Siste Jabou,
Thanks for your comments. There has been a lot of mis conceptions about the
name of this ethnic group. There Real and Original name is SONINKE. They
were the founders of the ancient Ghana Empire(also known as Wagadu) which is
today covered by Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ginea
Bissau, etc. They also built the Son-ghai Empire.
They are known diffently according to which other ethnic group you listen
to.
The name "Sarahulle" has been given to them by the wolof and it is
widespread IN Gambia. it is from the wolof word "KHOLL" or throat because
most of the Soninke words are pronouced with emphasis from the throat. In
senegal, they are known as Soninke so as n Mauritania. In Mali, Sierra
Leone, Cote DÍvoire and Guinea Conakry, they are aknown as MARAKA (some
parts of Mali refer them as SONINKE.
In Guinea Bissau, they are known as the BADUGULA and Soninke. They are also
know within the ethnic group as "Manda Saraholle"
NB:The SONINKE belong to the Mande family of languages found in West Africa
and Bilad-es-Sudan. (Mandika, Bambana are two examples of the Mande language
family).
I hope this will help us of us to understand the origin and names of the
soninkes which is still not known to many. In the past the Soninkes were
empire builders. But since the arrival of colonialism and its afteramath,
their interest in politics faded away. Today commerce and labour commprise
their noble objectives. Thats why it is rare to see them seeking
white-collar jobs though it is gradually changing.

May Soninke elders refer their motivation in Commerce to Sheik Muhammed
Lamin Drammeh (of yona). He was a celebrated cleric and anti-colonialist
who(looking back at the comercial successes of Ghana Empire) advised the
Soninkes to follow commerce and trade with hard work for their future.
There is still more to explain but till another time.

your compatriot
BUBACARR SANKANU




>From: Jabou Joh <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: BLOOD DIAMOND MONEY AND THE GREEDY MARAKAS (SARAHOLEHS)
>Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2001 11:31:28 EST
>
>In all fairness, I must also state that I know many an honest and hard
>working Sarahule, and it is definitely unfair to lslap a label on an entire
>people because of the dealings of perhaps a few dishonest group. I did not
>even know this term was one that meant Sarahules.
>
>Jabou Joh
>
>In a message dated 1/18/01 5:53:07 AM Eastern Standard Time,
>[log in to unmask] writes:
>
><< MIne your words,
>  It is  very irresponsible to label the maraka's( saraholes) as greedy at
>  this time around. They are comparatively better if one look at the more
>  corrup Lebanes who shared most of the blame with the Westz for the
>tourbles
>  in Senegal. The Lebanese are on record for hijacking the Government of
>  Mommoh with their "brown evelopes" and corrupt practices.
>  The Lebane contributed some 6 billion Dollars drained from bloody Sierral
>  Leone Diamond to finace reconstruction of Lebanon.
>  The Marakas are Africans who have been involved in Sierra Leone since the
>  1960s and did not only sought diamonds but also integrated into the Siera
>  Leonean society: the inermarried with many Sierra leoneans. The evidences
>  can be seen in Gambia and else where to day.
>  Furthermore, they accommodated many Sierra leoneans in distresse who came
>to
>  The Gambia for refuge. The latest example involves Former Sierra Leone
>  President Valentine Strasser, who after being played like a football by
>  British and Gambian authorities, was rescued by Bassirou Jawara, a
>Prominet
>  Maraka hotelier and Bussinessman, who made his money in Sierra Leone.
>  So it is very unfair to label the Marakas as "greedy" without properly
>  researching into their activities.
>  Their philosophy for record purposes reads "respect for others,
>hospitality
>  and Solidarity"
>  Regards
>
>  Messers Mamau Tage
>  Bubacarr Sankanu
>   >>
>
>
>Jabou Joh
>President
>MAAC World Traders
>Tel.-(615) 646-9784
>Fax-(507) 262-1590
>[log in to unmask]
>
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