguished characteristic in the article is the magnitude of contradiction.
Is the eradication of elementary political history intentional or unknowing?
The author made no mention of the fact that M C. Cham, M C. Jallow, Andrew Camara were all UP candidates elected under the UP banner and later cross-carpeted to PPP. That Dibba broke away from the People’s Protectorate Party (PPP) when it became the People’s Progressive Party clearly indicate a revisionist rather than a reconciliatory attitude. Dibba did not form NCP because PPP changed name.
The author claims to have grownup in a homogenous community, Serra Kunda but the picture painted in the article is the opposite, heterogeneous, a “melting pot”.
Post colonialism a term used by the author is misleading because it implies a utopia; “Africa after colonialism” but colonialism has not left Africa it rather changed form to Neo colonialism. Hence, the mindset of the political everyday is Europhonic (not Eurocentric or Afrocentric), that is to say; everyday political reality is perceived in colonial and not local languages, the instrument of governance is English/French not local languages.
I fully agree with the author’s intention of the need to discuss and debate issues pertaining to ethnic relations but this call for a mindfulness that does not strengthen ethnic stereotypes. It demands a historical understanding based on reality not wishful thinking, or revisionism.”
I ask you for the sake of peace and mutual co-existence to make an open unconditional apology to the person of Dr Momodou Manneh and Dr Lamin Saho concerning the unethical and disrespectful remarks you made against them with regards to their educational qualifications.
If you are brave enough to do that then we can count you among our brave gallant Gambian soldiers. Retired Lt Colonel Samsideen Sarr former commander of the GNA infantry division is a big rank Sam. For us to adequately believe that you obtained that rank by merit then be a brave soldier and apologise. If not the question marks surrounding your army credential will vindicate many.
This response is not meant to be as wordy and lengthy as yours Sam. I will start a sub-title called:
WE ARE BLESSED.
The Gambia is a blessed social fix and fit. People occupying that tiny strip of land enjoy harmony in diversity. Any one of us can be connected to other tribes. That is a fact. Samsideen being connected to both Serere and Wollof is good proof harmony in diversity. I am connected to Wollof. My great grand father Mbye Touray was a Fana fana speaking Touray. His eldest son Suntou Touray adopted Mandinka as a language. My mum is Fula and now I count myself Mandinka .This is not specific to me alone. Many Gambians can trace their linage into two or more tribes. That is a special blessing we must embrace and promote and not the divisive wedge you labour to drive between us.
Yes we will encounter incidences of minor tribal derogatory remarks but the bigger picture is what should be amplified and promoted. Even the likes of the late PS NJIE was connected to both Jola and Wollof. According to professor Sulayman Nyang PS NJIE's mother is Jola and Father Wollof just like Samsideen Sarr's father is Serere and mum Wollof. Let the Gambia and Gambians look at the great blessing. To mess up with that for the sake of point scoring will lead us into disharmony.
Gambia’s ethnic harmony is further promoted by our diverse artists especially in the music arena. Some of our best known of Wollof musicians have composed and made good songs in Mandingo language to the appreciation a joyful audience. Musa Ngum, Lie Ngum (Abdel Kabirr), Ousou Lion Njie, and many other Wollof musicians served as good examples. Many kora musicians have also play tunes with songs in Wollof .Jaliba Kuyateh a mandinka kora musician composed a song in wollof in honour of prominent wollof lawyer and business tycoon Amadou Samba. What is less ethnic harmony than that? So many good teachers speak Wollof, Fula, Mandingo and other Gambian language. In every Wollof household Domoda (a Mandinka dish made of groundnut butter) is a regular part of the weekly menu. “Benechin” (Wollof fried rice) is part of Gambian national food choice. Such is the value of our national assets in appreciating the vast ethnic harmony Mr Sarr.
You are better off to delineate yourself from this issue. You are Sam Sarr. When you pick up national issues it is most ethical in the basic principles of writings that you differentiate fairly what belongs to the issue. Your personal experience is not a national issue. Extending the issue to your parents and children falls outside the call of this topic.
Individual problems must be dealt with individually. The originator of this topic lambasted Dr Manneh due to a private personal encounter and the citing of some few instances of unpleasant tribal comments .If indeed that was true then Sam should have sorted the matter there and then. It will be very unhealthy to drag that private encounter into a national debate after more than 20 years. The settlement of Banjul alone is a great scenario for us to emulate. Even in Banjul there are other minor ethnic people that have nearly faded away. Some Malian communities of the early days are culturally non-existent. Most of them either adopted Wollof or Aku as a tribe and language group. If they are happy with it so be it.
Sam, do not try to assume the topic you authored. That is a dangerous way of writing. One can associate with your piece but don't make the piece about you and you alone. I pray that the Almighty God forgive the soul of the late Dr Lamin Saho. Long live peace harmony and tolerance in the Gambia and Africa.
The author can be reach by email: Suntou@btinternet.com
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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 |
Edited by - Santanfara on 17 Jan 2008 00:28:09 |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jan 2008 : 11:50:43
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Santanfara!
”Harmony in diversity” is the key word here. I think given the context Ethnicity is more suitable than Tribe.
Thanks for giving this very sensitive topic its right perspective/outlook. “Harmony in Diversity” would not only open our minds but also direct the issue in a positive direction.
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