Brother Kabir,
I just woke up and it is 5:00 a.m. Checking the computer, I saw your encounter with Laba Sosseh in Norway. My laughter early this morning has sent my wife to nuts. I told her to blame you for it. I like your piece. Yes, Laba was an entertaining person. A man who was very philosophical about his people in the Gambia and Africa in general. The sad thing how ever is the manner Gambians easily forget people who made contributions to their welbeing. Infact little is known about Pa Touray who recently died. Professor Sulayman Nyang stated to me yesterday that what has been done on Laba could also have been done on many others. He is right to the bone. This is the difference between us and the Senegalese, and hope the type of lazy and parasitic intellectual attitude prevailing in our society could be changed for the better. 
 
Senegal did a lot for Laba even while in hospital. I watched the Senegalese TV and saw all their top muscians, Government officials, Journalists and professionals raising funds on tv for his treatment. If money could safe life, Laba would have been with us. When he died, despite in the ramadan, there was all kinds of programes for him throughout Senegal. Interviews, discussions, his history, music, you name it, were spot on. Ouza spoke brilliant of him. Yousou and others  paid homage to him so much that I even forgot this man has anything to do with us. Gambians should wake up now.
Wassa.    
> Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:25:15 +0100> From: [log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: LABA SOSSEH'S- Legacy and contribution to mordern Senegambian music.> To: [log in to unmask]> > Wassa,> > You have managed to put Laba's musical contribution in a wider global > historical perspective which I have enjoyed very much reading.> > Laba was also a very amicable man and his company could be as entertaining > as his music as I was to learn when he was invited to the annual music > festival in Tromso, northern Norway a couple of years ago whiles I was > living there.> > When I invited him to dinner with the rest of his group he was quick to > request a Gambian dish and begged that I please get hold of some real chili > pepper as he had been struggling to maintain his appetite which he loses > readily without real chili. I assured him not to worry. Apparently he had > never tried 'Yellow man,' a variant of chili pepper which I was convinced > when I first tried it that it was genetically engineered. Our local 'kani > Sierra-yong' does not even come close, and on hindsight, I should have > warned him, but I doubt if he would have listened...> > For instead of enhancing his appetite, it seemed to have destroyed it and he > insisted all evening: 'Suma raka, lee du kani,' pushing it away and would > not have it anywhere near him and the rest of his group had a field day! His > Senegalese host thanked me profusely (humorously), explaining how Laba had > emptied all jars in his house that had the semblance of chili taste, > complaining that too was not chili.> > The following day when I attended his send-off gathering, he was was still > insistent: 'wye suma raka, lolu du kani,' the same last words he repeated > when we hugged goodbye.> > It was a short encounter but that's how I'll always remember Laba, always in > a jovial mood that never failed to infect those around.> > May His Adventurous Soul Rest in Eternal Peace!> > Again that for this wonderful piece!> > Regards,> > Kabir.> > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------> From: "Wassa Fatti" <[log in to unmask]>> Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 5:03 PM> To: <[log in to unmask]>> Subject: LABA SOSSEH'S- Legacy and contribution to mordern Senegambian > music.> > >> > LABA SOSSEH – The historical legacy of an African musical genius.> > By Wassa Fatty> >> >> >> > Part 1> >> > Laba’s background:> > Laba Sosseh, the Gambian born Senegal based Salsa music singer died in > > September this year. Laba, mostly called the king of Salsa music in Africa > > has joined our ancestors after his journey in this world. His death after > > a long illness was mourned by many Salsa music lovers the world over, more > > so in Senegal where he was honoured by the nation. This material is a > > tribute as well as an assessment of the contributions of the late singer > > to the development of modern SeneGambian music.> >> > > ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤> To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface> at: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/gambia-l.html> > To Search in the Gambia-L archives, go to: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?S1=gambia-l> To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to:> [log in to unmask]> ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
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