Mamburay was a linguist and as seasoned educator
at the education department. He was involved with developing the schools
curriculum for the department, and was well respected as a leading voice in
encouraging the introduction of local languages in schools. He had recently
resigned from his position in the government, and had committed himself to work
vigorously with others in the group.
Mamburay's letter of resignation from the services
of the government, which had been made public and distributed
widely, touted his humble background from one of the poorest areas in the
country. Regardless, he had demonstrated a scholastic aptitude which saw him
earned degrees in the best institutions in the West. He had come home to the
notion of building a nation, nation building, only to realize that it was a
charade that didn't match up to its stated objectives. He had persistently
fought through the systemic bureaucracy, only to meet its intolerant and
impervious attitude to stifle change. He had reached the point where his
principles were in conflict with the government that he served. His
resignation had aroused some misgivings; while some supported him, others
chastised him for giving up all the opportunity and promise in his job, for
an elusive idealism.
"This indeed is a historical
gathering," Mam Biram said.
Mam Biram was of medium height and not
heavily built. He spoke with a very strong emphasis that carried the weight, and
import of what he wanted to say. His voice was deep, and he had a tendency to
talk a lot. He also had a penchant for being too voluminous in his
writings. He defended his positions and beliefs with vigor, and had an
unrestrained ability to be candid and forthright without being apologetic. He
took great interest and pride in engaging others in polemics.
"For the first time in the
history of our republic," Mam Biram continued, "the people in this group would
make it their task to broaden the minds of the people, so that they can become
the masters of their own destiny. We will explain to the people what a sovereign
republic is. We will explain to the people why a constitution gives them the
power to elect their own representatives. We will explain the system of
taxation, and give concrete details as to how it works. We will explain why the
people are paying more taxes yet their needs and aspirations are not met. We
will try and reach the Gambian people and inform them about the causes of the
poverty in the country; why they are powerless, and the ways in which these
deficiencies can be combated.
"We are going to
introduce a new kind of politics; a politics that enlightens the people. The
fundamental task before us is to create a political party that will grow from
being owned by a few people, to a party that will be owned by the vast
majority of the Gambian people, who wants to live in dignity, liberty and
prosperity. At the moment all the political parties are relying on the same
system to generate support for their programs. They try to gain the support of
the people by raising funds and they mobilize the opinion leaders to
help them gain the support of the people. But the truth is, the
government is always in a better position to raise more funds; the
government has the resources to mobilize more opinion leaders and more people,
thus making it very difficult for any political party to be able to compete. In
order to be able to compete our politics has to be different. We have to evolve
a new kind of tactics and a new kind of strategy."
"We also have to be able to finance our own
activities and programs," Mamburay asserted. "We are going to engage in a
long and protracted struggle that can take one's lifetime, and we are
not even sure if our achievements can happen during our lifetime. But we can be
assured with the belief that we can be survived by our deeds, which hopefully
will live after us."
A draft manifesto was
presented, argued and debated thoroughly, and finally accepted. A political
party was going to be formed and would be made public. An election took
place to elect those who would start the management of the new party
immediately. Mam Biram was elected as secretary general of the new party;
Sambujang was elected as secretary of the information bureau; Mamburay was
elected as the chairperson and Aunty Jorjoh, Sambujang's wife, was elected as
secretary to women and child affairs. These people were to be the faces of the
new party.
Aunty Jorjoh was among
a handful of women in attendance, and had followed the footsteps of her
older brother who was deeply involved in the politics of the late sixties and
early seventies. She was a gender activist and an educator, and had
suffered the indignities of prison life when she was incarcerated at the
Mile Two prisons along with his husband, and his colleague Mam Biram. She
was incarcerated at a time when she was nursing a ten months old baby.
After the formation of the new
political party, there was a series of open rallies the first of which was
organized at latriknda Yiringaya. The second was held in Banjul.
The participants at the meeting
dispersed as silently as they arrived. The brown cement block building
hidden behind the cluster of palm trees, became as serene as the beautiful green
foliage that surrounded it. The birds chirped high up in the trees, and
the rays of the sun were a golden hue as it descended steadily on the
horizon. The night sneaked in surreptitiously.
*
It was a beautiful day. The afternoon sun was mild
in its intensity. A cool breeze blew across the wide expanse of sandy soil. The
gathering around the meeting place was getting bigger and bigger. A
cluster of young people, mostly students and teachers, stood in small groups
talking animatedly. The atmosphere of excitement and curiosity was exhilarating.
Some people came to hear for the first time what they had been reading in a
clandestine newsletter, and purported to have been distributed by
the people organizing the meeting. The clandestine newsletter strangely appeared
in public places; it evoked a political awakening and consciousness among the
young people, and caused a great degree of alarm and consternation in the higher
echelon of the political establishment.
There were four giant speakers placed
strategically in the four corners of the open rectangular sandy space, in front
of the magnificent mosque building in Latrikunda. A flurry of patriotic songs,
accompanied by a melodious piano and rhythmic guitar, boomed aloud from the four
giant speakers. Little children were running around the open space wrestling
each other. Elderly people sat in front of their compounds waiting eagerly to
hear what this meeting was all about. Some people stood inconspicuously around
the vicinity of the meeting place to avoid being seen. While others went about
their normal business as if nothing was taking place right in front of their
eyes.
"Gal gang chi rebi, gal gang chi
rebi
alek chi suba tell di nen
dem Congo
ay suma haret nu ki len
tay nku
alek chi suba tell di nen
dem Congo
De nken am kenen, de nken
am kenen
wande nu mel ne
njun njefa Banjul."
The above song with a beautiful cadence
blasted from the huge speakers, and interspersed with the deep voice of Mam
Biram.
"We are not
going anywhere
this also is our country
we
all have a role to play in it.
We
are not going anywhere
this also is our country
we
will stay and contribute our part."
Mam Biram, Sambujang and Mamburay stood in a circle near
the podium and talked in whispers. Aunty Jorjoh later joined in the discussion.
Thereafter, she proceeded to the podium and adjusted the microphone.
"Allou, Allou, Allou.
Suma ye mboka," Aunty Jorjoh began. The noise around the gathering place
suddenly subsided and everyone was listening intently.
"We have come
here today to have a chat. We want to talk to you about the country that we
all belong and love. A lot of things have been going on; our children are
leaving school without having jobs. The rains are here and our farmers do not
have the fertilizers to put on the soil. The government has promised to help
them, but the cooperative union still cannot make this available to them.
"Look at our people; they
are not having enough of the nutrients that they need to make their bodies
healthy and immune to disease. When the women go to the market, they spent the
greater part of the morning haggling with vendors for cheaper
bargains. People can no longer afford to buy meat and bone; they
can no longer afford to buy good fish, and have to rely heavily on kobo day in
and day out. Even then Kobo is getting to be beyond the reach of some; that is
why if they tell you that you have the patience of a kobo, you really do have
patience. Kobo has survived from being a bunch for few bututs to now two or
three for many dalasis.
"We want to talk about more important things like
our economy, why we see the need to form a political party, and what we can do
if you give us your vote to form a new government. To talk about all these
things, I now have the pleasure to introduce to you your son, your brother,
your uncle and your good friend Mam Biram."
There was a rapturous applause as Mam
Biram walked to the podium. He was dressed in a light blue pants and a gold
embroidered frock with a pair brown slippers.
Rene
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