Susan:
It seems you are already engaged in what is going to be an interesting
research. Well, I can assure that there are many sources/materials on what
you are asking/looking for.
In fact, there is a book on the Political History of the Gambia, edited by
Professor Arnold Hughes and Dr David Perfect, which you may find very useful
for your project, if you are willing to buy it.
Now, with regard to the 1981 attempted coup in the Gambia, the best
scholarly works I have seen so far, are written by Arnold Hughes and the
late Dr John Wiseman. Mr. Swaebou Conateh, a veteran Gambian Journalist,
also wrote a very useful paper/material on the 1981 coup.
Anyway, these are the sources/references you need, and they are, of course,
available here in Birmingham. You can get them from the Centre of West
African Studies, University of Birmingham.
* John Wiseman, 1982, "Attempted Coup in the Gambia: Marxist Revolution or
punk rebellion?", Journal of Communist Affairs.
* John Wiseman, 1981, "Revolt in the Gambia: A Pointless Tragedy", The Round
Table Journal.
* Arnold Hughes, 1989, "The attempted Coup d'etat of 30 July 1981",
Birmingham University African Studies Series 3.
* Swaebou Conateh, 1982, "The effect of Radio during the abortive coup in
the Gambia"
* Nana Grey-Johnson, 1987, "A Krio Engagement and other stories"
* S. A Bakarr, 1981, "The Gambia Mourns Her Image"
By the way, S.A Bakarr's material on the 1981 coup, in the view of many
scholars, gives a pro-Government account, but you may still find it useful.
Now, let me try and answer the questions you asked, but take note that the
answers I am giving you, are the findings of Professor Arnold Hughes, not
mine. So if there is any credit to be given, then it should go to Arnold
Hughes.
As for your first question, I cannot give you an exact date, may be the
eminent Gambian scholar and elder, Dr Sulayman Nyang, could help you, if you
were to contact him.
But, with regard to your second question, this is what Professor Arnold
Hughes wrote somewhere:..."In 1979/80, two new political organisations in
particular, had emerged in the Gambia, and they were MOJA-Gambia and the
Gambia Revolutionary Socialist Party (GRSP), which was founded by Gibril
Pengu George"...
So, based on Arnold's research/findings, MOJA-Gambia and the Gambia
Revolutionary Socialist Party were founded in 1979/80.
As for your third question, again, according to Arnold's research,
MOJA-Gambia was "banned as a subversive organisation in October 1980". The
GRSP was also banned around the same period.
To be precise, the GRSP was banned shortly after Eku Mahoney, who was the
Deputy Commander of the then Gambian Field Force, was murdered by Mustapha
Danso, on 27 October 1980.
And, like MOJA-Gambia, the GRSP was also banned "as a subversive
organisation."
I hope this would help you.
Ebrima Ceesay
Birmingham, UK
>From: Susanne Thorsbøll <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Info needed on Gambian political-history
>Date: Thu, 11 May 2000 12:30:51 +0200
>
>Hello G-L'ers,
>
>I am a Danish student, who worked in your wonderful country a few years
>ago. I am presently writing a chapter about the political-history of The
>Gambia for my thesis on "Civil society and state relations in The Gambia".
>Unfortunately, I am having difficulty asserting the chronology of certain
>events that took place in the 70's and 80's with regard to the Marxists
>movements of the time. The litterature I have at my disposal is giving me
>conflicting information. Hence, I would be extremely grateful, if someone
>could help me out by clarifying the following points:
>
>
>1) When did the first radical youth groups emerge? I am referring to the
>movements inspired by the Black Power movement, etc.
>
>2) MOJA-G and the Gambia Socialist Revolutionary Party were established in
>what year?
>
>3) Were they banned at the same time, by the same Act? One source indicates
>MOJA was banned in 1977, another in 1980. Is either of them correct? And,
>what exactly led to the banning of MOJA and GSRP?
>
>
>Hopefully, someone can assist me?
>
>Thank you.
>
>
>Susanne Thorsbøll
>
>
>
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