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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