This is the spirit fellows! Let's keep it this neat.
By the way, I've been away for some time now and I've observed a lot of
progress. All I'll say to you folks is kudos and keep on keeping on.
Ous Ngum.
On Wed, 14 Mar 2001 16:10:08 -0000, The Gambia and related-issues mailing
list wrote:
> Mr Kujabi
> You ARE brilliant, have always been. No joke. For me, there has really
been
> no hatchets to bury or not to bury at all. No by-gones to let. In other
> words, I had never taken your criticism to heart. Indeed, as you so
rightly
> suggested, Jatta and Small should both lie VERY LOW so we can 'do our
> thing', as you so aptly put it. Please continue your critiquing whenever
you
> have some precious time to spare. You are always more than welcome.
> Baba
>
>
> >From: Ansumana Kujabi <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Re: LIFE IN OUR LITTLE TOWN - Part One(BETTER REFINED
SATIRE:GOOD
> > JOB THIS TIME)
> >Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 15:45:24 -0000
> >
> >My Dear Baba Galleh:
> >
> >Very many thanks for your wonderful comments, and I am flattered that
you
> >described me as some one brilliant. And I am deeply honored by that. I
> >thought that you had misunderstood my first critiquing, but let bygones
be
> >bygones and let's bury the hatchet. A well schooled guy like you should
not
> >come down to the level of personal satirizing, but rather edge up to a
more
> >advanced height. Please, let Jatta and small lay down low and let's do
our
> >thing. If I have time on my hands, I will continue to critique your
> >writings, but I may not always have time to do that. In any case, thanks
> >again for your wonderful description. Continue on with your new broader
> >themes.
> >
> >Ansumana Kujabi
> >
> >
> >>From: Omar Hatab <[log in to unmask]>
> >>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> >><[log in to unmask]>
> >>To: [log in to unmask]
> >>Subject: Re: LIFE IN OUR LITTLE TOWN - Part One(BETTER REFINED
SATIRE:GOOD
> >> JOB THIS TIME)
> >>Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 15:11:22 -0000
> >>
> >>Dear Mr Kujabi
> >>
> >>Thanks so much again for a job very well done! Honestly, you are one of
> >>the
> >>most clever guys I've ever come across! You are really so clever that I
> >>know
> >>not what to say! The question for me is - to say or not to say?!!! That
is
> >>the question!
> >>I do really appreciate your brilliant critique which, this time around,
> >>has
> >>not only captured the inner essence of my story, but also its hidden
> >>spirit
> >>and open-ended matter. I hope you enjoy the remaining parts of this
story.
> >>And indeed, as you so very brilliantly put it, you have ruffled my
> >>feathers
> >>so hard that they are all currently stiff and widely splayed, like so
many
> >>spears pointed at the four corners of the skies!! Please continue
giving
> >>me
> >>your brilliant citiques, so that I can find always find ways and means
of
> >>improving upon my writings and reaching higher heights. Once yet again,
> >>thanks so much Mr Kujabi sir. I'm very highly pleased and impressed,
and
> >>more than the word honoured!! God bless.
> >>Baba
> >>
> >>
> >>>From: Ansumana Kujabi <[log in to unmask]>
> >>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> >>><[log in to unmask]>
> >>>To: [log in to unmask]
> >>>Subject: Re: LIFE IN OUR LITTLE TOWN - Part One(BETTER REFINED
> >>>SATIRE:GOOD
> >>> JOB THIS TIME)
> >>>Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 08:41:49 -0000
> >>>
> >>>MY DEAR BABA GALLEH JALLOW:
> >>>
> >>>As you have already lamented earlier on, you were absolutely right
that
> >>>it
> >>>paid off enormously to RUFFLE your feathers. This is chiefly due to
the
> >>>fact
> >>>that this time around, you came up with a very brilliant SATIRE, and
> >>>believe
> >>>me, this comment is from the bottom of my heart, for my RUFFLING of
your
> >>>feathers is NOW tremendously benefiting every member of the L Forum,
> >>>rather
> >>>than creating confusion, misrepresentation, malaise and a very deep
> >>>division
> >>>amongst us all. Let me reassure you, I have a HOLLYWOOD STYLE of
> >>>critiquing,
> >>>and which has now paid off for us. Instead of PERSONAL SATIRIZING, you
> >>>STYLE
> >>>has thus changed and greatly improved this time around. Your this
piece
> >>>has
> >>>SENSE OF DIRECTION and PINPOINTED ACCURACY to it. To state it more
> >>>precisely, this time around, you have tailored, polished, sliced and
> >>>positively altered the PRINCIPAL THEME of your satire from a PERSONAL
to
> >>>a
> >>>more TRADITIONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS and POLITICAL
> >>>THEMES.
> >>>To further give weight to my critiquing, I have extracted my analyses
> >>>from
> >>>your first paragraph(see quotation below).
> >>>
> >>>In your first paragraph, you and BROTHER RENE have stroke similar
cords
> >>>OF
> >>>CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE. Whiles Brother Rene, in his excerpt, has
vividly
> >>>described SAMBA as a humble country boy who has been fortunate enough
to
> >>>have been educated and acquired a "White Man Job" in the City, and
always
> >>>far away from home, his father, PA GORGI, has been greatly concerned
> >>>because
> >>>he fears that since old age nears him and his health failing, when he
> >>>dies
> >>>their tradition and culture will be lost because his one and only Son,
> >>>SAMBA
> >>>is DRIFTING into "CAFE INTELLECTUALISM", and PA GORGI does not want
that
> >>>to
> >>>happen.
> >>>
> >>>Baba, your first paragraph on the other hand, is highlighting the
> >>>RELIGIOUS
> >>>SIGNIFICANCE and NATURALNESS of the tradition PA GORGI is fighting
> >>>tirelessly to protect and prevent from being diluted and forgotten
> >>>totally.
> >>>The important question is how are you able to accomplished this. You
have
> >>>approached this from three distinct angles: Religious perspective,
> >>>Enviromental Perspective and Political Perspective (1) You have
> >>>demonstrated
> >>>that there is always a NORMAL and SERENE life style in the Villages no
> >>>matter what WIND of CHANGE may blow through the Village, and there
will
> >>>always be a TRANQUIL atmosphere. As you have mentioned in the first
> >>>paragraph:"Not even the greatest storms and tornadoes could disturb
the
> >>>smooth musical rhythm of life in our little town". The above sentence
has
> >>>clearly indicated the strong influence religion has on our local
people,
> >>>that is to say, they still deeply believe that GOD MAKES LEADERS,
> >>>therefore,
> >>>we should all be humble and have patience till God brings another
leader
> >>>for
> >>>us. To put the above point into its proper context, what it means is
that
> >>>since God brought PRESIDENT JAMMEH to us, therefore, we should all be
> >>>humble
> >>>and have enough patience to wait till another leader emerges from God;
> >>>despite all what Jammeh has put them through, and with all the
TORNADOES
> >>>of
> >>>intimidation, harassment, torture and killings, life is still
absolutely
> >>>normal in the BABA GALLEH LITTLE TOWN.
> >>>(2) From an enviromental point of view, Baba, you have drawn an
> >>>incomparable
> >>>environment between the Western World and your little town's narrow,
dry
> >>>and
> >>>sandy surroundings. The narrow streets of your little village which
has
> >>>dry
> >>>bushes and often windy due to the dry HAMATTAN WIND that blows from
the
> >>>SAHARA to the ATLANTIC OCEAN is quite distinct from the much wider
paved
> >>>streets in the Western World which are fully electrified, and only a
> >>>snowy
> >>>winter may temper with the power. (3) Finally, your Satire has stroke
a
> >>>political cord, which I had earlier on criticized you for, but
> >>>unfortunately
> >>>you misunderstood me. Your remaining paragraphs have exposed the
pompous
> >>>life style of the Politicians of our generation. These politicians
enjoy
> >>>big
> >>>money, women and Wine upon Wine and driving fancy cars(Pajeros),
without
> >>>regard to human life.
> >>>
> >>>To conclude, Baba, my critiquing this time should reassure you that I
did
> >>>not mean to cause malaise or personal attacks the first time around,
but
> >>>instead, I wanted you to refocus your brilliant Satires on this kind
of
> >>>VERY
> >>>FINE work of yours, rather than focusing on themes such as KHANTEI,
> >>>JAHASAY
> >>>ENTERPRISE, RHINEHART SOBER LOOK, ETC. Both you and RENE have been
> >>>lamenting
> >>>on similar themes, but have approached it from differing angles. Your
> >>>situation makes me to wonder why AFRICAN INTELLECTUALS do not like
tough
> >>>and
> >>>passionate critiquing, unlike their Western counterparts. Critiquing
can
> >>>only enhance your ability to face tougher and bit by bit harsher
> >>>critiquing,
> >>>and more importantly, it does encourage efficiency and effectiveness.
To
> >>>that end, I extend to you and Brother RENE, a sincere appreciation.
> >>>
> >>>Ausumana Kujabi:(THIRD-Truth Telling, Honesty, Integrity,
Responsibility
> >>>and
> >>>Democracy)
> >>>
> >>>"Unlike all other towns, life in our little town was always normal.
Not
> >>>even
> >>>the greatest of storms and tornadoes could disturb the smooth musical
> >>>rhythm
> >>>of life in our little town. Come hail or wind, rain or shine, our
little
> >>>town remained calm and serene, its life patterned along age-old
> >>>traditions
> >>>and established norms.
> >>>The small streets of our little town were paved with air and marked by
> >>>rows
> >>>and rows of beautiful thorn bushes, sharp and pricking to the touch,
> >>>which
> >>>grew freely and lent an added tranquility to the atmosphere. Here and
> >>>there
> >>>were big trees under which were erected big wooden beds that served as
> >>>meeting places for the learned among our common townsfolk. There under
> >>>the
> >>>cool shades of those mighty trees, they would discuss every subject
under
> >>>the sun and carry on their learned debates, day in, day out.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>From: Omar Hatab <[log in to unmask]>
> >>>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
> >>>><[log in to unmask]>
> >>>>To: [log in to unmask]
> >>>>Subject: LIFE IN OUR LITTLE TOWN - Part One
> >>>>Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 22:45:44 -0000
> >>>>
> >>>>LIFE IN OUR LITTLE TOWN - Part One
> >>>>By Baba Galleh Jallow
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>Unlike all other towns, life in our little town was always normal.
Not
> >>>>even
> >>>>the greatest of storms and tornadoes could disturb the smooth musical
> >>>>rhythm
> >>>>of life in our little town. Come hail or wind, rain or shine, our
little
> >>>>town remained calm and serene, its life patterned along age-old
> >>>>traditions
> >>>>and established norms.
> >>>>The small streets of our little town were paved with air and marked
by
> >>>>rows
> >>>>and rows of beautiful thorn bushes, sharp and pricking to the touch,
> >>>>which
> >>>>grew freely and lent an added tranquility to the atmosphere. Here and
> >>>>there
> >>>>were big trees under which were erected big wooden beds that served
as
> >>>>meeting places for the learned among our common townsfolk. There
under
> >>>>the
> >>>>cool shades of those mighty trees, they would discuss every subject
> >>>>under
> >>>>the sun and carry on their learned debates, day in, day out.
> >>>>Society in our little town was divided into several distinct strata.
> >>>>Right
> >>>>at the peak of the social pyramid perched our most prominent bigwigs,
> >>>>the
> >>>>fat-potbellied moneybags who controlled the strings of all our
bulging
> >>>>purses and drove around in brand new Pajeros and other expensive
cars.
> >>>>These
> >>>>were the Smoothface Beevys and Fatcheek Rattys, the Tonton Luhatis
and
> >>>>Jelyeb Lebatis, the really great names whose mere utterances
activated
> >>>>the
> >>>>juicy glands of our common townsfolk. Nicknamed the untouchables,
these
> >>>>our
> >>>>most prominent bigwigs led a life of ease and plenty. They led what
was
> >>>>commonly known in our little town, as ?flamboyant lifestyles.?
> >>>>The favourite past time of our famous moneybags was to ride their
> >>>>fattened
> >>>>mares at the golden dusk of our little town, waving their flywhisks
at
> >>>>our
> >>>>amazed common townsfolk as they trotted gaily by, and letting out
small
> >>>>shrieks once in a while, so as not to be mistaken for impersonators.
For
> >>>>of
> >>>>late, some of our dishonest common townsfolk with no money and little
> >>>>brains
> >>>>had taken to riding stolen mares along the streets of our little
town,
> >>>>pretending to be untouchable moneybags so as to be able to dupe one
> >>>>innocent
> >>>>victim or the other. But now, with their special shrieks, the real
> >>>>moneybags
> >>>>could be distinguished from the fake ones.
> >>>>A rung down the top of our social ladder were our less prominent
> >>>>bigwigs,
> >>>>the Toughlip Weakys and Bigman Smallys, the Wahyeb Diyamus, Nehal
> >>>>Lambalehs
> >>>>and Momkai Degalas whose defining characteristic was their nearness
to
> >>>>the
> >>>>real moneybags. They made up the administrative cadre of the
prominent
> >>>>council of our little town. Owing to their fabled garrulous
cleverness
> >>>>and
> >>>>nimble minds, they were also the chief advisers in many a giant
business
> >>>>in
> >>>>our little town. These had no fattened mares to ride in our golden
> >>>>sunsets,
> >>>>but they owned beautiful Japanese and Chinese cars, which they loved
to
> >>>>slowly drive before our famous moneybags, honking their horns and
waving
> >>>>their left hands out the windows to make way for their prominent
bosses.
> >>>>Their favourite past time was to sit around our prominent moneybags,
> >>>>listening to tall tales of gallantry and exploits, and giving advice
> >>>>where
> >>>>needed and even where not needed. They were truly, the most
spectacular
> >>>>lot
> >>>>in the social cocktail of our little town.
> >>>>Next on the social ladder, almost parallel to our less prominent
> >>>>bigwigs,
> >>>>were the quiet ones of our little town: the Norpil Degalas and
Fangkung
> >>>>Mofiseshs, whose defining characteristic was silence, but who
> >>>>nevertheless
> >>>>contributed immensely in making our little town what it was: A lively
> >>>>hub
> >>>>of
> >>>>exciting activity that was the pride of the centuries.
> >>>>
> >>>>
>
>>>>_________________________________________________________________________
> >>>>Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at
> >>>>http://www.hotmail.com.
> >>>>
>
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