From: Abdoulaye Saine <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Subject: The Deepening Senegalization and Islamization of The Gambia Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 22:42:47 +0000 G-L Community: One of the more perceptible shifts/changes in Gambian society today is the growing Senegalization/Wollofization/Islamization of Gambian by it larger neighbor Senegal. For sure, this phenomenon is hardly new. These two countries have shared deep cultural and religious roots historically. Border towns like Farafenni, Kaur etc. have always felt that influence. What appears to be new, however, is the degree of Senegalese penetration of

The Gambia in terms of its culture, religion and economy.

The adoption of Senegalese speech patterns, religious education, and the effects of Senegalese garment, furniture, transport and other industries. The "Kaba" is perhaps most noticable in dress fashions, yet, secondary to the "mbalax" and the latest onslaught of Senegal's music sensation Ndongo Lo. He is a big hit here.

Thus, what politicans like Abdou Diouf and Leopold Senghore could not accomplish politically under more formal channels is being attained, albeit, informally. These working-class Senegalese artisans, welders, cab-drivers, tailors etc. are making Senegambia a reality but through informal means. Yet, the agents of integration from Senegal can not be limited to the latter as large construction companies such as CSE and many Senegalsese professionals work in The Gambia together with countless other nationalities from the sub-region. With about 50% of Gambia's population being non-Gambian and mostly Senegalese, the latter as a whole is literally injecting new-blood (through intermarriage and investment) into the Gambia's political culture, religion, economy and way of life.

 The immediate consequence is added vitality for Gambia and Gambians and perhaps a step closer to the spirit of a true Senegambia. Indeed, this is but one aspect of globalization manifested through culture and religion and perhaps at the expense of other religious and ethnic communities in the area. Senegalese at home and those in the Diaspora, together with the likes of Youssou Ndour, Thione Seck, Ndongo Lo, religious leaders, Senegalese tv, radio, etc. are penetrating The Gambia with skills and capital and certainly some undesirable elements as well. They are also counter-penetrating the West with its music, athletes, scholars, "Modou-Modous" etc. Thus, globalization may not in fact, be unidirectional but could take place within the periphery of the global economy and between the periphery and toward the core-states.

From an Internet Cafe in Bakau,

(I apologize for any typos). Abdoulaye _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~