Gainako Newspaper

.................WHAT IS WRONG MAMA AFRICA??
....................................By Samba Baldeh.....................Posted January 12th, 2007

Gainako's co-editor and Technical Analyst Batch Samba Baldeh a graduate of Madison Area
Technical College in Computer and Information Technology has weighed in heavily on the
poverty level in what he called "The richest continent in the world" Mama Africa. Samba, who
believes so much in the promise of Africa and so passionate about Africans' intellectual ability
to uplift the continent from its somber stage of poverty, has issued a blanket challenge to
Africans to use their god given national resources to move Mama Africa from being the laughing
shame of the world. Batch strongly believe that Africa has all the natural and human resources
it needs to be on top of the world if only its' people will live up to the challenge.
(Below we reproduce Samba's sober challenge to us all. )

Africa: one of the richest, if not the richest continents in the world, yet realistically the poorest in the
world. This is sad, depressing, shameful, and above all, very questionable. What is wrong? Papa Africa �
(Did I say Mama or Papa?)� I guess what matters is whether or not the question can be answered.

There are "fifty-four" countries in that rich and beautiful sub region of the world - Africa. Even this number
is still questionable. Sometimes it's forty-seven, and the other times it's fifty-three. The Western Sahara in
the northern region and the island nations at the coast are considered a disputed territory, or may be they
prefer to be associated with Mama Middle East, or Papa Europe. The fact of the matter is, you can't get
lost in the wilderness. The historical and cultural connections will always be unique to you.

I did say one of the richest continents. One may ask why, or even how? Agriculture and mineral resources
form the basis of the economies of most African countries. From petroleum, diamonds, gold, zinc, copper,
iron ore, bauxite, uranium, salt etc. I mean everything we need to make this world the best place to live
can be found in Africa. In Gambia, for example, fish, groundnuts/peanuts, millet, sorghum, and rice used to
be plentiful and very affordable. Oh! and how can I forget the human resources? All over the United
States, where I have lived for a little less than a decade, and Europe where I have many good friends, it's
Africans graduating with honors in all aspects of life, and no doubt contributing to these economies
immensely. This is true even within the continent. Our intellect and brain power is unquestionable
world-wide. Why this does not translate into reality, particularly in the African continent, is what has
bothered me all my life. It is this that causes me to ask - what is wrong Mama Africa?

The problems in Africa today are unimaginable - from civil wars, to hunger and starvation, diseases,
corruption, extravagant lifestyles by our leaders and supposedly role models. The likes of Jawara, Mabutu,
Taylor, and Abacher will always be in history books as the biggest failures. The likes of Sankara, Toure,
Nkrumah, and Mandela are very hard to come by. When they are found, power hungry people like
Jammeh, Manneh will not let them take us to the next level, but rather six feet below zero.

The life expectancy of the average African living in Africa is about fifty, while it is about eighty for United
States citizen. Why are we still fighting diseases like malaria and tuberculosis when these were eradicated
or contained in many parts of the world? Why is AIDS spreading like a wild fire in the continent and, we
can't even afford the most generic drugs to keep our sick alive? Why is clean water still a problem in
almost every African country? Mama Africa, what happened to our leaders wanting to stay in power
forever, even if it means killing all their opponents? Papa, their vision is so short sighted that it's like a day
plan for Mandela and yet they want to stay in power for life.

Why is it so difficult for them to accept diverse opinions and criticism? Why is it that with all the wealth
both natural and human, they can't develop the richest continent?

To the so called elites in the Diaspora; now help to answer these questions� What is the problem with
us? We don't want to ever go home and help develop our own motherland. We never form strong, and
results oriented organizations, even though we continue to blame the lack of stable governments,
democracy, human rights, electricity, water, good schools, roads, access to healthcare, among thousands
of basic things that are like natural rights to many around the world, on our so called leaders and some
times the west or colonialism. What are we doing in our western and American closets? We argue and
disagree on every issue, dashing all prospects and hope of the poor African! Tell me, doctors, why we still
have tuberculosis as the biggest killer? Tell me, engineers, why Africa has the poorest road and
communication networks in the world? Tell me, engineers, why all the solar energy could not be
transformed into usable energy? To the social scientist, why is the education system crumbling? During the
colonial days, a high school graduate was effectively able to govern a country, and now they can't spell the
names of Nkrumah or Mandela. These same students, however, can rap all of Snoop Dogs lyrics. Since
when did biology mean sex and geography mean the way or map to Babylon?

To our traditional and religious leaders, since when did we forget that religion was a complete way of life,
and that our leaders are servants and not masters? Since when did we start praise singing of leaders every
New Year instead of holding them accountable? Since when did we not tell our kids the Do's and the
Don'ts and that they should grow up to be honest? To all of us, does patriotism and honesty even exist in
our vocabulary? Or is it now a survival issue without regards to ones dignity or faith? In the minds of many
African leaders today, the word patriotism means suppressing or even killing their opponents just to stay in
power; honesty on the other hand means to deny that they are responsible for their killings and the
suffering of their families.

I also wanted to ask the most ordinary amongst us, what is wrong? I consider this group to be the poor
and ill-educated of our population. Many of them very loyal and humble but yet lack the political
know-how to understand that most politicians are out for their own selfish interest. This is the group that is
also intimidated by politicians. This, I think is more so true because they want to protect their families not
because they cannot make wise decisions. It may also be that their experience with selfish politicians who
are to a high degree the same, no matter what they may tell you during their campaign. This group in my
opinion is the most vulnerable cluster of our society. The politicians use them to stay in power forever and
when hell goes lose they are the first causalities. I still want to know why with all your daily problems
continue to believe that leaders are God made and if their time is not up no one can do anything about it.
Why do you continue to vote for governments and politicians that continue to kill and deprive your kids
good quality education and an opportunity to use their potentials and contribute positively to the
development of our continent?

I further want to ask the younger generation - the youths who are very easily used by selfish politicians to
take up to the streets and pay the price with their lives - what is wrong? I remember some twenty years
ago in the island of Janjanmburreh otherwise McCarthy, as students, we were asked to take to the streets
and protest to Papa Jawara that we needed furniture and food for our school. I still remember how one of
my friends was almost shut dead. We were send home for over a month that semester because it took that
long to get us furniture and some expired food supplies. Remember the student "peaceful" demonstration in
the Gambia about four years ago that turn out to be the bloodiest in that nation's history? Why do we still
let this happen to us when we know it's not in the interest of mama Africa, but the egotistical politicians?
This is so different from the Soweto students uprising during the apartheid era, where even then the murder
was not warranted. I hope Gambians one day will mark this day as a remembrance day just like the day of
the African child�

Finally, I would like to ask you self-centered politicians why is altruistic not an option. Why do you want
to stay in power for ever no matter what it takes? What is wrong with changing your ostentatious dreams
of vision 2020 and many of its kind across the continent to authenticity? Please do not tell Mama or Papa
Africa it is colonialism or the west that is responsible. Please, do not give flimsy excuses that are very
common of you; you should not lie either because that is your bread and butter. Be honest to your
populace and share the cake that belongs to all of us!!!

Editor's Note: For questions or comments please email us at editor@gainako.com.

..............."UNICLAM"
..........................A Naweetan Phenomenon
......................................................By Momodou Laama Jallow....................Posted January 10th, 2007

The author of the piece, Momodou Laama Jallow recalled his days in latrikunda German as a soccer
player. Soccer then and soccer now? Laama won�t forget that Sunday�s victory in 1989 and he narrates
it today as if it happened just hours ago. In his narration, he cheered the gallant Uniclam, which he was
a part and parcel of. It is obvious that a 4-0 game result cannot be easily erased from the minds of the
winners much more to the losers whose hearts might have boiled then from anger. It�s amazing to recall
the good old days of everything. Soccer, a typical game in the Gambia and world wide constitutes a lot
of fun. We surely invite the opposing team then if they are reading us to come up with a rejoinder to
narrate to us how they felt after that game and what their struggle was after that moment.
(Below we reproduce Laama�s piece unedited.)

Summer 1989, Serekunda west soccer field. League finals between year�s two best team Uniclam
football club versus Naples football club. Representatives from the ministry of youth & sports were
present; dignitaries from the local municipality (K.M.C), football scouts from the First division teams, and
the local Alkali with his entourage were all present for this epic battle.

Great fanfare was staged for the openings by the Naweetan committee. Their was a local band playing, the
soccer field was crowded. Pa-Casoree, great custodian of the soccer field in his neat white shorts and
walking stick was busy walking round the field making sure the demarcation line between players and
supporters was well kept and defined. People from the Kanifing area, Latrikunda, Dippakunda, Manjay
kunda, Kololi, Bakau, Jeshwang, Bundung, Talinding, and all the surroundings were present. Anticipations
were high, there was great tension in the air for word has traveled far and wide that the boys of Latrikunda
�German� has come of age and this will be their finest hour.

Facing the uniclam team were the great naweetan defender Karamo Mass a.k.a �kash�, the Boye
brothers- Matarr and Pa Boye, "bully" the tenacious midfield player, and the legendary �Joe tennis�
who amongst others formed the core of the Naples� team.

Ten minutes into the opening first half, a throw pass by Baba Trawalley a.k.a �Baba sheriff� led to Kebba
Faye aka �Doctor Faye� scoring the first goal. This was followed by a second goal by Baba sheriff whose
speed and ball control has been a constant torment on Naples� defenses and the corner stone of uniclam�s
offense. At this point the field exploded into Uproar-supporters chanting, and dancing. The comedian and
die-hard supporter �Pa Ndow� dressed in traditional Jola regalia �kan-dama� was running round the
soccer field riling the fans. �Uniclam�! Uniclam! Uniclam! By the end of the first half Naples was down
by three goals with a third goal by Doctor Faye.

A second half rally by Naples� Joe tennis led to two near goal misses but by fifteen minutes into this half,
Naples offense was effectively contained by the brilliants of our midfield players, Sylvanous Johnson, Ba
Sekou Jabang, and Tapha Jobe who outwitted and outmaneuvered the great �Bully� and company in the
middle. This coupled with constant vigil maintained by our defenders; the author of this piece (Laama
Jallow), L. Gibba, Ebou Colley, Jiki Jarjue and Farimang Ceesay a.k.a �Governor General�and goal
keeper Tundee Davis. Eventually the Uniclam pressure wore down Naples� will to fight and finally a fourth
goal by Boy Casseh sealed their faith. The next day radio Gambia sports commentator described the 4-0
victory as a �ROUT�. This is the beginning of the uniclam phenomena.

But what happens on that Sunday September 10th, 1989 was no miracle; Instead it was the culminations
of years of playing together in the Serekunda west junior Naweetan league as little boys, and later as
young adults played in different teams before finally came together as one unified team. The coming of a
former GNA soldier Baby Sam a.k.a �Base� and Sam Topp before the naweetan season as physical
instructor and coach respectively was an added blessing. Baby Sam brought in discipline and introduces a
regime of rigorous physical training that was only rival by the Armed Forces Soccer team. This comprises
of intensive training in the morning at the beach where the density of the sands added weight to your
muscles thereby increasing your stamina. In the afternoon training regime include skills Practice at
Latrikunda primary school soccer field and watching videos of the Great �platini�, Rud Gulit and many
European soccer stars for inspirations. Coach Sam brought in a winning strategy, tactics and above all
cohesiveness within the team. By the beginning of the season we were well conditioned and poised to
overwhelm any opponent. This was evidenced by our sweep of all the teams in our group leading to the
finals. Also the support of by our team officers Joe Mendy, Ebou Ceesay, Kebba Faal �Papo�, Idi
Tamba, S.M Faal, Burang Ceesay and Modou Ceesay ensure that the team is in high spirit.

Added to this is the fact that since this was the first time the neighborhood in Latrikunda German had
produced one unified soccer team that utilised all the talents from the surrounding areas. All local rivalries
disappeared and hence the result was the team was universally embraced and enjoyed overwhelming local
support.

After the trophy award ceremony, the fans and players marched in huge numbers in latrikunda chanting
late in the night as a way of jubilation over victory. The Team went on to Win for three more seasons.
Baba Sheriff was recruited and went to played for REAL de Banjul, where he emerged as a leading
striker. L Gibba eventually played for the Gambia national team, the �Scorpion� as central defender. By
and large, most of the boys eventually left for Europe and America. I on the other hand went to sixth form
at Gambia High school before leaving for England in 1991 where the excitements of the sciences became
my new pre-occupation.

In 2004, I went to the Gambia after many years in absentia and met this stranger at the Serekunda market.
Amidst the bustling crowd, and the incessant noise of taxi cabs he yelled Laama! Laama! And when I
turned around he shook my hand and said �uniclam�! I smiled and nodded. The strangers name was
�Jupita� great a supporter of the Naples football club.

Momodou Laama Jallow
Raleigh, North Carolina

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