Thank you,I hope many will follow your fine example.
For Freedom
saiks


>From: Joe Sambou <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list              
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Gambian tradional instruments of sound and music - what are 
>they called?
>Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 22:39:42 +0000
>
>Mo, you have struck a chord and I can see we've made progress, compared to 
>a couple of years ago when this issue was discussed.  Then, those Gambians 
>of the Christian and Islamic faiths were up in arms why the need for that.  
>Someone asked me why am I still called Joe, if I hate it so much.  It is 
>not that I hate it, but knowing what I know now, I'd preferred a home grown 
>African name, just like the Arab or the European will choose their own to 
>give their offsprings.
>
>However, all hope is not lost and we can do something about it and we have 
>control over it.  I named my two daughters Borkeny and Andene, after my 
>cousin and mother, respectively, who also have their Christian names of 
>Elizabeth and Therese, respectively.  My mother and cousin challenged me 
>why I would not choose their biblical names, instead of the their 
>traditional names.  I gave them my rationale but they did not buy it, but 
>in time, they get used to it.  My inlaws rolled their eyes and some 
>protested that they will give them nick names.  However, they too adjusted 
>quickly and infact pronounce them better that most gambians.That is how we 
>can take control of the situation, child by child and parent by parent.  If 
>we continue that, five generations later we'd made great progress.  Now I 
>have to work at differentiating the two Andenes, for when I call my little 
>one, my mother responds.  It is also interesting that Africans have a hard 
>time with their names and would ask me where I got the names, and surprised 
>that it is not Anglo or Arabic.  Americans on the other hand do understand, 
>especially some of our conscious brothers and sisters, that are trying to 
>do the same, in coining other names that they call their own.  However, 
>these days, some have gone overboard with the Lexus', Mercedes, Mylove, 
>Diamond, etc.  That is a whole conversation of its own.  By the way, I 
>started this change with my dog, back in 1992.  I named him Kilifa, and 
>Gambians thought that was the funniest thing they ever heard.
>
>Just like most things in Africa, we have to consciously work at turning 
>things around.  It is not enough to identify the issue but to also actively 
>work at changing that which we have an issue with.  Very thought provoking!
>
>Chi Jaama
>
>Joe
>
>
>>From: Mo Baldeh <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list              
>><[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Re: Gambian tradional instruments of sound and music - what are 
>>they called?
>>Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 07:56:55 -0700
>>
>>Dr. Jaiteh:
>>
>>   For the sake of posterity and possibly in the interest of social 
>>research, I think it would be important to state in your introduction that 
>>the names listed here are ‘Names of People in The Gambia’ and not 
>>exclusively ‘Gambian Names’.
>>
>>   I cannot understand how Elizabeth or Francis, Ismaila or Alieu, Aisha 
>>or Habibatou, etc. can be considered Gambian names. It is obvious that 
>>these names are of Western or Middle Eastern origin, and did not exist in 
>>our society before the advent of Christianity and Islam in Africa. I find 
>>it incomprehensible when - each time we baptize a child - we insist on 
>>giving him or her a name pulled out from the Bible or the Qur’an as if on 
>>the day of reckoning our names are what will determine our fate.
>>
>>   It is such relentless aping of other societies that has left an 
>>indelible stain on our culture today; to a point where we sometimes 
>>consider it an effrontery to speak our own languages or use our own names.
>>
>>   It was in reaction to such cultural affront that African novelists 
>>Ngugi and Achebe decided to drop their Western names.  Here is what Achebe 
>>had to say regarding his name change, “I was baptized Albert Chinualumogu. 
>>I dropped the tribute to Victorian England when I went to the university…” 
>>(Hopes and Impediments: 1990).
>>
>>   I hope the Back to Roots movement initiated here and there by African 
>>intellectuals will take momentum and arrest the further despoliation of 
>>our cultures.
>>
>>   Keep up the good work!
>>
>>   Momodou.
>>
>>
>>Malanding Jaiteh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:  Years ago brother Saiks 
>>Samateh with the help of many Gambia-lers
>>compiled a list of Gambian names. In the process we have over 200
>>female- and 300 male names . You can find the list at
>>http://www.columbia.edu/~msj42/Common%20Gambian%20First%20Names.htm
>>
>>this evening I got a call from a young Gambian student working on a
>>school project asking for the name of a mandinka musical instrument- one
>>used by female Jalolu accompanying the male Kora Jalo or sometimes as
>>solo instrument. A kind of a metal pipe (no more 6 to 8 inches long)
>>and a long needle (8 to 12 inches). The pipe is held in one and the
>>needle is used to sound it. If you know what is called please help me out.
>>
>>By the same token I am suggesting that we compiled a list of traditional
>>instruments of sound and music. If you know one, tell us how it is
>>called by the ethnic group who use it and a little description if you
>>can. If you have any picture that you would want to share please send it
>>to me and I will put it up on the webpage next to the traditional names.
>>
>>Malanding Jaiteh
>>
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>>
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