Hi Uncle Mathew,
 
Thanks for your mild response. I was expecting a much harder blow than the one you sent.
 
In any way, you are bigger than you think you are with a wider readership base. While being appreciative of your activism and contributions, i wanted to plainly share with you that the generalization in one lump sum of the Jolas and the people of Foni scare me a lot, because the Jolas and Foninkas suffered the most under jammeh. I doubt the 7% magic number you are using is factually accurate. You are right you did mention some fula names. I think that was done purposely to defend your position incase there is a critic of your piece lurking in the background. I totally share some of your sentiments. I think you are always doing a good job until the point that you start the kinds of debates that turn people off. You mentioned only a few names in an effort to convince people that indeed it is the percentage of the Jolas on the throne. I seriously differ in opinion. I wish you would have mentioned Waa Juwara, Ganji Touray, your former NRP mobilizer Mambarick njie, Rambo, Yankuba Touray, Kaaba bajo,  and the many others currently dinning with the terror regime. For goodness sake, a more fulas, mandinkas, Wollofs, manjagoes are on the top seats of power. I don't doubt of jammeh's trabalistic mind, or just his rotten and crooked head, but the lumping of the Jolas around jammeh's crime is worrying. I have seen others make similar debates pinning things on the people of Foni when in actual reality the people of Foni and the Jolas suffered most under jammeh's rule. For example, you asked  where is landing Sanneh, lang Tombong, Tumbul tamba, Musa bulluf jammeh, and the many others. It is not that these people were right in any way by their association with jammeh, but jammeh didn't spare them as well.
 
May I take this opportunity to apologise for my harsh stance on this. Please be rest assured that those harming our people are just Gambians. It is true that jammeh is loaded with all the fetishes, tribal nonsense, and terror...but it doesn't mean all the Jolas are with him. Jammeh's surrounding is full of Gambians of all tribes.  As a regular reader to your articles I hope you take my feedback in good faith. I am speaking from the receiving end of things. The tone in that article, and some of the other views you are continually pounding us with doesn't really hold.
 
I hope you are not misunderstanding Demba's stand on this. Demba is saying that we cannot equate ourselves with jammeh, because two wrongs will never make a right. As an elder, an aspiring politician, an educated person of your level, and man that commands so much readership, I hope you will always ask the question --what will the younger ones/Gambains/Africans or even the world benefit from what I am writing. Please turn off the tone in your articles a little.  
 
Anyway, thanks for your time to respond. I am resting my case on this.
 
Always, yero

There is no god but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger. Fear and Worship only Allah alone!

 

---

Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:05:40 -0800
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Tribal Politics: Is that what Africa Needs?
To: [log in to unmask]

Yero as Sarjo and Demba pointed out, I am just reporting what is happening. I am not making it up. Look at the list of top regime civil servants; all of them Jolas and ask yourself if that is right. I think your concern is addressed to the wrong person. Yahya Jammeh is the culprit here; not me. I am very close to the Jolas; matter of fact they call me alkalo of Nema Jola-kunda for the inordinate amount of time I spent among the Jolas there, sometimes sleeping at my Jola friend's home. Also if you read what I wrote I made exceptions because I know not all Jolas are culprits here. I also included Njie saidy, Nete Baldeh, Salleu Jallow and Waa Juwara as jammeh's emablers and facilitators. Yes I recognize many Fulas and Mandinkas are equally guilty, but all that does not change the fact Jolas in high administrative positions are more than the combine total of all the other tribes. If you have 7% of population controlling 75 % of the jobs, that statistical imbalance cannot be excused, cannot be swept under the rug and cannot be ignored. What I am doing is not more dangerous than what Yahya Jammeh has done. Some people may decide to not report it, but it is not in my makeup to do the same. If a Fula did it I would be equally as forthright with my criticism.   --- On Mon, 11/14/11, Sarjo Bayang <[log in to unmask]> wrote: From: Sarjo Bayang <[log in to unmask]> Subject: RE: Tribal Politics: Is that what Africa Needs? To: "GPU USA Branch" <[log in to unmask]> Date: Monday, November 14, 2011, 12:30 PM Yero,   Bottom line, Jammeh is arrogantly playing Jola tribal politics. Of course 100% treat would have been clear enough. No wonder others are plastered along the thick walls. The game is about Jola hand-picked generals, basic as that. Nothing to imply that every Jola person is happy with this. The potential threat level is now gaining lofty heights and needs someone to name name it. Where does Momodou Sanyang fit in the position of Director General Radio and TV who takes that job as sitting next to Jammeh and making commentaries as just another staff ? We are looking at appropriateness in the use of right instruments.   Regards   Sarjo   From: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] Subject: RE: Tribal Politics: Is that what Africa Needs? Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:28:54 -0600 Thanks again, Uncle Sarjo, and well argued.   I also agree that Jammeh's bad leadership included in his package of tribal sentiments needs to be exposed. Mathew is honestly in the forefront. The likes of Momodou Sanyang are part of the idiots sinking our nation to the bottom of the rock. But recall when Dr. King said people should be judged on the contents of their character. That makes it wrong to demean the Jola tribe in particular as solely being responsible for the terror happening in our country, especially in a way that targets them for reprisal after what may. There are a number of Jolas. Equally, there are a number of other tribes trapped in the rotten system.  Those committing these crimes alongside Jammeh are Gambians, not only of the Jola tribe but from across the board. Those enjoying the national wealth are from across the board. Jammeh is all that rotten but he has managed to neutralize the system in a way that attracts other bootlickers to join his terror Gov't. You wonder why Syngle Nyassi is still hanging onto the opposition while those like Mambagery Njie, Rambo, Waa Juwara, Ganji Touray, and all the others are dancing to jammeh's tone. The point here is the politics of tribe doesn't have a place in our current age, and the tribal formula of politics will not go any where.   Thanks for extending the debate.   Yero There is no god but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger. Fear and Worship only Allah alone!   From: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] Subject: RE: Tribal Politics: Is that what Africa Needs? Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:13:48 +0000 Yero,   Times come up when nice words work.  Openly, it is clear to everyone that Jammeh is arrogantly playing TRIBAL with Gambians. It is the reponsibility of every Jola to recognise and stamp out this ugly deed. Granted they are enjoying it, better also that they endure the pain inflicted with it. Don't get me wrong. I totally despise every form of segregation or marginalisation. Very unfortunately, Jammeh is openly marginalising other people. That is nothing to do with MAJORITY or MINORITY.  Those who are enjoying the game have responsibility to do something about it.  I have carefully read and thought about everything Mathew writes on this subject and can't fault him for raising the flag. It is potentially harmful for someone in the public position of president play bias. This one by Jammeh is extreme. The people enjoying it have full responsibility to have it stopped. Momodou Sanyang and all other Jolas in high position know what they merit and what they don't. What do you call their silence ? I am not an advocate of violence but will not stand in the way those made to suffer a fate like Jammeh now inflicts on people of Gambia.  I maintain that Mathew is right to expose the ugly tribal card game of Jammeh. Don't the people enjoying this unfair deal not know what they indulge in ?  I am equally aware that not every Jola is part of this game. The truth is, Jammeh is openly playing the Jola against every other Gambian.  That needs stopping.   Regards   Sarjo   From: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] Subject: RE: Tribal Politics: Is that what Africa Needs? Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 10:44:06 -0600 Uncle Sarjo,   Thanks for your comments. I know Uncle Mathew has valid points especially with Jammeh's regime of terror. No doubt that the man called Jammeh is a rotten lunatic of the highest order, a devil for that matter that deaulted to the human species.   On the later article, the tone is just scary. This has every tendency to create a back-lash and incite tribal revenge and violence. Just because Jammeh is from the Jola tribe and a minority doesn't warrant the kind of demeaning to the Jola tribesmen. Leadership should not and never be based on tribal majority. It should be based on capability. The tribal formula will not work in Gambian politics. The sooner that Gambians rescue themselves of the menace the better we will be as a nation. Mathew lives in the US where Barack Obama from a minority still heads one of the greatest nations on earth despite being from the black race, a very minor one compared to the others.   Uncle Mathew as an elder is better engaging on the things that would progress our nation. The kind of sentiments that would make Jolas as targets of reprisal, harm, or bad omens will defeat the purpose of all our struggle when it is a know fact that Jammeh's regime is composed of people from all tribes, starting from Isatou Njie Saidy, Edu Gomez, Masaneh Kinteh, etc...I know Jammeh is sick, and loaded with the worst complexities on earth. I know he have tribal tendencies and has even taken the step to insult certain tribes and elders. Further, he did appointments based on those loyal to him--Jolas, Fulas, Mandinkas, manjagoes, Sarahulles all happen to be part of this otten package. For us to equate this trend of Jammeh, will equally make us the same as Jammeh.   As a regular reader of his articles, it is my humble feedback that he needs to peel off the tribal sentiments by getting his tone down. To see this kind of tribal sentiments, it is a clear sign of lacking substance to offer, or at least some complexity likely to move on to other generations of ours. Greater minds dream of how we can unite all these tribes after Jammeh is gone. Otherwise the tribal wounds will stay on, and at some point every tribal group will start crying wolf. There are a number of Jolas (example Syngle Nyassi) and his son, despite being Jolas, closeness to Jammeh's family, still refuse to be part of Jammeh's regime. There are hundreds of others. How do you think such will make someone like Syngle feel just as an example? I am not totally dismissive of Mathew's points but to target the Jolas as those responsible for what Gambians are going through in a tribal way is not a valid argument. I am sure Mathew calls him self a panafricanist. Is that what Nkrumah would have wish to see from the Mathew he inspired by sending him a book from Ghana all the way to the Gambia?  Jammeh's injustices are spread across the board. That is what bad leaders are...oppress, maim, jail, kill and torture.   Thanks, Yero There is no god but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger. Fear and Worship only Allah alone!   From: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask] Subject: RE: Tribal Politics: Is that what Africa Needs? Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:55:02 +0000 Yero,   Mathew may choose heeding to your family advice and that's fine. With very open mind, it is no secret that what Jammeh plays around is nothing but purely TRIBAL politics. Mathew is doing nothing bad compared to the excessive employment of tribal politics by Jammeh  that so badly plagues the entire Gambia. Look at the composition of top level public positions from Governor Central Bank of Gambia to other senior public positions. People in these positions may be the most qualified. But then when you look at the proportional distribution, that is where fairness and balance come up. In short, it is Jammeh who is doing that dirty job of 'tribal' job dividing society. Mathew in all his writings does less harm. He is simply naming the imposing evil of tribal segregation that Jammeh is known best playing openly.   Vice President Isatou Njie being another tribe other than Jola is a simple thin  masking tape. In future, Gambians don't want leaders to employ tribal sentiment to run public office. Anyone who does so as Jammeh now does, the least required is exposure as Mathew is seen doing.  I have no doubt Mathew would have denounced his own brother or best friend who does what Jammeh is doing.  Jammeh has to be stopped.   Regards   Sarjo Bayang    From: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask] Subject: Tribal Politics: Is that what Africa Needs? Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 08:44:41 -0600 Tribal Politics: Is that what Africa Needs?   http://www.maafanta.com/MathewJallowTheGambiaJolaKingdomAndHegemony.html     Hi Uncle Mathew,   Please turn down the tone of the language in these articles a little bit. In as much as I hate to sound like being a supporter in any shape or form to Jammeh's terror regime, the kind of tribal remarks are not helping us as Africans. Those of us living in the west has been exposed to many other cultures. Even racism is fading away now much more to tribalism. I honestly do not like and buy the idea of tribal sentiments expressed in your article. Just few years ago, you were all over calling the Jawara regime similar names, today you are here saying the same to the Jolas, and who knows the next target of a tribe. No doubt in my mind that the charge of terror and injustices on the jammeh regime is legitimate, but the kind of tribal sentiments in you have every tendency to cause violence. As an aspiring politician, you will need all those classes of people some day. Besides the point, tribal sentiments just need to be turned off. Jammeh's regime is composed of all kind of people, from all Gambian tribes, starting from Isatou Njie saidy all the way the killers in Kanil lai.   Thanks     Yero There is no god but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger. Fear and Worship only Allah alone!

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