I have just seen DUGA’s open letter to Youssou Ndour (my hero too for his anti-Apartheid activism – he did the Anthem “BIKO” with Peter Gabriel).
With great respect to DUGA, and other Diaspora Gambians who have been criticising Senegalese musicians and even Macky Sall himself, people who are fighting for freedom must bear one thing in mind: FREE PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE, AND WILL NOT ACCEPT, BEING BULLIED.
Once DUGA had engaged in that high profile fight in Dakar with a Senegalese musician, they lost the power to PERSUADE. Youssou Ndour may become the President of Senegal after Macky Sall. Youssou Ndour is one of the most influential Senegalese, and Africans, on the world stage. What do DUGA, and Diaspora Gambians, hope to gain by alienating him? The answer lies in what Hello Gambia gained when they cornered and humiliated President Macky Sall in New York. Macky Sall went home and deported Hello Gambia’s darling Kukoi Sanyang to Mali and banned Diaspora Gambians from using Senegal as a base to oppose Jammeh (prior to the humiliation of Macky Sall by the Hello Gambia proprietor, Jammeh’s opponents were receiving almost diplomatic status in Dakar – remember the guy who set up a Transitional Government there?)
DUGA’s arguments against Youssou Ndour miss the point. How can DUGA compare Youssou Ndour’s stance against the Iraq War and Apartheid in South Africa to the problems of The Gambia under Yahya Jammeh?
This is what DUGA say:
“Gambia may not have declared war on another nation and the streets may not be littered with bodies, but it must be pointed out that Gambians are not living in peace. Everyday citizens, journalists, politicians, the young and old are subjected to judicial harassment, torture, violence, humiliation, extended detention without trial. Many Gambians are forced into exile for fear of being assassinated”.
If that is the basis upon which DUGA want to prevent Youssou Ndour from going to The Gambia, then they are living in fantasy. The fact of the matter is that for 20 years Gambian has been a PEACEFUL country. For those not involved in politics or journalism in The Gambia, it is by and large a problem free country. It is not for me or for DUGA, but that is because we are political campaigners and journalists. 100,000 tourists went to The Gambia this winter and for them it is a peaceful country. Many Brits have homes in The Gambia and live there without getting involved in politics or journalism and for them it is a peaceful country. There is a high-powered EU delegation in Banjul this week meeting with President Jammeh, and they will agree with DUGA that “ … citizens, journalists, politicians, the young and old are subjected to judicial harassment, torture, violence, humiliation, extended detention without trial. Many Gambians are forced into exile for fear of being assassinated”. NEVERTHELESS, the EU delegation too will conclude that The Gambia remains a peaceful country in a tragically war-torn continent.
Bullying Youssou Ndour and other Senegalese musicians visiting The Gambia is completely counter-productive and a waste of time. Such bullying will simply make President Macky Sall, Youssou Ndour and other Senegalese take a dim view of DUGA and Diaspora Gambian activists. That is not to say that the Senegalese do not see what is going on in The Gambia. They are incredibly intelligent and well-educated people and they do. The Senegalese reaction to the goings on along the River Banks that run through their country is, most of the times, simply a shake of the head and comments to the effect that “Jammeh is lucky he doesn’t have the Senegalese as his citizens”! To which Jammeh will probably nod his head and say “Alhamdullilah”.
I suggest DUGA and Gambian Diasporan activists find something more productive than attempting to bully Senegalese citizens – such as finding out why Gambians are so peaceful! (unless they are in the Diaspora!).
Dida Jallow-Halake
London, UK.
I rarely agree with you but this time you hit the nail on the head. I am really confused by this many stories by this many low level so called journalists and freedom fighters. I am not a jammeh supporter but I also do not like people putting down the gambia and her people every time. it is very childish to try to block musicians entertaining Gambians. there are so many good things happening in the gambia carried out by citizens. why can’t we talk about that too sometimes?
Albert Einstein, On Peace…
“Peace is not merely the absence of war but the presence of justice, of law, of order —in short, of government.”
Hi Dida,
Though you have a right to assert your feelings about the struggle in The Gambia, you really have missed the point. Did you assert that it was okay for Youssou Ndour to speak against apartheid in South African, but Gambians cannot dissuade Youssou Ndour and other Senegalese artists from contracting with the dictatorship in The Gambia?
Can you clarify your comments? I hope you also meditate on the plight of your countrymen and women in Somalia.
V/R
I hear through the grapevine, Dr Conteh, that you are an ACCOUNTANT and so humbly apologise for my previous response!
So you think you put up a good argument? Dida, DUGA has every right to plead with yousu who is also a politician to understand that entertaining Gambians by signing contracts with government agencies will help the rogue regime in the Gambia. You never supported people who criticise Jammeh anyway. The letter was polite and did not disrespect the musician. Grow up man Dida.
Dr Lamine Jassey Conteh,
I am at this very moment totally consumed by the Pisstorious Trial Cross-Examination (by the amazing Prosecutor Nel) from South Africa. Your above request for “clarification” sounds a bit like Pissto’s responses to Nel: ” Mr Pistorius’ attempt to go head-to-head in a pedantic legal argument with prosecutor Gerrie Nel was like watching a cocky schoolboy trying to score points off a university professor”. That will be my answer to you – although I am pretty amused by your Somalia bit and just for a moment tempted to engage in your “school-boy scoring”. I’ll go back to the Trial in South Africa now, if you don’t mind.
Guys: Print this, frame it and hang it on your wall for future reference, reverence and awe!
Message to The Gambia – Maafanta.com 12 April 2014
By Ebrima Kinteh
Our politics in The Gambia starting from the birth of the Republic has never been ‘One Man One Vote’. Rather, ours is One Tribe One Vote. Our first President, with all due respect for his democratic principles, came to power because of a tribal majority. A deliberately handpicked President for the Mandinkas and who had scant knowledge or experience in the anti-colonial struggle. His selection was a move spearheaded by Sanjali Bojang, who though illiterate, had the institutive sense that political power lies with the protectorate majority. With the extension of the voting franchise from the colony to the protectorate at the last minute and Jawara’s subsequent election, the British had skillfully neutralized the virulent and well educated groups of dissenters at the time, almost all from the colony. I speak of the likes of P.S.Njie, Reverend J.C. Fye, Garba Jahumpa, e.t.c… By extending the voting franchise to cover both colony and the protectorate as they packed their bags to leave, the British created and abrupt about turn in the political leverage of the time. Since then, politically, the country has been on a downslide since. A deliberate sabotage from the departing colonial powers. Consider the fact that for most of the other African countries, it was this vanguard anti-colonial cadre which went on to guide their countries into independence. For us it was a handpicked cow doctor from the protectorate majority that ushered us into independence. His docility endeared him to the former colonial powers and thus the coveted title of “Sir Dawda”. All the new state institutions that were supposed to bring us out of poverty were looted by a cabal he had little control over. So the dominant paradigm in this our model of democracy is that the tribal majority takes the vote. Again, ‘One Tribe, One Vote’. Let the truth be acknowledged if we are to go forward.
As a Christian at the time, Jawara had to switch and become a Muslim to prepare him for the new role, and so had to divorce his Christian wife (who went crazy and never regained her mental balance). He took on a Muslim name-Dawda Jawara. Jawara was handpicked and groomed for the job by Sanjali Bojang and group. Jawara knew little of the dynamics of the anti-colonial struggle. It was the likes of men like the Reverend J C Fye, Garba Jahumpa, and P.S. Njie. And others who fought for the freedom of their people from colonialism who should have led, where one would have gradually brought the protectorate into the mainfold, were the first elections would have been limited to the colony.
You see, you so called on-line and off- line wannabe Gambian Journalists, unless the truth is told, there shall no clear path to our true freedom and liberation. To free ourselves from the past, we must acknowledge these facts within ourselves and take tangible steps to rectify them, perhaps through a ‘truth and reconciliation’ methodology.
Fellow Gambians, it is time to stop running away from looking directly into ourselves and adjust to the fact that our bad side in both our politics and our lifestyle is the cause of our misery and not a sole dictator. Yaya Jammeh is able to do what he is doing to us because we collectively allow that to continue. We must face ourselves, and ask, what do we continue to do wrong to warrant a dictator, and indeed many others currently in the making and on line for wanting to be President?
Let us take as an example of our dysfunctional selves, the case of our president. Let’s examine the social tastes of our President, Jallow Kanilai as he is called. He is only exercising the persona of a typical illiterate yet successful Gambian. The quest for the so called successful Gambian is a superiority in the conquest of women, with the “lighter the berry the sweeter the juice” adage. Chasing women whilst idling away the time in dark, and dingy “Dacas” with all their monies worth, leaving their wives and children unattended at home. One is always surprised at the caliber of high ranking government workers an successful businessmen you find in these “dacas” Are they doing anything to move the nation forward, or for that matter their own positive advancement?
Our social meetings are not to plan on what to do with the state of our nation or how to assist in self-help projects for the poor or dispossessed. Rather it is to gossip on each other’s downfall. Who has recently lost his job, whose wife is going out with who? In fact men and women alike engage in this useless and time consuming banter.
So if the President choses to reflect the same tastes for what most of us in the elite community aspire to, and has the money to go even further than ourselves, we should not be envious of him. Yes, it is envy driving much of the criticism, for if they had the opportunity to be President, they would do the same.
Now let us get to one of our most basic problems:
DISLIKE OF INTELLIGENCE AND OF ACHIEVERS
The Gambian psyche is limited to the smallness of the country. The nation of The Gambia is an aberration, a miniscule enclave sandwiched within Senegal, dominated by an ethnic majority that was never part of the battle for independence during the anti-colonial struggle.
An artist, poet or engineer cannot rise to his or her greatest achievement among our midst. How many geniuses have we rendered crazy, or be the cause of their premature death? The list is too long to state here. Let us take these examples: How many of you heard of the demise of PET DARBOE?, or how about the cases of Comrade Sillah, The Super Eagles (Ifangbondi)? Do we remember how the late Paps Touray was being wheeled from Ministry to Ministry by Senemi, both literally begging for alms? Was our conscience taken back with the sad and ignoble death of Pap’s Touray?
Take the case of Samba Batch Faye, a brilliant scientist who could have become our Cheik Anta Diop. Do any of you remember his demise” Think of the many highly intelligent Gambians who were brought to their untimely end by our very selves, sometimes even from the inner family. Now in contrast just look at how Senegal treats her brainy ones. Unless it is something hidden in the inner recesses of their soul, or maybe because the country is big, the Senegalese acknowledges and praises talent and genius. One can grow and prosper in Senegal if you happen to be endowed with grey matter.
In The Gambia ignorance, both culturally and education wise inhibits societal growth, and spun excessive egotism, wanton greed, self-hatred. Stories are told of “walius” learned Koranic men who fled The Gambia, and in their anger and disgust left an enteral curse on our people because of the way they were treated. Some of our greatest minds, the likes of Cheik Omar Fye left the Gambia in utter disgust, disowning themselves from what they saw as a people swimming in a sea of hypocrisy, greed, jealousy, hatred –just about all the things that the holy books forbid us to do. That fact therefore that the Muslim elders are shamefully kowtowing to the dictates of our President Dictator should come as no surprise. The fact that the Catholic Church has been also mute on all the extrajudicial killings etc. should also not come as a surprise.
It is very disheartening to see our on-line journalists go for cheap sensationalism and, in a way, aiding and abetting in this vicious cycle of enmity, vengeance, and self- mutilation, encouraging this hiding behind the curtains to throw stones at each other. Yes going after our dictator Jallow Kanilai is a good thing, and I agree, he must be removed at all cost. But this must be done democratically. Yet, the salacious and twisted manner in which the news is dished out to the ever hungry diaspora Gambians, practicing the old age custom of self-deprecation, and self-mutilation does not advance anything meaningful or positive in our social and political life. Now, out of utter frustration in coming to realize that it will not be an easy matter removing the President, some of these same on-line papers are openly touting for a violent overthrow, and beckoning for ex-soldiers to undertake an armed struggle. I mean is this a case of severe amnesia?
Pa Nderi, you are a very able journalist. We have seen you grown and fully mature in your profession. We have seen you have a better command of the English language as time has progressed. Yet, your entertainment of ex-soldiers wanting to overthrow the government makes me wonder whether you have had a memory lapse. Wasn’t it the same thing we just went through with “soldiers with a difference” Isn’t its quite likely that in the event of an armed struggle to overthrow the president, another Yaya Jammeh, or Stalinist type personality will rise to do the same thing that our current oppressor is doing to our people?
We as Gambians in general have a pre-genetic disposition to fragmentation. “UNITY” is not in our vocabulary or psyche. I have been trying to count the number of organizations that have been springing up like wildfire, here there and everywhere, as I parody their names. They are:
The People’s Movement for Democratic Gambia; The Committee for the Reparation of Souls in The Gambia; The Gambia Consultancy Chambers; Standing Order for Democracy and Rule of Law in The Gambia; Soul Searching Democracy Committee of The Gambia; The National Persistence of Error in The Gambia.
The list goes on. A friend of mine here in the U.S. a non-Gambian brother said to me” What is with you Gambians? A dictator is standing on your heads and your opposing voices are splintering into myriad groups of “wanabees”. Why can’t you unite under one roof to oust him?” He went on to say that Senegal, our neighbor did that, but why can’t we?
“Senegal is not a small country, that is why”, trying to give him some lame excuse. What this lack of unity shows is that a far greater problem lies below the cheap rhetoric and explanation for our oppression dished out by the on line Gambian dissident papers, and from the ever increasing opposition groups. What none of these voices of dissent refuse to acknowledge is the inter-tribal hatred that really exists in the Gambia, thwarting any attempt for national unity to oust this president, the consequences of slavery and colonialism?
I will close with the following warning to all those of you contemplating an armed uprising. I am saying to you that you are taking a path that will surely bring an end to The Gambia as we know it. Yes, The Gambia shall cease to exist as a separate nation if ever we go to war with each other again, as we did in 1981, and in 1994. The matter has been discussed in the higher echelons of political power both in Senegal and in the world governing bodies. Our neighbor Senegal has been given the tactic approval to just wade in and bring us into their fold to create a greater Senegambia. Perhaps this may the better route for our beloveth country, and would hasten African Unity, among other things. This is why, to the dismay of dissident groups in Senegal, the Government of Senegal has steadfastly refrained from meddling directly into our affairs; after all, why spoil a good opportunity to cement once and for all the Senegambia confederation they let slip from their hands after intervening to put Jawara back in power? Moreover, how are they to finally deal with their restive region in the south of us, a situation made worse by Jammeh’s grand design for a greater Casamance encompassing The Gambia? Wake up Gambians, and stop these simplistic and sensationalist forays into politics and revolution, and certainly , as a former U.S. Gambian born soldier recently warned us, don’t start what you will be surely unable to contain. War is death and destruction.
Yaya Jammeh has brought a new twist to our political scene, and it is not going to be business as usual. Yaya Jammeh is the last President of a sovereign Gambia, mark my words. Yaya Jammeh’s last card is the Casamance, Gambia, Senegal axis. Like Sadam Hussein, he is not going to go away quietly. He is to spark off the ‘mother of all battles’. Bear that in mind when your guys speak of an armed struggle. Your myopic vision of things is making most of you on-line dissident papers fail to see the true implications of Yaya Jammeh’s policies, or his call for a greater Casamance. Already our institutions have been brought down by a flood of half-baked illiterate Bojangs, Badjies, Sonkos and the like. Both the army and security services have been infiltrated by the boys from Casamance. It is only a matter of time when The Gambia herself shall be drawn into the conflict. So, just go ahead and walk around brandishing your matches everywhere –Jammeh is more prepared for the “mother of all battles” than you are.
Besides I have never heard of an armed struggle where the cadre is going about asking donations from the poor and oppressed people. Again a bunch of rag tag, poverty stricken ex-soldiers wishing to usurp power to enrich themselves. By the way, it seems that the in- thing now with the Gambian diaspora is to go after E.U. money in the guise of using the funds to fight the oppression in The Gambia. That milk and honey faucet will soon be closed once the EU and other donor countries catch up to our nonsense. They will.
So is this why the list of new organizations joining the anti Jammeh bandwagon continues to grow day by day? Shame on you Gambians! That you will dare use the funds made available to you by those sympathetic to your condition for your own personal use? All of you are providing the strong reason why The Gambia must cease to exist as a sovereign nation. You are unknowingly working for the demise of our beloved country. Go ahead, make Senegal’s day with an armed rebellion. Macky Sall must be muttering quietly to himself “go ahead, make my day”. For Senegal, the stakes are high. Stay tuned. If all of you are running away from bringing in sober talk to a volatile situation, then I will.
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With BRILLIANT Gambians like this around this Ethiopian does not really need to comment on matters Gambian!
Halake you are as clueless as Mr kinteh. Nobody needs to print and frame this piece. look here, sir. Do not feel insulted but you are a deliberate hypocrite, a dishonest ‘intellectual’ and self-important idiot. You have all rights to your opinions but your position in most Gambian Matters are always very wrong. You trivialize our dire situation and your disgusting commentaries and ridiculing of our efforts are very insulting.
DUGA’s position (which is that of many gambians) was very clear: DO NOT FEED THE DICTATOR AND TERROR IN BANJUL. All the Gambians ask is for these artists, including our own, to be sensitive to the plight of Gambians. What is wrong with that? How is bullying? I understand what gives you the sense of entitlement to be this vocal on Gambian issues but understand that you come off very offensive, repugnant and disrespectful. You can write all letter to Jammeh to rebuild whatever relationship you had with him but respect our efforts and our position. You loud mouth with a much empty brains is bent on blowing hot and cold, frustrating folks. For you to sit behind your PC, masturbating silly argument, splashing cum-like rubbish has gotta stop. How dare you think and pronounce that the Gambia is peaceful? What constitutes peaceful to you? I am sure you understand what your name HALAKE means in mandinka, and that’s just what you are. Spare us you intellectual honesty and leave us fight our fight. And while you’re at it, go on a date with Mr. Kinteh and all jump of the cliff. His arguments are as silly and unsubstantiated as yours.
Thank you very much Pata PJ. You see I had my beef on jollofnews regarding a Gambian boy accused of rape in Scotland with the last name Cardoss. He quickly jumped into conclusion that the boy is not Gambian and even claimed that he (Halake) can represent the boy in court as he got a law degree. I knew the said accused guy, I used to work with his dad but Halake went around saying I’m a fake and lying. I chased him out of Jollofnews forum and now he is appearing on other websites. This is the guy who was bundled up broad daylight and thrown out of The Gambia by Yaya Jammeh, accused by his inlaws for child molestation and now opening his mouth saying Gambia is peaceful? Let him tell that to the families of April 11th victims,Koro Ceesays parents or the abducted US citizens. He is a hypocrite just by looking at his long face like a house slipper. I have my suspicion that he wants to be pardoned by Jammeh to go back as he can’t do nada in the UK,only to collect benefits. Dida Halake should be ashamed of himself just like Yaya Jammeh by insulting the British day in day out. The British gave you shelter and are feeding you and your family. Don’t bite the finger that feeds you. Making yourself to be important whilst you’re not is kind of madness.
Freedomnewspaper.com
In response to Ebrima Kinteh’s Message to the Gambia
By Lamin Sambou
Ebrima said quote: “It is very disheartening to see our on-line journalists go for cheap sensationalism and, in a way, aiding and abetting in this vicious cycle of enmity, vengeance, and self- mutilation, encouraging this hiding behind the curtains to throw stones at each other. Yes going after our dictator Jallow Kanilai is a good thing, and I agree, he must be removed at all cost. But this must be done democratically. Yet, the salacious and twisted manner in which the news is dished out to the ever-hungry diaspora Gambians, practicing the old age custom of self-deprecation, and self-mutilation does not advance anything meaningful or positive in our social and political life. Now, out of utter frustration in coming to realize that it will not be an easy matter removing the President, some of these same on-line papers are openly touting for a violent overthrow, and beckoning for ex-soldiers to undertake an armed struggle. I mean is this a case of severe amnesia?” Unquote.
There is certainly a contradiction in this paragraph. On the one hand Ebrima wants to remove Jammeh at all cost and on the other hand he wants to do this democratically. Obviously the only democratic means is through the ballot box. Can elections remove Jammeh from office? I doubt it very much.
Ebrima said quote: “I will close with the following warning to all those of you contemplating an armed uprising. I am saying to you that you are taking a path that will surely bring an end to The Gambia, as we know it. Yes, The Gambia shall cease to exist as a separate nation if ever we go to war with each other again, as we did in 1981, and in 1994. The matter has been discussed in the higher echelons of political power both in Senegal and in the world governing bodies. Our neighbor Senegal has been given the tactic approval to just wade in and bring us into their fold to create a greater Senegambia. Perhaps this may the better route for our beloved country, and would hasten African Unity, among other things. This is why, to the dismay of dissident groups in Senegal, the Government of Senegal has steadfastly refrained from meddling directly into our affairs; after all, why spoil a good opportunity to cement once and for all the Senegambia confederation they let slip from their hands after intervening to put Jawara back in power? Moreover, how are they to finally deal with their restive region in the south of us, a situation made worse by Jammeh’s grand design for a greater Casamance encompassing The Gambia? Wake up Gambians, and stop these simplistic and sensationalist forays into politics and revolution, and certainly, as a former U.S. Gambian born soldier recently warned us, don’t start what you will be surely unable to contain. War is death and destruction.” Unquote.
In this paragraph one can depict the author’s hesitations and paranoia. On the one hand he sees in a Senegambia confederation the guaranties of democratic principles and the rule of law and stability on the other hand one clearly depicts his ultra nationalistic tendencies by warning Gambians of Senegal’s unification wishes. Further, Ebrima warns us of Jammeh’s grand design in transforming the Gambia into a greater Casamance by clearly stating the progress made by Jammeh on this route and I quote:” Your myopic vision of things is making most of you on-line dissident papers fail to see the true implications of Yaya Jammeh’s policies, or his call for a greater Casamance. Already a flood of half-baked illiterate Bojangs, Badjies, Sonkos and the like has brought down our institutions. Both the army and security services have been infiltrated by the boys from Casamance.” Unquote. One is inclined to ask where does the author stand, for or against a Senegambia confederation?
The following paragraph depict the real negativity of the author, quote” Besides I have never heard of an armed struggle where the cadre is going about asking donations from the poor and oppressed people. Again a bunch of rag tag, poverty stricken ex-soldiers wishing to usurp power to enrich themselves.” Unquote. What’s wrong with grassroots funding Ebrima? Even President Obama used this funding method to accede to the US presidency. And here again the author’s jealousy is evident and I quote: “By the way, it seems that the in- thing now with the Gambian diaspora is to go after E.U. money in the guise of using the funds to fight the oppression in The Gambia. That milk and honey faucet will soon be closed once the EU and other donor countries catch up to our nonsense. They will.” Unquote.
From the above observations one is inclined to question the author’s ulterior motives. Undecided or immaturity is the best portrait one can conclude about the author’s article.
Please spare me the other concerns in Ebrima’s article; I will leave that to others to reflect on.
On a final note I put it to the author that Jammeh Kanilai can be removed from power without going to war. The NRMG knows how to do it without bloodshed.
So fear not Ebrima.
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“…Rather, ours is One Tribe One Vote. …”
M C Cham, M C Jallow, Hassan Musa Camara and Micheal Baldeh were all from the URD, candidates for the UP.
There is that saying about “taking a horse to water but you can’t make it drink”. Ebrima Kinteh and even more the SUPERB Musa Camara over at Maafanta have put a mirror infront of their Gambian compatriots. Their Gambian compatriots then behave in a manner to CONFIRM everything Ebrima Kinteh and Musa Camara have said – just as a single example look at the story of the late Dolar Jobe’s wife and her children being dispossessed of their home by her brother in the Kanifing Cadi Court. Freedomnewspaper THRIVES and is the MOST POPULAR because it is all about Gambians stabbing each other in the back and washing their dirty linen in public. Like I said, Musa Camara and Ebrima Kinteh have described that psychological aberration in depth and this Ethiopian need not say any more! If the horse refuses to drink the water let it die of thirst!
I always got to stay far from ‘halaki people’, I got to stay far, can’t trust him and his people, I got to stay far, because they endorse evil, that’s why I got to stay far! All righteous Gambians stand tall and all his enemies scatter like melting wax under the sunlight.
Damn GapamGapam, this was 9 months ago – and events since have sadly PROVED Halaki 100per cent right. The Senegalese have totally shut-down Gambian political activity in Dakar! And I don’t blame them one bit.
DAMN@Luntango, I replied late just because I was late to see that mess.Future events will prove Halaki and likewise yourself ‘-200%’!
Blame someone if you like.