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tamsier
United Kingdom
556 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Nov 2009 : 14:28:37
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Contrary to popular believe, I do not dislike the entire Senegambian Muslim establishment or hate Senegambian Muslims as I have been accused of over the years. However, this is not a motif for writing a brief dedication to this great man [Tafsir Demba Jange Mbaye]. I was speaking to a Gambian Muslim friend of mine yesterday about the renaming of Banjul Streets and Tafsir Demba's name came up. Unfortunately, although he had heard of the name, he knew nothing about this man, and this is the reason for writing a brief account of Tafsir Demba.
Tafsir Demba Jange Mbaye was born in 1879. His middle name 'Jange' is actually the surname of his mother, because people in those days used to add their mother's name or surname as part of their names. This is called 'Tagantal' in Wolof. As people got lazy to say his full name, they just referred to him as Tafsir Demba Jange, but his full name is Tafsir Demba Jange Mbaye.
Tafsir Demba was both a peace keeper and mediator between the state [under British rule] and citizens regardless of tribe or religion and it is under this circumstance I write a brief account of his life. He was a land owner and spent most of his time at his residence at Angleson St, the house he would pass on to his son Makew Mbaye, who in turn kept it until his own death.
Tafsir Demba attended Quranic School at Dara Sering Biran Jeng [the grandfather of Babou Jeng - former trader and storekeeper at GPMB rice store in Banjul] at Chamene Kerr Gumak - Dobson Street.
After his studies, he later requested the support of Alhaji Waka Bah in order to further his Islamic studies. He also later visited two reknowned scholars at his time: Bai Mass Kah of Medina {Senegal} and Sheickh Alhaji Malick Sey of Tivaouane. The purpose of his meeting with Bai Mass Kah in particular was to ascertain his authenticity on his role in Islamic studies and to receive his certification as a leading member of the Tarikhatul Tijania. After spending some time with Bai Mass, he was advised to proceed to Alhaji Malick in Tivaoune [Senegal].
After and before his travels, he ran classes in Islamic studies for adult muslims in Banjul [then Bathurst]. In those days, the time table for Islamic studies included the: Quran; Laxdariy and Risala. Among his first graduates was his nephew the late Imam Alahji Babou Samba [1910 - 1999]. The father of Alhaji Babou [Tafsir Ebrima Samba commonly known as Tafsir Ebou Samba - another great Senegambian historical figure] is first cousin of Tafsir Demba. Tafsir Demba's mother and the mother of Tafsir Ebrima Samba [Sira Bofie Jange] are blood relatives, and as such, these two historical figures share the same maternal clan ['Meen' in Wolof or 'Tim' in Serere]. Tafsir Ebrima Samba was of course much older than his first cousin [Tafsir Demba] and Tafsir Demba of course referred to him as his older brother.
After the appointment of Momadou Marie Njie [also known as Momodou Njie Marie] as Imam of Banjul, The Council of Muslim Elders appointed the young Tafsir Demba Mbaye to serve as his Bilal in 1895. From 1895 to 1953, he served as Bilal and mentor to the following Imams of Banjul: Momadou Marie Njie [died 1922]; Mama Tumani Bah; Alahaji Waka Bah [Imam 1922 - 1923] and Omar Sow [1923 - 1937].
The Street that bear his name in Tobacco Road [Banjul] is in honour of this man.
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Tamsier
Serere heritage. Serere religion. Serere to the end.
Roog a fa ha. |
Edited by - tamsier on 01 Nov 2009 23:16:32 |
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gainde
Sweden
117 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2009 : 22:11:33
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Thanks a lot for sharing, Tamsier. You are such a resource here and please keep enlightening us. Just to add that Alh Mansour Njie has done an episode on Tafsir Demba Mbye and its on our oral history page(www.onegambia.com/orahist.php)
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tamsier
United Kingdom
556 Posts |
Posted - 01 Nov 2009 : 22:21:46
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Oh thank you so much for your link gainde. Please keep posting. Fantastic. It is wonderful certain historical figures like Tafsir Demba are accorded the honour they deserve. In a few days time I will also dedicate a topic to his first cousin Tafsir Ebou Samba. Before then if you have any post of him please do us the honour as usual.
Thanks you. |
Tamsier
Serere heritage. Serere religion. Serere to the end.
Roog a fa ha. |
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gainde
Sweden
117 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2009 : 16:11:41
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Thanks in advance for the post on Tafsir Ebou Samba and it would be a pleasure to read soon. Unfortunately, I do not have any audio or video of him as yet but I am expecting some videos from grts and will see if there will be any on him.
quote:
Originally posted by tamsier
Oh thank you so much for your link gainde. Please keep posting. Fantastic. It is wonderful certain historical figures like Tafsir Demba are accorded the honour they deserve. In a few days time I will also dedicate a topic to his first cousin Tafsir Ebou Samba. Before then if you have any post of him please do us the honour as usual.
Thanks you.
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2009 : 18:22:08
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Gainde, i did listen to the narration of Demba Mbye's legacy by the versatile Alh. Mansour. As of Tasmier, his fixation is the disrespect and anger he habour towards Muslims because some among us did somethings he hate and dislike. You cannot insult the whole village and exempt the Alkalo Tamsier.
There is no problem that we diagree with one another. But when you generalise and categorise a whole community expecting them to be silent, there you are day dreaming.
Continue your research on Islam, but respect the diverse community and leave the bigotry to the cronic prejudices who will always search for unpalatable wordings against Muslims and Islam.
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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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tamsier
United Kingdom
556 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2009 : 20:16:55
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Sananfara,
Whatever you think of me, I would have expected you of all people would not voice it under this topic. Open a new topic and insult me til the cows come home if you want, but I would have never expected you to use such tone under this topic. If you have something positive to contribute here, please go ahead, I'm sure it would be immensely welcomed. If on the other hand you just want to insult me, please open a new topic. I will not go further than that because I don't want this topic to come off course. |
Tamsier
Serere heritage. Serere religion. Serere to the end.
Roog a fa ha. |
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dembis
Sweden
71 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2009 : 21:15:00
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| Tam keep going i know you can tell us more. Tafsir demba is my greatgrand father and my grandma told me exactly like you said. Is good to know that some people have the same believe like you. |
dembis |
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Momodou
Denmark
11641 Posts |
Posted - 02 Nov 2009 : 21:22:43
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Tamsier, thanks for sharing this piece of history with us. Thanks for the historical audios Tom (Gainde), they are very much appreciated. Keep up the good work. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2009 : 12:27:07
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quote:
Originally posted by tamsier
Sananfara,
Whatever you think of me, I would have expected you of all people would not voice it under this topic. Open a new topic and insult me til the cows come home if you want, but I would have never expected you to use such tone under this topic. If you have something positive to contribute here, please go ahead, I'm sure it would be immensely welcomed. If on the other hand you just want to insult me, please open a new topic. I will not go further than that because I don't want this topic to come off course.
Tamsier, it was you who open your conversation by trying to disquise your comtempt of Muslims. There are thousand of Tamsier Demba Mbye in the Gambia. You just happen to shut your eyes and inflict in your heart the daring task of continually insulting a whole community.
It is not my fault that you came across the good man Tamsier Demba Mbye.
If you comment on historical matters in the correct context, folks will happily accept it, but when you blindly and deliberately relay an errorneously history that too will be condem. I am not insulting you, just stating the obvious. Not too long ago, you insult the rest of us because some Arab is said to be involve in slave issue, and that became the fault of every Muslim. How do you expect us to isolate that with your coming under this topic to say 'some think i hate muslims'.. you cannot use trickery to hide. |
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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tamsier
United Kingdom
556 Posts |
Posted - 03 Nov 2009 : 18:29:54
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| Thanks Momodou and Dembis. Dembis you come from good stock. I know your family very well. My parents were the guardians of the great grand daughter of Tafsir Demba. After she finished her schooling, she went back to Banjul to start a family where her mum was based[grand dauthter of Tafsir Demba] - who sadly passed away few years ago. I used to refer to her as aunty. Your family and my family go way back even long before Tafsir Demba Mbaye himself. In my uncle's house, he has lots pictures of Tafsir Demba and my family. However, my favourite picture of his is the oldest one with his ceremonial looking gown. That picture is so old and fragile my uncle would let no one touch it. I tried to get it from him and restore it then get a copy but convincing my uncle is like convincing a wall. |
Tamsier
Serere heritage. Serere religion. Serere to the end.
Roog a fa ha. |
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