Jaajef to all on Gambia L.

Baaba Sillah's novel 'When the Monkey Talks'has now been reprinted and is
available for purchase.

This is a novel of social, political and economic history seen through the
eyes of a young boy, Samba, growing up in colonial West Africa. His story
is the story of the impact of economic changes that have taken place in
Africa ever since she had contact with Merchants and seafarers; Slavers,
Explorers, Colonialists and others of a mixed hew. More specifically, the
book examines the effect of the imposition of a monoculture on the lives,
culture and traditions of the peoples living under indirect rule. It is a
novel that spans the seventy-year period of colonial rule, between 1880 and
1950. It is the story of a son and his mother, a boy and his friends, a
young man falling in love and a young adult becoming politically aware of
the dynamics of colonialism and his own society. It touches on issues of
love, life, custom and continuity-the narrative is long and follows the
fortunes of ordinary everyday people and it embraces all aspects of life in
Africa under Colonial rule and its effects up to the present!

In the words of Joakin, the palm wine tapper, the book attempts to restore
the dignity and splendour of the past. This gives us pride in who we are,
based on who we have been. In this way the book contributes to the
formation of who we may become. It is never too late to become. The
prerequisite is the acquisition of the knowledge of and pride in history
and tradition and to uphold a sense of equity and fair play and the
readiness to take responsibility for our actions.

Inspite of the novel being based on life in West Africa, the issues that
are raise are Pan African and even common to developing countries which
have been under the influence of colonial powers at some time in their
history.  Perhaps one even daresay, that any people desiring to focus on,
maintain and carry on their traditions in the face of the rapid pace of
modernisation- and yet can at the same time challenge these very traditions
if they stand in the way of progress and human advance.

The book presents several challenges to the reader, salient among which,
are in something so basic as in the spelling of African names.   Up until
now they have been spelt based on Anglo-Saxon phonology whereas a spelling
standard has been chosen based on local orthography which is closer to how
Africans speak and hear themselves.

How to buy:

go to:

http://groups.msn.com/GambianNovelWhentheMonkeyTalks

or e-mail admin_doineex"hotmail.com

Prices = 10 pounds sterling plus postage and packing UK 2.50, EU 3.00, rest
of world 5.50 (all prices in UK pounds)

Please support further by downloading the details and asking your
local/college/university library to buy a copy

jamm ak xewel

T.Cisse

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