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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
 Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 10:53:29
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KATCHIKALI; a review:
KAY JATTA
This is a poem by Dr. Lenrie peters ( a man I admire a lot), an internationally acclaimed Gambian surgeon, novelist and poet. This poem is about a sacred crocodile infested pool located in Bakau, the Gambia, West Africa. The pool and its surrounding appear to be a remnant of an earlier ecology. It has some cultural/aesthtic and maybe religious significance to some people, but lately it’s a major tourist attraction. The boom in tourism has resulted in the commercial development and population increase in the city of Bakau where the pool is located. This commercialization and the population pressure have resulted in the rapid destruction of the pool and its environment. This is the reality that the poet tried to capture in this celebrated poem.
This poem, katchikali, is the title poem of a collection of poems (into a book). In this poem, the poet takes the reader to a crocodile pool considered as a shrine by many Gambians. The third and fourth stanzas of the poem illustrate this reverence for the crocodile pool when the poet said:
“the women weight – drowned
towards the farms bend
their kness and say a prayer
Katchikali
Lovers under a fertile moon
Pray for their children
Katchikali” (Peters, L. 1981).
The poet shows great respect for this shrine (a crocodile pool), and laments the Gambia’s neglect of this traditional heritage. The poem opens with perhaps an allusion to nature and human evolution. “…the first men, wandering in darkness…” appears to be a reference to the humble human ancestry. This allusion to the past appears to continue into the second and eight stanzas when the poet stated that “And the crocodiles, of another world …”, and his mention of “fossil”, respectively, Peters L. (1981).
Peters, a scientist and a confessed believer in chemical evolution appears to have invoked his sensitivity to the natural environment and its connection to and interdependence with human beings and other creatures.
The eighth stanza is a reference to the “royalty” (perhaps the environmental significance) of birds that make “…music in the morning”, and “…spill scepters in the evening”, human destruction of the environment as “we wither and crumble …”, and as stated earlier in the seventh stanza “Hide-hunters will not leave the peeve unbroken …”. These clearly illustrate the poet’s sensitivity and incredible awareness of the issues of the environment.
Despite the pool’s popularity with children and tourists, as expressed in the later part of the eighth stanza, it is “Dying in a forgotten ambience”. Peters is lamenting the neglect of the crocodile pool and its delicate ecology due to the “… new cities of the plains”, Peters, L (1981).
The rest of the poem is a lamentation of the flourishing tourist trade, the erection of modern buildings, and the resultant commercialization that leads to the neglect and destruction of katchikali, as in these lines:
“And men strong as Baobabs
Press-ganges to clear you
Dense embraces
The sweat of fear on their facesPlead with every fateful stroke” Peters, L (1981).
However, the poet made it clear that it was not him who destroyed Katchikali, but rather it was these “new people…”, “… those who ignore your mysteries …”, Peters, L. (1981).
In the last stanza, the poet again alludes to the environmental crisis at katchikali as caused by the “seething self-interest and corruption, and the demon of gain …”.But before ending the poem, the poet also prayed for children of his own as captured in these incredible lines:
”Katchikali, Katchikali
Bring me children
That I may show my face
In the village market
I the daughter of despair.
Old men sing songs
When the moon is high
Pray for their crops
And homes though they be warrens”, Peters, L. (1981).Peters appears to be talking about his own private life here. A highly successful professional (surgeon and writer), very wealthy (lives in a large house with gourmet food and wine), yet Peters is unmarried and without children.
I agree with the poet that the recent trend in commercialization around Bakau (The Gambia, West Africa) where the katchikali is located is damaging the pool and its ecology. The boom in tourism and the erection of modern buildings and infrastructure is changing the topography such that the pool is drying out, the trees are cut, and the birds and the crocodiles are disappearing.
I think the poet is very successful and effective in its examination or criticism of technological advancement in a developing country like the Gambia. The poet successfully illustrates the arrival of the “new people” with their technology, the combination of what amounts to “the demon of gain”, those results in the destruction of the environment. The destruction of all that matters to nature and tradition .
As in "Only Connect", by Christina Desser, the interesting or curious point raised appears to be the psychological impact of living in an artificial, technological world devoid of nature and the natural environment. Despite the startling imitation of nature by the Bellagio Las Vegas developers and architects, there is something missing like in the Emperor's mechanical nightingale as narrated by Desser from the 19 century book "Nightingale".
Desser compared the Bellagio, Italy to the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
Peter's poem, Katchikali captures a similar concern.
KATCHIKALI
Lenrie Peters
What magic spells
held the first men,
wandering in darkness
heads bowed to draw
breath, refuge from toil
and say
this is our home
Katchikali
And the crocodiles
of anther world
under you waters
tame as pumpkins
Katchikali
Katchikali, Katchikali
the women weight – drowned
towards the farms bend
their kness and say a prayer
Katchikali
Lovers under a fertile moon
Pray for their children
Katchikali
Hide – hunters will not
Leave the peave unbroken
Katchikali
Katchikali, Katchikali
though birds make their music
in the morning
we do not hear though they spill sceptres
in the evening
we do not see
we wither and crumble
weeds in a torrent
Katchikali
But your wisdom is silent.
we call to you
there are no answers.
We reach out to you
Beyond ineffable darkness
Children of despair
Call out to you katchikaki
Tearing out their virture
They reach out to you katchikali
Dying in a forgotten ambience
Where ships no longer call
Or ploug and hoot in haste
But belch warm welcomes
In the night
Against the quivering gates
Of the new cities of the plain.
And the crocodiles, watchful,
Older than fossile
Which kiss the heels of children
Katchikali
And men strong as Baobabs
Press-ganges to clear you
Dense embraces
The sweat of fear on their faces
Plead with every fateful stroke
“It is not I who destorys you
it is not I Katchikali
but those who would ignore your mysteries”
Katchikali, Katchikali
Bring me children
The I may show my face
In the village market
I the daughter of despair.
Old men sing songs
When the moon is high
Pray for their crops
And homes though they be warrens.
But the new people do not understand will not understand Katchikali
And all the institutions crumble.
As the mud hut crumbles
Withers, all is base
Seething self-interest and corruption
And the demon of gain
In your waters Katchikali.
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Edited by - kayjatta on 03 Feb 2009 11:03:09 |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 15:44:21
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"In this poem, the poet takes the reader to a crocodile pool considered as a shrine by many Gambians." Kay Jatta.
can you validate that comment kay. I thought i am the only mister generalise around.
I have only been to Kachikaly once and at that time the odour there wasn't pleasant. Was it or is it a place of worship or batoo? i never heard of it being a shrine. |
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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Momodou
Denmark
11828 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 21:46:05
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Kay, thanks for the review. The rice fields and gardens that used to surround Katchically are now all turned into habitations. No doubt they are experiencing heavy floods in those compounds during the rainy season nowadays.
Santa, its because you are not from Bakau.  katchikally is known to be a shrine (jalang). It is believed that if a woman is barren she will get a child if she washes with the water from the pool. It is also believed that there is a white crocodile in the pool which comes out on a certain Friday.
http://www.kachikally.com/ |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 22:45:50
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| i knew the Kamaras and Jatta kunda folks still romance the jalang things. new fatwas will be issue soon. i thought Alpha Yahya, Foday Kabba, Kombo Sillah, Amadou Taal has eliminate the Jalang issue. |
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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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 22:53:29
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No Santafara, you are not the only "Mr. generalize" here. take comfort, I am with you here . But frankly katchikali is (was) considered by many as a shrine (jalang) as Momodou also said. In fact the poet's prayer for children that I mentioned above is by all indications a particularization (a projection) of this mystical believe of (many) others.
Thank you Momodou and thanks Santa. |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2009 : 12:08:37
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quote:
Originally posted by kayjatta
No Santafara, you are not the only "Mr. generalize" here. take comfort, I am with you here . But frankly katchikali is (was) considered by many as a shrine (jalang) as Momodou also said. In fact the poet's prayer for children that I mentioned above is by all indications a particularization (a projection) of this mystical believe of (many) others.
Thank you Momodou and thanks Santa.
Almamy muritiren, you have thrown the towel kay. As momodou, said, i use to visit Bakau, i know the town to be very old fashion mandinka settlement. The style of housing is very similar with Sukuta and Brikama old town. Litraly, you find yourself in people's homes without realising it. In Sukuta it is even more interesting. From one home to another, no boundary. That is very unsual for us from deep in the Bolonba. We have Lansancewu (corn fire fense) and wood pillers dividng homes. And the space between homes are also very wide. In Kabakanma, another intersting town, the greenery and the home layout is also mytical. This are good areas of anthropological study. folks need to write factual stories about this settlements and make it fond to read. the settelements are now becoming modern day by day.
But Jalang business is still around in some Camara kunda kabilos. trust me, me know so. I hope run away almamo kay can do a bayan (talk) on it, hope mansasulu watch out for the Darwin influence in kay's sermons. |
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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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2009 : 12:13:35
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| I am just a "step-aside" Almamo, Santafara. I will be back! |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2009 : 22:36:35
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that is promising, the second coming. bantaba will eagerly await that coronation. back to where you belong.
yirikunto si mee bakono nya woo nya woo bukake bamboti. aaah. or mining mining tafal tafal, lolebe laban naa. no no, ninyee inya keko baajulu sabala nyaa, ibebajulo duna ibulu leeh.
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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 |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2009 : 06:45:04
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| Okay, you got it! |
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kiwi
Sweden
662 Posts |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2009 : 19:09:50
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| True kiwi. i never like peculiar places. the whole story surrounding it is spooky. |
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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kiwi
Sweden
662 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2009 : 23:38:04
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Hey! It must be Momodou who put in the video, isn´t it Also I have touched the animals. I did as I was told by the staff, stepped down the ladder, walked among the animals and petted one of them. By mistake I put my foot on his forefoot and a bit scared jumped away. The animal didn´t move, just stared at me with his left eye. |
kiwi |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2009 : 02:53:23
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Having touched Charlie twice in 1992 and 1996. It was good to see the video. Katchikali holds some fond memories. I was told by two women in 1992 at the pool.That I would have a son and I had my two sons after visiting the pool who are now 16 and 14 years. Charlie skin was smoother than I thought it would be. But before I touched him I made two Guides touch him first.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2009 : 17:39:21
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Santafara,
you can read more about Katchikally online, it now has an excellent museum that takes you through life in Bakau , history of Bakau and the culture of the people of Kombo as well as Bakau-rians that serve in WWII/Burma.
http://www.kachikally.com/
i hope the other two sites can also be online sometime soon. |
Edited by - njucks on 21 Feb 2009 17:48:46 |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2009 : 22:25:35
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| Thanks njucks. I hope, the site help folks like myself know the Bakau history more. |
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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