Rene,
You have indeed touched the cancer in our national politics - the tribal and ethnic innuendos. In fact, it is now more than mere innuendo, we now proudly confess and practice tribalism and ethnocentricity. What a pity!
Your poem reminds me of that written by Ebrima G. Sankareh(if I recollect vividly)on the Daily Observer in its early days. That poem started thus:
" what are you? Gambian
Which tribe? Gambian
How? my conscience!"...
I am not sure if I have quoted these few lines verbatim, but I entreat all Gambians to nurture Gambianity over and above tribe or ethnicity as depicted by the above excerpt.
Rene,I indeed like the gusto and urgency of the diction of your poem as in " the vociferous voices are silent" in the first line; "ebbs" in the second, "garment" in fourth line, etc, etc.The word "garment" paints a cloak-like picture of ethnicity and that means we can remove it the way we take off our clothes, only that we will never again wear this tribal/ethnic cloth. The tone of urgency can be found in "the moment of truth draws closer".
I do really like lines that in their brevity say so much,I like the poem eventhough, the subject matter fills me with fear, horror, disappointment,anger and all the negative adjectives that can be ascribed to the menaces of tribalism. It feels me with hope, though that, there are still a few sane people who think with a national rather than ethno-tribal identity. Tribalism is indeed the worst form of myopia and selfishness, it is the lowest one can fall.
Countrywomen and men let`s act now and mend our national pride that has been and continues to be hurt with the divisive politics that is taking root in The Gambia and among diaspora Gambians. Gambianity is not and should not be decided in a partisan, tribal or selfish way, it is all and for all.Wherever you may be,in whichever political party and of any ideology or religion, be a Gambian first before anything else.
I LOVE YOU ALL!!!
Congrats Rene...and I dare call you the "bard" on the L.
Alieu Darboe
-----Original Message-----
From: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: 11 July 2006 15:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: The Moment of Truth
Indeed, Rene Badjan, Indeed.
Jabou Joh
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 9:49 AM
Subject: The Moment of Truth
The vociferous voices are silent
the partisan bickering ebbs
the moment of truth draws closer
the garment of ethnic pride
worn sleekly up our tattered sleeves
divisive and condescending
it brings to the fore
the latent ethnic biases
the drumbeat of proud tribal warriors
deafens the polluted political battlefield.
We stand accused
our loyalty is deeply ingrained
buried deep in our subconscious mind
that we are first and foremost
a Wollof, a Mandinka, a Fula and a Jola
and the hypocrisy of our intellectual nuances
falls flat on its deceitful face;
we parade ourselves as genuine patriots
our allegiance unabashedly ethnic centered
with a perceived interest motivation
our passionate chorus
a disharmonious appeal to an opposition divided.
Rene
Nb: The foundation for peace and a secured blessing, lies in an enlightened
and progressive thought orientation. If our hearts are not in one place, we
cannot have a common cause with seeming uncommon results.
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