This is an interesting write-up on Jammeh's naming ceremony culled from the 
Daily Observer. Note how the pious elders sang! And how interpretation 
impersonated Truth to please power! One almost feels the cash excitement in 
the air. These are indeed "the politics of the belly" to borrow a phrase 
from a writer on the subject.

Baba

Naming ceremony of Baby Muhammed Jammeh, All-Gambian Family Affair
The Daily Observer
Wednesday, January 02, 2008

The First Family, on Monday, played host to several dignitaries at State 
House Gardens for the traditional naming ceremony of Baby Muhammed Yahya 
Jammeh. Baby Jammeh, is the second child of President Jammeh and First Lady  
Zeinab Jammeh, the first being the eight-year old Mariam Jammeh.

The ceremony began with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an by Muslim elders, a 
clear  indication of President Jammehs adherence to Islam. Soon after that, 
the President arrived in his usual white gown carrying Baby Jammeh in his 
arms, wrapped in a white cloth and accompanied by First Lady Zeinab Jammeh 
in a sea green Arab-styled Abaya. They went around the gathering to formally 
show the newest member of the First Family to the dignitaries.

Alhagie Everybody Mbye, Chief Griot to President Jammeh, was given the 
podium to announce the name of Baby Jammeh. He was then showered with cash 
in a show of appreciation and in line with Gambian  tradition  at naming 
ceremonies.

Explaining the rationale behind the President’s decision to name his son 
after Muhammed, the Prophet  of Islam, the erudite Imam of State House 
Mosque, Alhaji Abdoulie Fatty said the President’s decision was in 
recognition of the blessings the Almighty has showered on him in making him 
the President of The Gambia. According to him, President Jammeh’s assumption 
to power way back in 1994 was done with the  blessing of the Almighty, 
consequently, its peaceful nature.

Cadi Sering Alieu Saho, though not feeling well, made it to State House to 
recite a poem he specially dedicated to Baby Muhammed Jammeh while Imam 
Muntaha Faye and Abdoulie Fatty sang religious songs.

In yet another manifestation of the joking relations that exist between the 
country’s ethnic groups, three members of the National Assembly, Netty 
Baldeh, a Fula, Abdoulie Saine and Sulayman Joof, both Serers, took the 
microphone from the master of the ceremony, Ebrima JT Kujabi and demanded 
that they be given something as they are the ‘Fathers’ of the Jolas, 
President Jammehs ethnic group. The President wasted no time in fulfilling 
their demands by giving them cash in recognition of the importance of the 
joking relatioship between the three ethnic groups, thus resulting in the 
eruption of laughter in some sections of the gathering.

This was followed by entertainment from the Kabakel Cultural Troupe and the 
KMC Ensemble followed by a delicious self-served lunch of various dishes. 
Baby Muhammed Jammeh’s naming ceremony was well planned as all the invited 
guests were well seated and ate to their satisfaction as the food was too 
abundant to be finished.

At the end of the ceremony, The Gambian leader said his personal goodbye to 
all guesst and incredibly stayed behind to see everyboby off.

by Pa Malick Faye

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