Mr. Jaiteh,

Thanks for this information. Renaming James Island to Kunta Kinteh or Kinteh Island is not a bad idea for me. It is a matter of decolonising our society. For the suggestion to come from an African American is indicative of the ties that binds us as Africans to the African Americans. However, what puzzles me is the fact that after 45 years of independence, a brother from  outside have to come and tell us to chnage the name of an Island and rename it to soime thing African. Infact James Island was the first part of our land that was taken over by Europeans, when it was patented as a property of a European Royal family. Patented for that matter as a private property. The question is what has our government or governments now been doing all these years? Why can't it be named after Edward Francis Small, Kemingta Kamara, the late artist, Ebou Sillah, Pa Touray (Ifangbondi), Finding Daley (the exiled anti-colonial Gambian activist in the 1940s who died in London), Lalo Kebba Drammeh, Biri-Biri, Mam N'debeh Faye (the last Queen of SeneGambia destroyed by the French colonial intruders). You see the more one looks at it, the more one can see Oko Drammeh's anger and frustration, because our history and culture is not properly taught and not understood. The lack of a national character is an other thing coupled with the promotion of outside destructive influences which devalues our dignity. It boils down to the type of leadership we have. Leadership is important to inspire national heritage in order to reconstruct national confidence after colonial destruction of our society, our mentality, our knowledge, our tradition and culture, our confidence, our system of governance, our laws, our system of production, industries, the dislocation of our minds and self rejection among many others. After independence there was no agenda for cultural reconstruction. It is on this basis that Oko Drammeh's frustration seek to address what has failed us for the last 45 years: wasted 45 years I meant to add.

 

Wassa.
 
> Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:29:12 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Renaming James Island to Kunta Kinteh Island - whats your take?
> To: [log in to unmask]
> 
> Courtesy of Daily Observer: 
> http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/american-artist-suggests-renaming-of-james-island-as-he-meets-president-jammeh
> 
> 
> American artist suggests renaming of James Island - As he meets
> President Jammeh
> 
> <http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/american-artist-suggests-renaming-of-james-island-as-he-meets-president-jammeh#map> 
> Africa <http://observer.gm/africa/news> » Gambia 
> <http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/news>
> Wednesday, February 24, 2010
> The visiting American artist, Chaz Guest, who specialises in painting, 
> has suggested that James Island in Juffureh in the North Bank Region to 
> be renamed Kunta Kinteh or Kinteh Island.
> 
> He explained that this is necessary given the great resistance Kunta 
> displayed during the inhumane slave trade that saw uncountable number of 
> healthy black Africans shipped to America and Europe. Guest made these 
> remarks while speaking to reporters Tuesday evening at State House in 
> Banjul shortly after his audience with The Gambian leader, His 
> Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh.
> 
> He disclosed that he got the idea about changing the name of the Island, 
> which was included in the United Nations Education Scientific and 
> Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) world heritage site list in 2003, when he 
> visited the place recently. The American painter also commented on the 
> efforts made by the president in bridging the gap between Africans and 
> African-Americans, describing such a move as very necessary.
> "I am going to be working on that with my colleagues and friends in 
> America because it is all about spreading the world," he stated. He also 
> told the reporters about his impression of the talented young artists in 
> the country, notably those who trade in painting, and expressed his 
> readiness to assist them in their endeavours.
> 
> Chaz Guest went on to express his resolve to produce a paint work for 
> the president in observance of his birthday on May 25, 2010. He 
> expressed his appreciation to the Gambian leader for giving him books on 
> The Gambia and a gold bracelet.
> Author: *by Hatab Fadera*
> 
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