Nabiha,
I dont remember seeing "Jangane", but I was familiar with the plight of these talibes. As a young sixth form student 14 years ago, I wrote an article about them which was published in the school magazine at The Gambia High School. In my own way I was at pains trying to portray a society that had failed in coming to the rescue of marginalised kids at a very tender age who equally deserved every right of tender loving care. They were a common sight within our midst, but were frowned upon, treated as outcasts and made fun of. You could always hear their thin voices around mid-day chanting "Sarah ngir Yalla yai boi" and going from house to house barefooted in the intense heat of a scourging sun to collect whatever leftovers came their way. These kids suffered immensely . The only possessions they ever had were their slates and the tomatoe paste tins they always carry around their necks. These were precious to them and they took good care of them. I once developed friendship with one these talibes. His name was Cherno. He was many years younger than me, but Cherno and I were fond of each other. I was able to relate to him in some ways and in these ways we shared a similar plight. Our only problem was communication. He only spoke Fula, and most of the time I can see that he wanted to express something. He came quite often to visit and we ate together, played football together and he made me laugh. We had a lot of fun together, and it was always sad when he came to say they were leaving. He was always grateful for our friendship and for all the little gifts I was able to offer. In those moments of parting I always wonder if I would ever see Cherno again, but he comes back the next "season" and visited. Friends are forever, and Cherno was a faithful one indeed.
There were many who took care of these kids, accomodated them and tried to give them some hope. Most of these were parents who out of parental responsibility , compassion and love took care of these kids. The Ya Lallas, Ya Marie Nyabas, Uncle Modous, Faburamas etc deserve a big praise.
And yes governments should join the badwaggon of salvation for these kids, by civic education and legislation so that next time another Cherno goes round the streets he would not be welcomed by "ALMUDU KALILU, SA BAI KALILU, SA NDEY KALILU". Lord it hurts!!
Regards,
Omar.
-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: Nabiha Safriwe <[log in to unmask]>
Til: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Dato: 1. april 2000 19:47
Emne: Anybody remember "Jangane?"
>As a child my first memories of Almudus was at my
>Mums.
>
>My mother (bless her heart) has this huge compound
>with numerous apartments in which she house these
>Almudus for free. She was more like a foster parent
>to them, very concern about their well being. She
>used to tell us kids, that was the way her Dad, Omar
>Jallow came to the Gambia from Guinea Conakry, as a
>Talibey.
>
>Many a time she was awaken in the middle of the night
>because one her 'sons' was in trouble, either with the
>law or by ‘Douso’ (the inhaling of glue to get high).
>I still can remember how determined my Mum was to make
>a difference in the lives of these delinquents.
>
>Not all of these Talibeys were able to escape the
>ever-groping talons of poverty. Some of them died or
>return back to Guinea Conakry. A few lucky ones were
>able to be financially established to own property.
>The pride and joy on my mother’s face whenever one of
>these success stories comes to visit her was evident.
>It did mean a lot to her knowing that she had made a
>difference in someone's life. To this day she is
>engaged in this kind of work.
>
>The second most profound impression that Almudus had
>on me, was when I saw the movie "Jangane". This was a
>movie that was produced and directed in Senegal. It
>was mostly about the horrific lives of Almudus. It
>depicted very graphic scenes about the atrocities
>committed against talibeys by their 'Seringe Daras'.
>I was about seven at the time but the movie was
>forever imprinted on my mind.
>
>These kinds of treatments are not restricted to
>Almudus only. In other parts of Africa the selling of
>kids as laborers or into slavery is becoming very
>prevalent, mostly in the Sudan and parts of Nigeria.
>
>What we need to do in the Gambia and Africa, as a
>whole is the addressing of these troubling issues, and
>effectively acting upon them.
>
>Most educators in the Gambia have no clue as to what
>child abuse is. Take the 'slow' or retarded student
>for example, most teachers go as far as being verbally
>and physically abusive to these impressive young
>minds. Eventually these treatments diminish their
>confidence and in the end they drop out of school,
>thus becoming another number in the illiteracy line.
>
>The best thing that can be done to end this trend is
>to educate our teachers on child abuse. It should be
>an ongoing process that is put into practice.
>
>
>
>
>=====
>
>
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