expanding the self-interest debate..
false myraid
Suntou Touray
Yahya Jammeh have used and abused many good
men in our country. First he makes his targets special with the patriotic
mantra. He then softens them up for his grand schemes. Even today ambitious
young Gambians are lining up to take his offers. This people only have to
commit to him, the Gambia is left with wide open mouths.
Dictators can
utilise even sensible good men. All they do is find the motivation in people,
what motivates X, Y or Z. Once the vampires found that out, they initiate the
linking up, between the good prey and the head of the cannibals. Good men get
drowned. Who was it that is supposed to supervise the building of recording
studio?
oko said:
“Sountou, I see the Word Music Musicians/Producer. But
do you think, like in Europe and in America where movie stars and musicians
are invited into government that's not Africa. Government is for Yuppies.
Hopefully they will let the artists be, not sided. Arts is Liberal.”
Oko
Brother Oko, on normal circumstances I would not respond to your
rebuttals since it only reflects the bit you take to be personal in a
discourse that is unpalatable to a cross section of people.
I respect your
opinion, hence my points to your query. Music is a trade just like arts in
itself. Musicians or their producers are equally mortal beings who are
individualist like we all are. I have little knowledge or love of music, but i
know it is men who write, play and produce it. These lines of people therefore
search for what is of benefit to them in most cases.
The complexities of
dictatorship are not so hard to dissect. For us as Africans, it is a
nightmarish quagmire. The rest of humankind is more or less worrying about
high tech advancements whilst our leaders are wondering how godly we must
appreciate them. They rule us like animals, kill us, jail us, exile us, make
regular threats against us, insult us, and squander our wealth, just any
negative ills you can think of.
These leaders aren’t stupid Oko, they know
who to trap in their web of greedy, personal glorification and the eternal
search for illegitimate grace. (In God we all Hope).
I say dictators
can drown even good men/women. They approach good members of society with
noble gestures. Promote our black culture, our heritage. They monopolise the
past and try to make people sentimental over those issues, whilst exploiting
people along the way. That is how Yahya Jammeh took control of the roots
festival; hoodwink scores of diaspora native blacks, Jamaican musicians, music
producers and agents. They term him a messiah also, the devil in person (in
Suratul Nass).
Musicains sing for Yahya (Jilanka) from Sajo Band, Yousour
Ndur, scores of Senegalese artist, Jaliba Kuyateh etc. Why praise an
acknowledge human rights abuser? Money, fame ....
“Afrcan leaders will
not consider putting artists into office???” Oko
I don’t know about that. A
dictator is a person who rules or aim for total domination. If an artist can
serve him better than non-artist, he will not hesitate to do business with
them.
“Maybe Imams & Preists, fit the category. These jobs are
reserved for ambitious Yuppies (Young urban professionals). “ Oko
Seriously
Oko, i don’t know what a Yuppies is. The reason I put across Imams and Priest
is to simply convey the realities of human duplicity. Even Imams or Priest if
they follow their immediate self-interest can be exploited by a
tyrant.
“They study for it and went to the marabout for it.”
Oko
Anyway, the artist just like all professionals do things they believe
will advance their careers. In our compartmental world, if it means seeing a
Marabout, so it shall be. From office clerks, secretaries, accountants, police
officers, business men/women etc, they do whatever it takes to succeed. The
marabourism is also an enterprise. They prey on people’s inadequacies, fears
and hopes.
“As you were as a child, so shall you grow to be a man.”
Oko
Indeed, every grey old folk was once a kid, which is obvious.
“A
hypocrite is always a hypocrite.” Oko
That is not necessarily the case.
People could change giving the right environment and aptitude. Hypocrites do
easily accuse others of being one. The bottom line is, what has that got to do
with the subject under discussion. It is surprising that, a personal tinge
emanates from your end here. This topic dealt with various issues, the
conveyer is right in the tick of the discussion.
It is surprising the
position you took representing the musicians/producer community here. As if
they are above self-interest.
.
“The artists are not Yuppies for
Ambassador jobs. Please don't tease our opinion, I beg you. The Yuppies are
our problems.” Oko
I may have stepped on your toes Oko. Are you an
ambassador for Jammeh Musa? In what capacity do you advocate for him? Are you
aware of yahya’s crimes against ordinary Gambians?
Why would an experience
wise man like you with knowledge of diverse countries and communities be
acting for Yahya Jammeh if at all you do?
Yahya Jammeh came upon us with
the promise he was going to rule according to a timetable and then return back
to the barracks. Those promises are all up in the air. He told us that,
politicians in past hang onto power for years, and that no such thing will
ever happen in the Gambia again.
Today, Yahya Jammeh has entered his
fifteen year of maladministration. He hasn’t shown any inkling that he will
leave anytime soon. Now, first we know that Yahya lied to all of us live on
radio and television. He even sometimes swore to God and the holy Books that,
he will not betray the Gambia. He has done so more than anyone we know. Yet
such an open criminal can use good men/women to brush up his crimes, passing
them off as reactions of agitators, his haters, unpatriotic journalist
etc.
Where are our musicians/producers in all this period? there are
protest musicians, actors, comedians, playwriters etc (Harold Pinter, Javish
Corker, John Lenon, Fela, Mariama makeba, Bob Marley, etc. Those musicians
stand out for all to see.)
Many of own musicians have composed songs
for him. Meet him and smile coyly in his face. Jammeh is not stupid as i
always opined. He knows how to exploit the self-interest ambition of our
people. From PhD brothers to the degree brigades, folks are there for his
taking.
This subject is far wider than the confine space of musicians and
there producers/promoters.
“The Struggle for class.” Oko
Indeed,
for those who care.