> Thank you Shiek tijan nyang for your encouragement.

> THE OSUSU.FINANCIAL CLUBS OF THE GAMBIA

> The Early community Financial support system.in The Gambia  .( that made life prosperous and
> moralty correct in Gambia).

> By Oko Drammeh

We do have some funding organisations in Europe and America ,well , but this is not an Osusu Club
These are generous contributions,pledges, gifts and sincere donations.The Osusu finiacial clubs are
dissappearing fast
and this makes it hard for Gambians to consider nothing too sacred to contribute money to.
Osusu is community role for self and social security.. When growing up, it is considered important
to be a part of an Osusu club
They often ask "Are you a member yet"??? . which head name ??etc,  It was shameful enough not be a
member of
one or more  Osusu clubs, i.e: Osusu house, Osusu compin, school, Osusu Mbarr, Osusu vous, Osusu
club or Osusu Daira.
Osusu was the way one could do with more money alone without a job, a husband, a wife,  market and
don't want to beg or dishonest.
The Osusu was the way to a one big PAY DAY. A modern day credit card and loan facility.

Most Ousus clubs were professionally managed in intrest groups.For example the cassava & beans sales
women would have their own Osusu club and determine the cost of goods and devide them in fractions
for vendor members to meet their entire stock which they will sell for profit and still have surplus
to recontribute to the sacred Osusu fund

If you don't pay your Osusu was a huge scandal and can minimize you influence and community moral
position
The Osusu was a saving account for community and traditional occation like weddings, naming
ceremonies, school cost,pilgrimage
picnics and all community functions. Osusu saved our traditional institutions in the face of
colonial and government employment schemes
Osusu money was not use for personal gains and lavishness. The honour and the weekly meeting makes
the contributions so sacred that they appear spiritual than capitalistic, vital to make the money
sacred.
A community elder would keep osusu money or a noble and well trusted individuals. With keeping Ousus
money you are an accountant and book keeper of the commonity with a special honour and status of
trustworthiness.

A list of Osusu members would share the same moral and ethics. They have inspirational mottos and
target datelines that no one
misses. Each month or each week one  member get all the collective money. in one pay-out. It was a
necessary  obligation to join the Osusu club inorder oto maintain your household cost and private
life style.

Osusu was as effective as a present day loan with a garantee to pay.There were many trustworthy ways
of making money and living in style and class without treats ,like robbery in the communities,
rampant theft conning through lying and drug related seizure of possession.

The IBAS The international business (advise0  ??? servise paralyzed the Osusu system by doing what
Osusu used to do in a very attractive GOVERNMENT programme that give money to smasll business for
big profit.

Later on some urban professionals started a series of official Oususu scams that robbed of many
innocent amd decent people of The Gambia and exposed the system to fraud and corruptions.

The I.B.A.S. was a huge SCAM !!!!!!

Osusu is still alive and well !!!

Oko Drammeh
extracts from MNL (c)

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