Oh yes, Brother Oko,

Memories, some will tell you, are all that matters. Yes, I know Sir too
well...and there were many a time when our common high school history
brought us both a lot of misery and happiness, perhaps in equal doses, at
the Bantaba (where he was occassionally
banned for causing trouble....those were days!).

You must be kidding me! Salifu Mboge and I crashed your door at Sahara a
hundred times, after doing our midnight gad at the bakery at Hill street.
(For poorly fed students nothing beats warm bread and butter after midnight!
and I am not talking about that very miserable, lightweight kind of bread
they call taapa-laapa - I heard that Gambians were queing for it some weeks
back!
The Skylarks were a much older crew. But yes 20 Hagan street was Man Joof
territory. I stayed by Sheriff Njai who lived there while preparing for mock
exams and o' levels. (Father Flynn had us for maths at night). But our own
crew comprised of Ous Njai, Omar John, Salifu Mboge, John Goddard, Sheriff
Njai and Donald Joof, Joseph Joof's older brother. We were later joined by
Fye and Alhaji Singhateh, then Sayerr Joh, Rilwan Lowe and Ebou Ceesay who
graduated from Armitage High Schhol.
We were a lost kind of crowd, waiting on destiny. Sal Drammeh used to stop
by when the "attaya" was on. So would "Man" Joof, and we would pick his
brains really bad. He knew everything, so you could not ask him a question
he could not answer. He was almost always neat, though he appeared
dishevilled occassionally. But his intellect was leviathan. Sharp and
profoundly erudite and witty, Man Joof appeared to me to be living proof
that the climate even under Jawara's Gambia, was bad for geniuses. Things
are so bland and basic that great minds implode for lack of serious
intellectual stimulus.

Sir Lamin used to frequent the place as well, but as if only to come tease
John Goddard and Donald Joof. You could not miss his laughter a mile away.

 When he arrived in Stockholm in the mid-eighties, we reconnected with our
particular little history and broke cola-nuts.
All I am left with now are winding but glowing memories of him - and the
ensuing emptiness.
May his soul rest in perfect peace.

Momodou S Sidibeh


. <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 2:39 PM
Subject: Re: Obituary / Lamin Drammeh


> Mr. Sidibeh,
>
> You hit the nail on the head. You know  the late Sir far too well. I am
> his first cousin and best friend (partners in crime). His father was a
> young brother to my father. How come you had a vous at 20,Hagan street
> and you never bump into me?
>
> This is Man Joof terrretory (father of Joseph Joof -PaBe Joof ex justice
> minitter).I raised Richard,Donald and Pa be Peter Goddard ,John, Gabou
> and Mike Goddard (Garnet) I was the right hand of Uncle Man He brought
> me up (that's why I am sweet).When I left for Holland he gave a book by
> Basil Davidson "The History of Africa".I gave it to Sir.
>
> Sir Lamin was often there partly with the Skylarks boys (this was a club
> I started) George Evans, Bola Carrol, Jemay Koita,, Kobna Njie, David
> Jawara,etc.Mostly Saints Augustines Boys. Sir was in the football team
> as well as the sprint team.
>
> The drama about Sir was when he sold fish balls (Bulet,sauce and bread)
> at the Sahara Night Club where I was Deejaying. I lived with him in
> Stockholm in a short visit and on few occations I had to leave him
> sleeping in the Bus all the way to the last stop at Fasta Strand !!!
>
> All the guys in Sweden will surly miss him. You can't fill his space. He
> is the magma !
>
> Please excuse this flashback, not the right time but
> Memories, they live  more than people do, they always on youe mind."
>
> May his soul find peace in Heaven !!!!
>
> More Times Bro, Thank you on your good note,Sir will feel your spirited
> message.
>
> Oko Drammeh
> A Luta Contuinua !!!!
>
>
> >
> >
> >
>
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