When Maba's raids started on the Soninki villages in Badibou, Colonel D'Arcy proceeded to the spot in H.M.S Dart and was able to get in communication with Maba who sent a message to say the war was over, that he was disbanding his army and that he had declined the kingship." That was not to… Continue reading Maba Jahu Bah’s Campaigns
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Profile: Maba Jahu Bah
It appears that Maba Jahu Bah, like Foday Kaba Dumbuya whom we profiled earlier, did not just wake up to wage a holy war against the Soninki, there was a non-religious trigger. As noted earlier also, once the wars broke out, they take on a life of their own thereby creating a new identity/reason. In… Continue reading Profile: Maba Jahu Bah
One Gambian, One Nation; Divided
“Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.” ― Edmund Burke "You have to expose who you are so that you can determine what you need to become.” ― Cynthia A. Patterson There is a narrative, a two sided narrative about the Gambia's political evolution. It is the protectorate narrative and the colony… Continue reading One Gambian, One Nation; Divided
P. S N’jie; Hero or Bitter Political Rival?
To move past our challenges; challenges that have confounded our growth for decades, we, as a country need to stop rewarding bad behavior or at the very least identify it for what it is – bad behavior. “Wrong is wrong no matter who does or says it.” – Malcolm X Every politician has some personal… Continue reading P. S N’jie; Hero or Bitter Political Rival?
The Barra War 1831-1832
…Continuing from part one. The calls for help from the British authorities in Sierra Leone and the French in Senegal were heeded to, first by the French. They dispatched Commandant Louvel (Louvel Square in Banjul is in his honor) from Goree aboard the man-of-war Bordelaise. His task was to fortify the defenses of Bathurst. As… Continue reading The Barra War 1831-1832
School Days – Teachers
In an earlier post I wrote generally about the school environment, a nostalgic reminder of days gone by, but mainly to point to the multiple factors that could be blamed for the poor performance of our children in schools. Teachers usually get the brunt of the blame, but that’s an incomplete picture if we are… Continue reading School Days – Teachers
The Barra War Begins – 1831
Image: Fort Bullen at Barra Point In Social Studies class we were taught that “two drunken Mandinka soldiers mistakenly fired their guns” and so triggered the Barra War. Well, from the earlier post we highlighted a few crucial preludes as to the general mood in Niumi regarding the Europeans and the fact that “immediately after… Continue reading The Barra War Begins – 1831
Burunghai Sonko and the Build Up to the Barra War
Image: Mansa Maranta Sonko; sitting left flanked by Governor Llewelyn 1891 In 1823, in anticipation of a war with France, which was a real possibility at that time, Alexander Grant tested the largest guns on Bathurst and realized that the range was not sufficient to reach across the river. The French were already present in… Continue reading Burunghai Sonko and the Build Up to the Barra War
Battle of Sankandi
If we are to draw up a regional index for defiance and steadfastness of people holding on to their values, Kiang will rank very highly, if not at the very top, Just ask Yaya Jammeh. They seem to be the very embodiment of the mantra "kay yaa nee balang ta meng na, e bang wuleng… Continue reading Battle of Sankandi
Profile: Foday Kaba Dumbuya
Image: Musa Sanoba Dumbuya - Son of Foday Kabba Dumbuya Brief Background Foday Kaba Dumbuya was "a man destined to have a long and troublesome career" with the British colonizers. Much of his biography had been rendered and immortalized in oral tradition by our ever present Jali and their tradition. The tune that accompanies the… Continue reading Profile: Foday Kaba Dumbuya
Mankajang 