This is the spirit fellows! Let's keep it this neat. By the way, I've been away for some time now and I've observed a lot of progress. All I'll say to you folks is kudos and keep on keeping on. Ous Ngum. On Wed, 14 Mar 2001 16:10:08 -0000, The Gambia and related-issues mailing list wrote: > Mr Kujabi > You ARE brilliant, have always been. No joke. For me, there has really been > no hatchets to bury or not to bury at all. No by-gones to let. In other > words, I had never taken your criticism to heart. Indeed, as you so rightly > suggested, Jatta and Small should both lie VERY LOW so we can 'do our > thing', as you so aptly put it. Please continue your critiquing whenever you > have some precious time to spare. You are always more than welcome. > Baba > > > >From: Ansumana Kujabi <[log in to unmask]> > >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list > ><[log in to unmask]> > >To: [log in to unmask] > >Subject: Re: LIFE IN OUR LITTLE TOWN - Part One(BETTER REFINED SATIRE:GOOD > > JOB THIS TIME) > >Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 15:45:24 -0000 > > > >My Dear Baba Galleh: > > > >Very many thanks for your wonderful comments, and I am flattered that you > >described me as some one brilliant. And I am deeply honored by that. I > >thought that you had misunderstood my first critiquing, but let bygones be > >bygones and let's bury the hatchet. A well schooled guy like you should not > >come down to the level of personal satirizing, but rather edge up to a more > >advanced height. Please, let Jatta and small lay down low and let's do our > >thing. If I have time on my hands, I will continue to critique your > >writings, but I may not always have time to do that. In any case, thanks > >again for your wonderful description. Continue on with your new broader > >themes. > > > >Ansumana Kujabi > > > > > >>From: Omar Hatab <[log in to unmask]> > >>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list > >><[log in to unmask]> > >>To: [log in to unmask] > >>Subject: Re: LIFE IN OUR LITTLE TOWN - Part One(BETTER REFINED SATIRE:GOOD > >> JOB THIS TIME) > >>Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 15:11:22 -0000 > >> > >>Dear Mr Kujabi > >> > >>Thanks so much again for a job very well done! Honestly, you are one of > >>the > >>most clever guys I've ever come across! You are really so clever that I > >>know > >>not what to say! The question for me is - to say or not to say?!!! That is > >>the question! > >>I do really appreciate your brilliant critique which, this time around, > >>has > >>not only captured the inner essence of my story, but also its hidden > >>spirit > >>and open-ended matter. I hope you enjoy the remaining parts of this story. > >>And indeed, as you so very brilliantly put it, you have ruffled my > >>feathers > >>so hard that they are all currently stiff and widely splayed, like so many > >>spears pointed at the four corners of the skies!! Please continue giving > >>me > >>your brilliant citiques, so that I can find always find ways and means of > >>improving upon my writings and reaching higher heights. Once yet again, > >>thanks so much Mr Kujabi sir. I'm very highly pleased and impressed, and > >>more than the word honoured!! God bless. > >>Baba > >> > >> > >>>From: Ansumana Kujabi <[log in to unmask]> > >>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list > >>><[log in to unmask]> > >>>To: [log in to unmask] > >>>Subject: Re: LIFE IN OUR LITTLE TOWN - Part One(BETTER REFINED > >>>SATIRE:GOOD > >>> JOB THIS TIME) > >>>Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 08:41:49 -0000 > >>> > >>>MY DEAR BABA GALLEH JALLOW: > >>> > >>>As you have already lamented earlier on, you were absolutely right that > >>>it > >>>paid off enormously to RUFFLE your feathers. This is chiefly due to the > >>>fact > >>>that this time around, you came up with a very brilliant SATIRE, and > >>>believe > >>>me, this comment is from the bottom of my heart, for my RUFFLING of your > >>>feathers is NOW tremendously benefiting every member of the L Forum, > >>>rather > >>>than creating confusion, misrepresentation, malaise and a very deep > >>>division > >>>amongst us all. Let me reassure you, I have a HOLLYWOOD STYLE of > >>>critiquing, > >>>and which has now paid off for us. Instead of PERSONAL SATIRIZING, you > >>>STYLE > >>>has thus changed and greatly improved this time around. Your this piece > >>>has > >>>SENSE OF DIRECTION and PINPOINTED ACCURACY to it. To state it more > >>>precisely, this time around, you have tailored, polished, sliced and > >>>positively altered the PRINCIPAL THEME of your satire from a PERSONAL to > >>>a > >>>more TRADITIONAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL, RELIGIOUS and POLITICAL > >>>THEMES. > >>>To further give weight to my critiquing, I have extracted my analyses > >>>from > >>>your first paragraph(see quotation below). > >>> > >>>In your first paragraph, you and BROTHER RENE have stroke similar cords > >>>OF > >>>CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE. Whiles Brother Rene, in his excerpt, has vividly > >>>described SAMBA as a humble country boy who has been fortunate enough to > >>>have been educated and acquired a "White Man Job" in the City, and always > >>>far away from home, his father, PA GORGI, has been greatly concerned > >>>because > >>>he fears that since old age nears him and his health failing, when he > >>>dies > >>>their tradition and culture will be lost because his one and only Son, > >>>SAMBA > >>>is DRIFTING into "CAFE INTELLECTUALISM", and PA GORGI does not want that > >>>to > >>>happen. > >>> > >>>Baba, your first paragraph on the other hand, is highlighting the > >>>RELIGIOUS > >>>SIGNIFICANCE and NATURALNESS of the tradition PA GORGI is fighting > >>>tirelessly to protect and prevent from being diluted and forgotten > >>>totally. > >>>The important question is how are you able to accomplished this. You have > >>>approached this from three distinct angles: Religious perspective, > >>>Enviromental Perspective and Political Perspective (1) You have > >>>demonstrated > >>>that there is always a NORMAL and SERENE life style in the Villages no > >>>matter what WIND of CHANGE may blow through the Village, and there will > >>>always be a TRANQUIL atmosphere. As you have mentioned in the first > >>>paragraph:"Not even the greatest storms and tornadoes could disturb the > >>>smooth musical rhythm of life in our little town". The above sentence has > >>>clearly indicated the strong influence religion has on our local people, > >>>that is to say, they still deeply believe that GOD MAKES LEADERS, > >>>therefore, > >>>we should all be humble and have patience till God brings another leader > >>>for > >>>us. To put the above point into its proper context, what it means is that > >>>since God brought PRESIDENT JAMMEH to us, therefore, we should all be > >>>humble > >>>and have enough patience to wait till another leader emerges from God; > >>>despite all what Jammeh has put them through, and with all the TORNADOES > >>>of > >>>intimidation, harassment, torture and killings, life is still absolutely > >>>normal in the BABA GALLEH LITTLE TOWN. > >>>(2) From an enviromental point of view, Baba, you have drawn an > >>>incomparable > >>>environment between the Western World and your little town's narrow, dry > >>>and > >>>sandy surroundings. The narrow streets of your little village which has > >>>dry > >>>bushes and often windy due to the dry HAMATTAN WIND that blows from the > >>>SAHARA to the ATLANTIC OCEAN is quite distinct from the much wider paved > >>>streets in the Western World which are fully electrified, and only a > >>>snowy > >>>winter may temper with the power. (3) Finally, your Satire has stroke a > >>>political cord, which I had earlier on criticized you for, but > >>>unfortunately > >>>you misunderstood me. Your remaining paragraphs have exposed the pompous > >>>life style of the Politicians of our generation. These politicians enjoy > >>>big > >>>money, women and Wine upon Wine and driving fancy cars(Pajeros), without > >>>regard to human life. > >>> > >>>To conclude, Baba, my critiquing this time should reassure you that I did > >>>not mean to cause malaise or personal attacks the first time around, but > >>>instead, I wanted you to refocus your brilliant Satires on this kind of > >>>VERY > >>>FINE work of yours, rather than focusing on themes such as KHANTEI, > >>>JAHASAY > >>>ENTERPRISE, RHINEHART SOBER LOOK, ETC. Both you and RENE have been > >>>lamenting > >>>on similar themes, but have approached it from differing angles. Your > >>>situation makes me to wonder why AFRICAN INTELLECTUALS do not like tough > >>>and > >>>passionate critiquing, unlike their Western counterparts. Critiquing can > >>>only enhance your ability to face tougher and bit by bit harsher > >>>critiquing, > >>>and more importantly, it does encourage efficiency and effectiveness. To > >>>that end, I extend to you and Brother RENE, a sincere appreciation. > >>> > >>>Ausumana Kujabi:(THIRD-Truth Telling, Honesty, Integrity, Responsibility > >>>and > >>>Democracy) > >>> > >>>"Unlike all other towns, life in our little town was always normal. Not > >>>even > >>>the greatest of storms and tornadoes could disturb the smooth musical > >>>rhythm > >>>of life in our little town. Come hail or wind, rain or shine, our little > >>>town remained calm and serene, its life patterned along age-old > >>>traditions > >>>and established norms. > >>>The small streets of our little town were paved with air and marked by > >>>rows > >>>and rows of beautiful thorn bushes, sharp and pricking to the touch, > >>>which > >>>grew freely and lent an added tranquility to the atmosphere. Here and > >>>there > >>>were big trees under which were erected big wooden beds that served as > >>>meeting places for the learned among our common townsfolk. There under > >>>the > >>>cool shades of those mighty trees, they would discuss every subject under > >>>the sun and carry on their learned debates, day in, day out. > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>>>From: Omar Hatab <[log in to unmask]> > >>>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list > >>>><[log in to unmask]> > >>>>To: [log in to unmask] > >>>>Subject: LIFE IN OUR LITTLE TOWN - Part One > >>>>Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2001 22:45:44 -0000 > >>>> > >>>>LIFE IN OUR LITTLE TOWN - Part One > >>>>By Baba Galleh Jallow > >>>> > >>>> > >>>>Unlike all other towns, life in our little town was always normal. Not > >>>>even > >>>>the greatest of storms and tornadoes could disturb the smooth musical > >>>>rhythm > >>>>of life in our little town. Come hail or wind, rain or shine, our little > >>>>town remained calm and serene, its life patterned along age-old > >>>>traditions > >>>>and established norms. > >>>>The small streets of our little town were paved with air and marked by > >>>>rows > >>>>and rows of beautiful thorn bushes, sharp and pricking to the touch, > >>>>which > >>>>grew freely and lent an added tranquility to the atmosphere. Here and > >>>>there > >>>>were big trees under which were erected big wooden beds that served as > >>>>meeting places for the learned among our common townsfolk. There under > >>>>the > >>>>cool shades of those mighty trees, they would discuss every subject > >>>>under > >>>>the sun and carry on their learned debates, day in, day out. > >>>>Society in our little town was divided into several distinct strata. > >>>>Right > >>>>at the peak of the social pyramid perched our most prominent bigwigs, > >>>>the > >>>>fat-potbellied moneybags who controlled the strings of all our bulging > >>>>purses and drove around in brand new Pajeros and other expensive cars. > >>>>These > >>>>were the Smoothface Beevys and Fatcheek Rattys, the Tonton Luhatis and > >>>>Jelyeb Lebatis, the really great names whose mere utterances activated > >>>>the > >>>>juicy glands of our common townsfolk. Nicknamed the untouchables, these > >>>>our > >>>>most prominent bigwigs led a life of ease and plenty. They led what was > >>>>commonly known in our little town, as ?flamboyant lifestyles.? > >>>>The favourite past time of our famous moneybags was to ride their > >>>>fattened > >>>>mares at the golden dusk of our little town, waving their flywhisks at > >>>>our > >>>>amazed common townsfolk as they trotted gaily by, and letting out small > >>>>shrieks once in a while, so as not to be mistaken for impersonators. For > >>>>of > >>>>late, some of our dishonest common townsfolk with no money and little > >>>>brains > >>>>had taken to riding stolen mares along the streets of our little town, > >>>>pretending to be untouchable moneybags so as to be able to dupe one > >>>>innocent > >>>>victim or the other. But now, with their special shrieks, the real > >>>>moneybags > >>>>could be distinguished from the fake ones. > >>>>A rung down the top of our social ladder were our less prominent > >>>>bigwigs, > >>>>the Toughlip Weakys and Bigman Smallys, the Wahyeb Diyamus, Nehal > >>>>Lambalehs > >>>>and Momkai Degalas whose defining characteristic was their nearness to > >>>>the > >>>>real moneybags. They made up the administrative cadre of the prominent > >>>>council of our little town. Owing to their fabled garrulous cleverness > >>>>and > >>>>nimble minds, they were also the chief advisers in many a giant business > >>>>in > >>>>our little town. These had no fattened mares to ride in our golden > >>>>sunsets, > >>>>but they owned beautiful Japanese and Chinese cars, which they loved to > >>>>slowly drive before our famous moneybags, honking their horns and waving > >>>>their left hands out the windows to make way for their prominent bosses. > >>>>Their favourite past time was to sit around our prominent moneybags, > >>>>listening to tall tales of gallantry and exploits, and giving advice > >>>>where > >>>>needed and even where not needed. They were truly, the most spectacular > >>>>lot > >>>>in the social cocktail of our little town. > >>>>Next on the social ladder, almost parallel to our less prominent > >>>>bigwigs, > >>>>were the quiet ones of our little town: the Norpil Degalas and Fangkung > >>>>Mofiseshs, whose defining characteristic was silence, but who > >>>>nevertheless > >>>>contributed immensely in making our little town what it was: A lively > >>>>hub > >>>>of > >>>>exciting activity that was the pride of the centuries. > >>>> > >>>> > >>>>_________________________________________________________________________ > >>>>Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at > >>>>http://www.hotmail.com. > >>>> > >>>>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >>>> > >>>>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the > >>>>Gambia-L > >>>>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > >>>>You may also send subscription requests to > >>>>[log in to unmask] > >>>>if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write > >>>>your > >>>>full name and e-mail address. > >>>>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >>> > >>>_________________________________________________________________________ > >>>Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. > >>> > >>>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >>> > >>>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L > >>>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > >>>You may also send subscription requests to > >>>[log in to unmask] > >>>if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write > >>>your > >>>full name and e-mail address. > >>>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >> > >>_________________________________________________________________________ > >>Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. > >> > >>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >> > >>To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L > >>Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > >>You may also send subscription requests to > >>[log in to unmask] > >>if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write > >>your > >>full name and e-mail address. > >>---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >_________________________________________________________________________ > >Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. > > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L > >Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > >You may also send subscription requests to > >[log in to unmask] > >if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your > >full name and e-mail address. > >---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > _________________________________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L > Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html > You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] > if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________________ Send a cool gift with your E-Card http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask] if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------