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NADD (National Alliance For Democracy & Development)

Cooler heads are prevailing in the Gambian political climate. The signing today at the Palm Grove Hotel of a memorandum of understanding between opposition parties culminating in the formation of a coalition is a watershed event in Gambian politics. With any luck, the same maturity and diligence will lead to the selection of a coalition bearer to rid the nation of a tyranny that has been going on for ten years too long.

The coalition should have in mind that getting rid of entrenched dictatorships is no cakewalk. In that respect they should choose someone with gusto to lead them. Throwing in the towel before any irregularities are ironed out ala ousainou darbo is not going to cut it. Stepping into the leadership role is a life and death decision. Timid and the faint of heart need not apply. I shall make further comments on this issue as the story unfolds; but at the moment I will like to congratulate the opposition parties for their efforts in taking a step towards eradicating totalitarianism from the Gambia.

8 Comments:

  1. Ginny said...
    I know this doesn't have anything to do with the topic I'm commenting on but I just couldn't resist, what are the "mandinmories"? Just to make it relevant, I do have to say that it's nice to see that a coalition is being formed in The Gambia, let's hope the coalition can stick together and put the interests of The Gambia, as a whole, first.
    ousman ceesay said...
    What are the mandinmories? Ginny asked. Manding was an ancient mandinka kingdom that used to be in what is todays republic of Mali. Mori literally will translate to scholar. Mandingmori will therefore literally mean scholars from manding. It is ascribe to people with the following last names: Ceesay, Touray, Janneh and Coma.
    Ginny said...
    Hello, Ousman, very interesting! Why is this title only given to people with those four last names? Sorry for the questions, just very interested... Hope your day / week is going well.
    ousman ceesay said...
    Ginny
    Before/after the arrival of Islam in manding, most of the residents of that kingdom are adherents of traditional african religions.The society was feudal. You have the king lineage, the griots, the servants, teachers etc. Oral history has it that the ceesays, tourays, janneh's and comas happened to interact first with the islamic scholars from arabia. They learn the Quran and other teachings of the prophet mohamed. They in turn serve as the scribes, and teachers to the rest of their kin folk. Thus Mori... meaning scholar or teacher.
    Ginny said...
    Hello, Ousman, very interesting! So, then, would the rough translation of the titel of this blog be "home of the Manding Scholars"? Or Mandinka scholars? Or is this too big of a jump * smile *.

    This is all very interesting to me. Is there anywhere I can find more information on Gambian / Mandinka / African culture, in general? During my visit to The Gambia, either I didn't get this information, or it was presented to me, but somehow it didn't sink in. There was just so much I was trying to take in. Most of the history I remember focusin on was how Africans were wronged by white people, I don't remember the actual culture being talked about. Which to me, was quite disappointing. But then again, there were so many things I was trying to learn and take in and all, that some of it might have missed me. I have a terrible problem with things just plain going over my head sometimes. Anyway, thanks so much for answering my questions.
    ousman ceesay said...
    Nice try Ginny (laugh). The blog is dedicated to Gambian politics and related issues. Come to think of it I should have called it politics ad nauseum. But literally speaking you are right, one could translate the title to mean home of the manding scholars. I don't think you can translate it to mean home of the mandinkas though, for the last names transcend tribe. You have people with this last name across numerous Gambian tribes. I will be open to the former literal translation.
    With regards to sources of African history, it is not a whole lot of written volumes out there. Most of ancient african history is not written but oral, passed from one generation to another. However, a very informative history book written by a Ghanian professor is out there.It is the book I read in high school. If my memory serves me right it is called "the history of west africa since ad 1000". The name of the author I belive is F.K Buah. I hope this help and good luck in your search for it. You never know amazon might have it in stock.
    Ginny said...
    Hello, Ousman, so I took the title of the blog a little too literally? * smile * I don't think you should change it, though, it's an original title better than "thinking out loud", which is the title of said literalist * points to myself and wonders why my mind sometimes gets stuck in the concrete operational stage * I am ware that most African history is oral and not written. I seem to remember reading something to the affect that most Western historians, and I'm not sure I'm putting this correctly, but basically, the point was that Africa, sort of had no history, because oral history was thought to not be as good as written history, does that make any sense?

    But anyway, maybe you could write a post expounding on "the home of the mandinmories". Just a thought. Anyway, gotta go, I can't believe I'm actually tired at 10 at night, if you've read my blog, maybe you mgiht know that sleep for me has been hard to come by at times, or my sleeping schedule tends to be eratic at times. Have started taking melatonin supplements to try to regulate it. But anyway, am straying off in to antoher topic. I think this is a nice blog, and maybe other Gmabians will be inspired to create blogs of their own. Take care.
    ousman ceesay said...
    Thanks for the complement. Your blog is very nice too. Yours is much more up to date than mine. You are doing a wonderful job. With regards to expounding on the mandinmories, I will look into it. I love history eventhough I have not studied it beyond high school. Delving into the histories of ancient west african civilizations/empires will be an Intriguing thing to do.

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