Sister Jabou,

It’s been a while since we last spoke, but you and your family are always in
my prayers. This summer, I have been away on a field trip to Senegal, and
from there I spent time in Toulouse and Paris.  Hence my apparent
disappearance.  I’m now in the last eight months of my Doctoral studies, and
the pressure is starting to build!

However, whenever the need arises, I’ll post up a message to Gambia L and
Gambia Post.

My time in Dakar was very useful:  I seem to remember that, like me, you
lived there for a while:  you would certainly be impressed with the current
infrastructural development and the feelings of optimism.  The quality of
workmanship and the wonderful buildings which have been put up, especially
in the "Almadi" area, are not even to be found in Europe or America –
believe me.

The Senegalese have their shortcomings (the pollution in the city, the
traffic jams, the crime rate, the hustlers, high prices, unemployment) but
overall, there is a real sense of rejuvenation, development and progress.
In fact, it is my intention to write a comprehensive piece on my time in
Dakar, and especially touching Senegalese-Gambian relations, for Gambia L
and Gambia Post.  I’ll have to carve out some time from my busy schedule to
do this soon.

I was also surprised to discover that our own Musa Ngum sold more cassettes
in Senegal in 2001 than any other Senegalese musician, including Youssou
Ndour. His album entitled "Artist" was a real hit in Senegal in 2001, I was
told.

Regarding your point that Islamic countries are run according to Sharia Law:
  Well, in Western dictum, the definition of Islamic state is more in terms
of the influence of religion on secular affairs such that affairs of
religion and state tend to become inseparable.  Take Pakistan for instance:
in Western circles, it is categorised as an Islamic/Muslim nation and yet
Pakistan does not operate according to Sharia law.  This is a huge topic in
its own right and many scholars are making it a field of special interest.

International politics is interesting these days!  Despite my busy schedule,
one of these days I shall surely talk about the current USA administration
vis-à-vis the rest of the world. I shall also attempt to explain what I see
as a marriage of circumstance between the Christian right in the USA and the
pro-Israel/Jewish lobby and how this unlikely marriage is shaping and
determining international politics and foreign relations throughout the
world.

I do wholeheartedly agree with you that Jammeh is "yet another one of many a
money and power-driven African leaders".  He is bleeding our nation dry and
bringing it to the verge of ruin.

Let’s keep in contact please!

Brother Ebrima Ceesay,
Birmingham, UK



PS: Sister Ndey Jobarteh:

Great to hear from you after all this time!  I take it that you are having a
good time in Ghana.  There was a progressive Ghanaian PhD student at the
Centre of West African Studies called Audrey Gadzepro, who finished her
studies last year and returned home. I asked her to try and look you up.
She teaches Media Studies at Legon University’s School of Communication.  In
fact, Sister Audrey is a Board Member of the Ghana Office of the Centre for
Democracy and Development.  Audrey is very smart and razor sharp on women’s
issues.  Her oratory skills remind me of Dr Patricia MacFadden, one of the
leading gender activists Africa has ever produced.

I also saw Dr Melville George, former Director of Medical and Health
Services in The Gambia, at Waterloo Station in London!!  He mentioned that
he was the W.H.O. Rep in Ghana and I asked him whether he knew you.  He told
me that he had indeed met you.  When I asked if you were still as stubborn
as ever, he had no answer!!!! (LAUGH!!!!!).


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