The words to our National Anthem were written by Mr. Thomasi, father to
Marcell Thomasi, former Director of Information. The music is an adaptaion
of a traditional Kora tune, the name of which escapes me. Prince can fill in
the blanks.
Sidi Sanneh
>From: joey goswell <[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: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 08:02:33 -0000
>
>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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