This article is clear, educative and great. I must say this is an article from a former teacher



Muhammad Bai Drammeh Bin Alhagie Sheihu Muhammad Lamin Drammeh Bin Muhammad Kanday Drammeh bin Muhammad Kissima Drammeh bin Foday Drammeh

--- On Sat, 14/11/09, malik kah <[log in to unmask]> wrote:


From: malik kah <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: RE: [>-<] A Rejoinder to an Editorial
To: "[log in to unmask] dialog" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Saturday, 14 November, 2009, 14:54




It appears this thorny issue of tribalism has refused to go hence it should be subjected to through examination before being laid to rest. In my opinion and from experience of having worked throughout Gambia, from Banjul to Koina my last posting as a teacher being Kosemar, Fatoto, Garawol and Pasamass the tribes, which contitued Serahule, Mandikas as wll as Fulas seemed to live perfectly at ease with each other, there is hardly any social conflicts that threartens to cause seriously social upheavals as witnessed in other parts of Africa.
 
 Yes there can be disputes sometimes regarding land for farming or grazing but such issues are normally resolved amicably, except perhaps for a few instances which have assumed a nasty dimension involving one or two people, but by and large the tribes in Gambia are corfortably at ease with each other. Testimony to this resides in facts, since the creation of the Republic there has never been incidents between tribes that assumed a national character,  most incidents are isolated interpersonal conflicts. However, the most vocal claimers of tribalism and tribal prejudice is always found amongst the elites who constitute about five percent of the population, through their aspirations for positions they always cry foul and claim being victims of tribal alienation.
 
 If thoroughly analysed most people who argue about about tribalism tend to be intellectuals or elites whose line is usually about  Banjulians versus the rest, such allegations convenient as it may seem when confounded are normally unfounded, because it is based more on perception rather than reality. The Banjul elite versus the terry kafo, these were just a group of self centred elite who had no interest in their tribal origins but more on their social mobility. There certainly can be isolated incidents of tribal prejudice, but it has never been as endemic as being flouted, what was much more prevalent was nepotism, there was clear evidence of this permeating all sections of society, especially work and social mobility, by consequence of such practice it seems to assume tribal colours but if finely inspected the spectre of prejudice was always embedded in nepotism. The issue of nepotism has affected many so called Banjulians, some of us including
 a lot of my friends because of the lack of influential parents felt as much isolated and prejudiced just like anyone who was a victim of  such marginalisation, hence from this perspective, I would call such acts nepotism but someone else quite understandably may see it as tribalism. Many youngsters who grew up in Banjul do not have the same opportunities as being assumed, some of us were equally marginalised. This is precisely why I refuse to reduce such marginalisation as being of tribal origin. The society was a class society, you had highly placed Mandikas, wollofs, Fulas etc, who helped and protected their relatives who can sometimes be of the same tribe or may be not, for inter-tribal marriages has blurred the line of tribal connections within these class of people. They get married to people of the same class regardless of tribe, hence for the to try to drive a wedged making us belief that one tribe was privileged against the others was
 unfounded. Jawara was a mandinka, but the mandinkas going to the same markets experiencing the same hardships as the rest of us, A.B. Njie was wollof but the same predicament befell the wollofs, one can sight many Gambians of different tribal origins who made well for themselves and their families while the rest of us the hoipoloi continued to live in Mud house as well as Kirintings in Banjul. What was happening in Gambia is a case of abject poverty affecting all both rural and urban population, only a few made well for themselves through the connections of their families. Hence to try and argue about tribalism as a universal phenomena that dictated they way we lived is highly fallacious. We must recognised the unjust society created by a a few group who came from different tribes living the life and isolating those of us who had no connections, it was more about whom you know rather than which tribe you belonged to, this is an indisputable truism. 
 
In the workings of the Army a recently found institution I cannot comment, but Kejau has made some strong revelations that if true must be addressed by the people who had been there and know about how merit was rewarded.
 
 
In any given situation there would always be a people who would want to capitalise upon the ignorance of the people use their gullibility create imaginary enemies and forge alliances that foster their interest such people sometimes can site tribal differences to highlight their self concurred make belief stories which examined usually lacks merit. HENCE TO TALK ABOUT TRIBALISM WE MOST LOOK AT IT IN A BROADER CONTEXT, WHEN THE ELITE FIGHT FOR POSITIONS AND WANT TO DRAG A WHOLE DEMOGRAPHY OF PEOPLE INTO SUCH AN EQUATION IT MOST BE EXPOSED FOR WHAT IT IS, FAKE.
 


From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: [>-<] A Rejoinder to an Editorial
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 17:57:22 +0000



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Mr. Chongaan, your are absolutely right, it is preposterous to premise all Jammehs actions on tribalism, in fact if one carefully looks at those incarcerated in Mile Two one would easily discern that there are as many Jolas as any other tribe, hence the evidence clearly indicates that the Jolas are just treated like anyone else. What obtains in Gambia is the classic case of opportunism and Jammeh knows that very well, once given position they start the endless praise singing, until such a time they are fired from work, then they became critical and start finding faults which hitherto existed but they choose to ignore. 
 
As a young nation with barely two million people we should avoid walking the plank of tribalism. Yes, we must recognised that tribes exist that is a fact of life, but we must look at the things that unify us and strengthen them rather than try and create fissures that will foster enmity and bring strife, as a people there are lots of things we can waste our time on rather than tribal escapades. To oppose a system has to be based either on principle or ideology and not any parochial chauvinism. I total agree with you that we should shun the petty squabbles and focus on the broader picture upon which the basis of a more just more democratic dispensation can be founded, after all the Gambia is at a cross-road and we should all take stock of our roles and agree to how best we can move the democratic agenda forward.
 
 Without focusing on such values and wasting our time spanking at each other at any given moment we shall never create the momentum to forge ahead. These are desperate times for all Gambians it is recognised that the old order most die but for the new to be born we must be prepared and build a solid cradle, how do we go about doing this is the fundamental question?. Well in my opinion all of us must focus on Agenda 2011, as the time draws nearer towards the elections, what should preoccupy us in such forays is the formulation of tactics and strategies that will bring us all together to support the democratic forces on the ground for the realisation of change. Without such an agenda being taken seriously and occupying most if not all our conversations then it would be pointless engaging at all. It is my conviction all Gambians especially in the diaspora should get involved one way or the other, helping out to create a better and more democratic
 Gambia, were one will not walk and worry  anticipating being picked up for no reason other than your conscience. If we make the mistake and cease to organise and channel both our energies and resources to achieving a more democratic space we will be the victims of our own making and therefore should only have ourselves to blame. The gambians at home are eager to see the forces of opposition to unite in a very firm and very genuine manner, if the political class should fail by virtue of selfishness then we shall all be condemn to suffer for a very very long time. In fact then we would have bolstered and prolong the status quo inadvertently to posterity.
 
This mistake have been committed in various parts of Africa and that is precisely why we have the modern day African monarchs sprung all over the continent and if we are not careful bickering about futile issues we would die licking our wounds helping to entrench a modern day monarchy. One have to look at Africa and see a new order emerging an order more backward than colonialism hence it is a case of one step forward two steps backward. Look at the continent almost all the leaders plan to hand over power to their children, Libya, Gabon, Togo, Egypt, Senegal, Cameroun, kenya, Chad, all this is possible because the people refuse to organise themselves and resist, if as a young nation we cannot appreciate this trend and focus on the irrelevant we certainly would fell victims of this new phenomena
 
> Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 11:46:27 +0000
> Subject: [>-<] A Rejoinder to an Editorial
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> CC: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
> 
> [ This e-mail is posted to Gambia|Post e-Gathering by Ebrima Chongan <[log in to unmask]> ]
> 
> 
> A Rejoinder to an Editorial
> 
> I sent an article, “Another Side to The Gambian Crisis,” to one of the
> online papers, but I was surprised that another online paper decided
> to write an attack editorial about the piece. This editorial missed
> the point by all marks. I have never sought any secret or open attempt
> to reconcile with Yahya Jammeh. I will never ever apologise for his
> leadership. Our differences are simply irreconcilable. In fact I am
> coming out with a memoir that will attest to this fact. That is all I
> have to say about the insinuation of attempts by me to apology for
> Yahya Jammeh in the editorial.
> 
> Regarding the article itself, my intention was to address some
> tendencies to associate all Jolas with Yahya Jammeh. Yahya Jammeh
> should not and must never be excused for practising tribalism. But no
> one else should be excused for practising tribalism on all Jolas
> because of Yahya Jammeh. If that point was misunderstood in the
> article, as in the case of the editorial, then that was rather
> unfortunate.
> 
> Alpha Ebrima Ismaila Chongan
> 
> 
> 
> 
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