On Fri, Jan 3, 2014 at 2:02 PM, Y Jallow <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Rene -

Thanks for positioning on the disease that attacked half-die. Interesting to know that it was malaria and I won't be surprised with Banjul's location and the mosquetoes supported by the poor drainage systems.

The village life is very peaceful. You are spared from most of the dirty politics. We had our Jola drums (buukarabu), the Fulbe fiddle (nyaanyeru), the Mandinka (Kora), the wollof (sabar), and all that you can imagine.

Thanks for sharing more about your poem. I look forward to reading more of your literature work. Your poem will provide some cultural taste to some of the younger ones who didn't witness the 'drumbeats of afdie' as you shared.

Best,
Yero

> Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2014 02:34:30 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask]

> Subject: Re: [G_L] The Drumbeats Of Afdie

> To: [log in to unmask]

>
> Yero,
> The title is taken from the book The Drumbeats Of Afdie, and it
> mirrors some of the culture that is discussed in the book. The word
> Afdie is the wollof corruption of the words Half Die, and an epicenter
> of a malaria epidemic in this part of the city where half the
> inhabitants had died. The parallel you give running after cows and
> calves, torrential rains, tall grasses and the beautiful rich meadows
> conveys the same beauty of our rich cultural experiences.
>
> I remember a visit to a small village after Bansang which is still
> etched in my mind because of the serenity and community cohesiveness.
> The name of the village is Sare Yoro. As we walked into the open fields
> from the main road to Basse, we came to a hamlet of not more than five
> compounds. In the first compound that we arrived at we were received so
> well and treated to a nice meal of cow milk and "dang", and given some
> gifts before we continued on our journey.
>
> Walking in the open fields was bliss. It conjures all the imagery
> that you have described of cows grazing and tall grasses; the beauty
> of the surrounding was just so comforting.
>
> When we arrived at the village our welcome and the hospitality
> extended was special. I noticed something on this particular day in the
> village shortly after we arrived; every household in this small village
> gathered at the meeting area to pick their share of the bull that was
> slaughtered. I understand this was done periodically. The sense of
> community and social cohesiveness; the peace and tranquility, the
> natural landscape of trees, grasses and open fields was so refreshing.
> Thanks for the comments.
>
>
> Rene
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Y Jallow <[log in to unmask]>
> To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thu, Jan 2, 2014 10:03 pm
> Subject: Re: [G_L] The Drumbeats Of Afdie
>
> Rene –
> I like the poem as you shared, “The Drum Beats of Afdie” onits cultural
> importance. The poem might have taken title from the known andshortened
> Aku version of Half-Die (Afdie) in Banjul. The narration about the
> choleraoutbreak that claimed many lives gave it a name. That is not
> even the poem’steaching as you shared. It looks at a culture of
> acceptance where culturalentertainment defined the spirit of residents,
> consequently making the communityglued together in unity and harmony.
> For others who left home for the outsideworld, such reflections
> resembling your poem are uncommon. If for anything, itis certainly
> healthy, though one would wish for such nice days to come back. Itmight
> not. If I were to put the “…drum beats of afdie…” in my own words, I
> seemyself running after cows and calves in rhythm order. I see
> torrential rainsand tall grasses while the cows graze beautifully in
> rich meadows. The poem iscertainly a nice cultural touch…and these are
> some of the events that bondedour communities for a while. I have taken
> the liberty to myself to submit your poem for wider publication.
> Thanks for sharing & best for 2014!
> Yero
>
> > Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2014 13:35:43 -0500
> > From: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: [G_L] The Drumbeats Of Afdie
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> >
> > The drumbeats of Afdie
> > the potent beat of the drums reverberates
> > the virtues of the folklore in Banjul extol
> > the grandeur of the circumcision rites
> > the harmonious songs of the Sambasoho it prides.
> >
> >
> > The drumbeats of Afdie
> > the celebration of the rich Chosan in Banjul
> > the beautiful lyrics of the Kassak
> > the kankurang, the fanal and the Hunting
> > the cohesive spirit, joy and laughter of the city
> > it doesn't matter what your faith or creed
> > at the pencha we dance without malice or greed.
> >
> > ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤
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>
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