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Momodou
Denmark
11738 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Apr 2010 : 20:38:36
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Foroyaa Burning Issues : Halifa Sallah’s Book Launch to Mark the Birth Of The Republic on 24 April 1970
By Publisher on 23-04-10
Foroyaa: What is the significance of 24th April?
Halifa: This is the date in 1970 when the Gambia became a Sovereign Republic. As of that day, no authority is legitimate which fails to derive its powers from the consent of the people and no authority is genuine unless it utilises its powers to enhance the liberty, dignity and prosperity of the people.
Foroyaa: Could you go into the details of your book
Halifa: I will do so after its launching on Sunday 25th April 2008 2010 at the Paradise Suites at 5:15 PM. Cultural activities to promote the values of the Republic and the Sovereignty of the people will be held on the same day and venue from 12 midday to 5 PM.
Foroyaa: Who could attend the programme?
Halifa: Everyone is invited.
Foroyaa: Will the Launching of Two books be possible in one day?
Halifa: It has been finally agreed by the organisers that we have two separate launching. Hence, the “Road to Self Determination and Independence” is to be launched on Sunday in Commemoration of Republican Day.
“The Juridical Foundation of the Republic (Past, Present and Future)” will be launched on May 25th in commemoration of Africa Liberation Day.
Foroyaa: You would not give us a hint?
Halifa: What I could say is that it answers all the questions one could ask about the evolution of the Gambian state and people. The book has delineated the facts and fiction of Gambian history. The most I could say is to offer to re-purchase any copy that a buyer wishes to sell back to me after reading it. I sincerely hold that no one would be willing to part with the book after reading a copy.
Foroyaa: What motivated you to write this book?
Halifa: At the back cover I wrote:
‘The writing of the book is motivated by the realisation that a people cannot shape its future unless it understands its past. Each generation has a duty to bequeath a future to its descendants, which is better than the past it has inherited or the present it has managed to construct. This can only be done by giving the young the clarity of vision necessary to enable them to build a future of prosperity in liberty
If this book helps the reader to have a thorough understanding of the past and a clear perception of what the future holds and how each could contribute, to shape a common destiny, to address their needs and aspirations, then the purpose for which it was written is served. I hope this is sufficient information.
The End.’
Source: Foroyaa Online
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 23 Apr 2010 : 20:46:35
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Oh yee! the Ayatollah is launching a fatwa on sunday. What an exciting day it shall be for his disciples. I wonder how many times will the verse ''the sovereignty of the people'' be recited.
Kind regards |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 25 Apr 2010 10:57:50 |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 23 Apr 2010 : 21:00:53
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"Sunday 25th April 2008"
Almost 2 year ago, where can one get a copy. |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 23 Apr 2010 : 21:06:29
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Janko, wobuladeh! Morro bukasonwola.
abaraka |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2010 : 01:50:18
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Nyarikangbanna, ining baara
Well, it was a "typo"
Thanks, Momodou |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 25 Apr 2010 : 10:32:07
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Janko, you are right. However, the problem may have been compounded by too much excitement on the part of the Ayatollah's disciples in the clerical department. It is like 'Gamo day' for them. No wonder the Ayatollah himself is using all the hypes to market his fatwa. Make sure you don't get tricked into buying it for you will regret it. It is the same old rhymes; 'sovereignty of the people' 'sovereignty of the people' peppered by intellectual arrogance.
Soon one of the Ayatollah's insulate, retard and fanatic disciples will jump in here for my head. You just watch.
Kind regards
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 25 Apr 2010 10:36:28 |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2010 : 08:29:28
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"'sovereignty of the people' 'sovereignty of the people'" is a nice and a noble mantra. UDP has no such mantra. For all of these years, UDP has remained restorationist and sectarian, without any clear-cut ideology or policy alternative to the past.
We, therefore, challenge UDP to produce its version of history. Mr. Sallah has written two authoritative books on Gamban and African political history. I think it was Henry David Thoureau who said that "if a man can write a better book, or preach a better sermon than his neighbor, even if he build his house in the woods; the world will make a beaten path to his door". Whether his critics like it or not, The Gambian political history will never be complete without a chapter on Halifa and his contribution...
Janko go get Halifa's book and read it for your own enlightenment. You may not agree with everything he says and stands for, you do not have to, but... |
Edited by - kayjatta on 26 Apr 2010 10:46:40 |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2010 : 14:06:44
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Janko, what did I tell you? Somebody have just vindicated me. I suppose the temptation generated by 'Suratul Sovereignty of the people' has become irresistable.
By the way, we do not need any more history writer on Gambian politics. Barkeley Rice and more recently His Excellency Alhagi Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, in his book Kairaba, have done it for us all. These are the people who not only lived the history but also worked the history. You can't get a more authoritative authors than these gentlemen.
Kind regards |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 26 Apr 2010 14:19:52 |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2010 : 15:54:18
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Nyarikangbanna, your prophecy is on the kodooh , the surah seem overpowering
Kay, I’ll take your advice and let be enlightened on the difference(s) between
“Road to Self Determination and Independence” and
“The Juridical Foundation of the Republic (Past, Present and Future)” even whereas it would be hard to beat Kairaba´s relevance and responsibility to the country
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Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
Edited by - Janko on 26 Apr 2010 15:55:37 |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2010 : 16:40:27
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Nyari and Janko, I have earlier said in my brief 'preview' of 'Kairaba' that the events in the book are "...better assessed by third party scholars". What I meant by this is that in as much as we celebrate Sir dawda's book 'kairaba', we cannot ignore the fact that it is an autobiography and as such it cannot be immune to the subjective (biased)recollection, analysis, and interpretation of events covered generally characteristic of such autobiographies.
However, Sir Dawda did a good a job and I must not use this occasion to focus unduely on his book and legacy...
Furthermore, Sir Dawda's 'Kairaba' cannot be used to fill in for UDP's void. UDP still needs to detach itself from the "First Republic" and learn to walk on its own with its own policies and vision for the future distinct from the past. UDP needs to rid itself of that "Big Party syndrome", stop antagonizing a great citizen like Halifa Sallah, and focus on genuine ways to coalesce with other smaller but equally important partners to put the country on a sound footing toward democracy and rule of law. UDP cannot do it alone, the Gambia is no longer divided between the protectorate and the colony and politically speaking there is no longer any "Mandingo majority" that Sir Dawda and the PPP enjoyed for decades. |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2010 : 18:38:51
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I have crossed-checked Sir Dawda's account with that of Berkeley Rice, an American author who visited Gambia in the mid 1960s, [he witnessed the declaration of independence in 1965]spent time there and researched the issues when they were fresh in memories. Some of them in fact, unfolded under his own eye, and his accounts are compatible with Jawara's. That therefore lends a great deal of credibility and authority to Jawara's book 'Kairaba'. I have read Mr Rice's book and just about to finish Jawara's. Rice's book features interviews he had with all the major political players at the time including PS Njai, Jahumpa, Faye etc, and had travelled from Bathurst[Banjul] to as far as beyond Basse. He particularly liked Mc Cham and wrote a lot about his radical politics as a young opposition member of parliament.
If we are looking for an indepedant author on the histroy of Gambian Politics, I think that is better found in Berkeley Rice than Ayatollah Sallah. Ayatollah Sallah's account cannot be considerd independant or authoritative as it is more likely to be influenced by his total dismissal of Jawara legacy and the obsession on his part to portray himself as Mr Know All.
For your information Janko, I have asked a friend to take note of the number of times Suratul Sovereignty of the people was recited yesterday but he hasn't come back to me yet. I hope he won't dissappoint me for I will be gutted not to be able to supply you with that info.
Kind regards |
I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 26 Apr 2010 19:07:51 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 26 Apr 2010 : 21:34:31
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Foroyaa online news National News : Halifa Sallah Launches ‘The Road to Self Determination and Independence’ under http://www.foroyaa.gm/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4745
Foroyaa online news Editorial : THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF REPUBLICAN DAY AND FEMI PETERS under http://www.foroyaa.gm/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4747
WE ARE ALL IN THIS! FOR SOVEREIGN CITIZENS & SOVEREIGNTY OF THE INDIVIDUAL GAMBIAN REFER TO QUOTES BELOW;
"..............that no law is constitutional which contradicts the sovereignty of the Gambian person and hinders the exercise of their freedom of association and freedom of expression."
"As we reflect on our rights and duties as sovereign citizens of the country on this 40 th Anniversary of the Republic, our minds and hearts went back to the reasons why Femi Peters was arrested and eventually incarcerated."
"We expected that Femi would be released on the 40 anniversary of the Republic. This has not happened. It is therefore important to remind those in authority of the need to review Femi’s case, set aside his conviction and facilitate his release. This will augur well with all those who cherish freedom and the sovereignty of the individual Gambian. " Foroyaa editorial/news |
Edited by - kobo on 26 Apr 2010 22:18:04 |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2010 : 09:17:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Janko
Nyarikangbanna, your prophecy is on the kodooh, the surah seem overpowering
Kay, I’ll take your advice and let be enlightened on the difference(s) between
“Road to Self Determination and Independence” and
“The Juridical Foundation of the Republic (Past, Present and Future)” even whereas it would be hard to beat Kairaba´s relevance and responsibility to the country
Thanks Janko for choosing the path of enlightenment. Progressive minds must not be preoccupied with grudges and petty jealousy. The Gambian history is a living history and cannot end with Berkeley Rice or 'Kairaba', which nonetheless are important contributions to the understanding of Gambian political history. A comprehensive understanding of Gambian history requires cross referencing different authorities, and I am sure Halifa's book will offer you a complementary, if not an alternative, assessment of Gambian history; perhaps from the unique perspective of a sociologist and a politician. |
Edited by - kayjatta on 27 Apr 2010 09:18:31 |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
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Nyarikangbanna
United Kingdom
1382 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2010 : 19:33:36
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quote:
Originally posted by kayjatta
, and I am sure Halifa's book will offer you a complementary, if not an alternative, assessment of Gambian history; perhaps from the unique perspective of a sociologist and a politician.
I am afraid it didn't. It merely took me back to Gambia High School where I learnt all the stuff he talked about. Nothing complimentary; nothing alternative.
The truth is, this book has fallen short of expectations and does not worth a place in the library shelves. It certainly did not measure up to the standard of His Excellency D.K Jawara's 'Kairaba' or Berkeley Rice's 'The birth of an improbable nation’. Even Dawda Faal's [a former history teacher at Muslim High School] history lecture pamphlets are more intriguing than this.
Kind regards
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I do not oppose unity but I oppose dumb union. |
Edited by - Nyarikangbanna on 27 Apr 2010 19:36:47 |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 27 Apr 2010 : 23:29:48
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Kay
“…"if a man can write a better book, or preach a better sermon than his neighbor, even if he build his house in the woods; the world will make a beaten path to his door"…”
I like that, because it puts emphasis on “a better book” being more relevant, not the location of the house. It matters from which position and or purpose a book is written. Hence, knowledge in chemistry for example, is found in books on the subject and if one is to choose between two books on the subject, one would most likely choose the one written by a practitioner that has concrete experience from the field and not one without illustrations.
Interestingly, as you said, history itself is not objective. Therefore every book is a contribution to the bits and pieces that make it. But what makes a particular book better or relevant is the content and that it produces new knowledge, new perspective, new information and not a replication. For example a book on Christianity is not a replication of the bible.
Nyarikangbanna
Am waiting for the latest on “Suratul Sovereignty of the people”
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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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