Essa
You will be surprised to know that the author of the National Anthem was a
Gambian. I was once told that the late Rev J.C Faye was the author but this
has to be verified. Perhaps you could contact Alhagji Cham Joof or the likes
of Prince O`brien Coker and Sidi Sanneh for clarification.
It is a pity that you haven`t realised that "God" means Allah in Arabic.The
word "God"must have been used on the basis that it was written and always
sang in English.
The lyrics of our national anthem has shown no sign of embracing any
religious faith. Instead, it sounds universal and the question as to whether
it has a christian value is out of the question.
I would have agreed with you if the national anthem had mentioned the word
"lord" or Holy Spirit.
On that note we look forward for clarification as to who the actual author
was.
>From: Elow Wole <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIR.
>Date: Tue, 28 Nov 2000 17:05:30 -0000
>
>Sister Jamila,
>
>With the same respects, I comment on your reply as ff:
>
>I am not talking about Spirituality, morality, or culture for that matter.
>This is about religion. You may be right about their existence, long
>before
>religion, but why did religion come about? We must have been steering
>off-course.
>
>The national anthem is preceded by slavery and colonialisation. I brought
>it up because I am sure not many of us knew who wrote it. I only hope it
>was someone Gambian. That composer is non-grata to this day. The national
>anthem is not part of the past you dwelling on. My guess is that it was
>non-existent prior to Feb '65 or April '70. So why not rewrite it? It is
>a
>nice piece, but the author is unknown. If we feed off it, I can only say
>we
>are headed in an unknown direction. What are your thoughts?
>
>Regards
>Essa
>
>
>
>>From: Jamila Allston <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIR.
>>Date: Mon, 27 Nov 2000 18:37:05 -0800
>>
>>Brother Wole,
>>
>> With all due respect in this holy time of Ramadan, I must ask why do
>>we continue to deny who we are/were before the bringing about of Islam
>>and Christanity throughout Africa. Why does it always come down to a
>>war between Islam and Christanity? Didn't we as Africans have a
>>wonderful sense of Spirtutaliy, Morality and Cultural before the advent
>>of either religions? Why must we as Africans always have to deny our
>>African roots, culture and customs? What is so wrong with embracing
>>our African past and it's spirituality? And in our many African
>>societies, it was understood that we were embracing a universal
>>creator, regardless of the name that each group called him.
>>
>> These questions are asked with respect and sincerity. In fact, my
>>sons are Muslims and one is fasting for Ramadan. Yet as an African
>>born in America and brutality stripped of my African past via the
>>horrific slave trade (reprentative of millions of us), the question
>>becomes one of why bother trying to embrace my African past if these
>>are my only two alternatives; alternatives that also require the denial
>>of who we are/were as Africans prior to the acceptance of these
>>alternatives as the "correct" and "only" way of life.
>>
>> Peace
>>
>> Jamila
>>
>>________________________________________________________________________
>>
>>
>>--- Elow Wole <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> > Whether motivated by greed, ethnicity, or simply, a lust for power,
>> > the
>> > quest for dominance is always prevalent in Africa, and the West
>> > alike.
>> > Surely, we're yet to be blessed with a true leader who understands
>> > the true
>> > meaning of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
>> >
>> > Who can honestly claim that this cyber forum is "fruitful", and bears
>> > genuine results. Personally, I don't see the need to have 3,4,5,6, -
>> > infinite organisations all fighting for the same purpose. If one
>> > truly
>> > wants to be part of this change, one must consider going back home
>> > and have
>> > one's vote counted (I don't need to hear about ballot politics, for
>> > all I
>> > know, that's option #1). As citizens of The Gambia, let's be
>> > reminded once
>> > more to uphold the TRUE meaning of our national anthem, ..."Let
>> > JUSTICE
>> > guide our actions, towards the common good." Cyberchatting won't
>> > solve our
>> > problems. Instead, it spreads the rumours. As much as we recite our
>> > national anthem, has anyone ever stopped to think about who wrote it.
>> > Obviously, that person must have thought we are a Christian country.
>> > If I
>> > had to edit it, I would probably rewrite the whole script. One word
>> > I would
>> > definitely change is, " GOD to ALLAH."
>> >
>> > Happy Ramadan to EVERYONE! ...
>> >
>> > Essa
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > >From: "MOVEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEMOCRACY IN THE GAMBIA (UK)"
>> > > <[log in to unmask]>
>> > >Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
>> > ><[log in to unmask]>
>> > >To: [log in to unmask]
>> > >Subject: OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIR.
>> > >Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2000 03:39:13 -0000
>> > >
>> > ><< Chairman_sofficialstatement(MRDGUK).doc >>
>> >
>> >
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