Gainako Newspaper

In an exclusive interview with Gainako, Mr. Momodou Laama Jallow discussed his writings,
his engagements and efforts to support a true course at a time of political redemption. Laama,
whose pieces can be found in the archives of Gainako, authored a lot of pieces, most of which
provoked healthy debates at Gainako; one such was the soccer game an epic battle between
Uniclam and Napoli. Laama, who has expertise in computers, also enjoys writing historical
pieces about our surroundings that resonates with the people. He is also the secrete giant
behind Gainako together with its editors, a mutual respect deal which is admirable. At his
resident in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA (GON) caught with him, and below we reproduce
the whole interview.

GON: Good evening Mawdo Laama. You command a lot of respect to our readers especially the
younger generation. Tell us a little about yourself.

Laama: Well as you are aware, I am the founder of Gamway computers, a computer company that
design websites and web base systems, an entrepreneur per se. More importantly I consider myself
a simple man but a proud Gambian. I believed in the greatness of our people- The Gambian people.
Given the right opportunity the right environment the people could excel extremely well in all
endeavors.

GON: You are the great architect (Technical guru) behind the birth of The Gambia Echo and later
instrumental in reviving Gainako to its current prominence. Tell us something about it how you feel
about shaping history in that direction.

Laama: Humbling experience. Honestly my participation in these endeavors originally emanates
purely out of commercial interest. I simply provide the technical know- how to get the websites up
and running. My hope is that these on-line portals become an engine of good for posterity. A
repository of knowledge that succeeding generations will inherit and cherish. To serve as a time
capsule for a given time, a snapshot of this moment and beyond.

GON: You authored a lot of pieces, among them the great " Karamoko", "Erinjang", "Deutchland",
and "Nerves" amongst many. Tell us a little about your motivation to write those pieces.

Laama: In my pieces I am trying to capture the essence of the Gambian experienced as seen
through the eyes of many. My objective is to write stories that will resonate with many people. In a
way it is a celebration of our common heritage, interest, experience and way of life that reflects the
broader Gambian communality. You have to remember that I grew up in the Gambia, at a time when
literary materials uniquely Gambian was very scarce. The few that were available such as "Meet me
in Conakry" by Samsudeen Sarr was greatly celebrated and treasured. -A real Gambian classic. I
hope this form of desktop publishing will built on this legacy by ushering a new era of Gambian
writers and a body of literary writings that is accessible to a broader segment of the people to read
and enjoy.

GON: Since your association with Gainako, you dually served both as its System Administrator,
and mentor, together with the two Baldehs. How do you like working with the team?

Laama: Great! Team Gainako is very formidable. I like the frankness of the views, and most
importantly the diversity of the topics, the overall approach to the issues and most importantly its
commitment to be a fair and balanced medium of information.

GON: Being the computer expert you are, you are well known to avoid being political. What do
you make of politics?

Laama: On the contrary, I love politics especially healthy political discourse; I guess sometimes the
mean spirit ness is what I found disheartening. I tried to avoid weighing on political matters that I am
not fully conversant with or due lack of adequate information drawn the wrong conclusion that
adversely affects people lives. Well I believed in informed decision.

GON: Your dedication to Gainako is no open secrete. What's special in it?

Laama: I guess, balanced. The paper allows other forms of views without undue restrictions or
censorship. Its "open door policy" of publishing issues that are not only politics is my main
attraction. Hence my decision to become a regular contributor to this website.

GON: It's hard to tell that your specialty is computer Systems. Most of what we followed
resembles the work of a historian, at times even poetic in style and nature but in your resume, you
were a science student. What will your former schoolmates in high say about you?

Laama: Well I never really abandoned my first love, SCIENCE. Interesting that few days ago I
was tutoring my daughter rudimentary algebra. Maybe at some point in the future we might discuss
the works of Hegel, Karl Max and perhaps even relativity by Albert Einstein. Or shall I say maybe
discussed the crux of Riemann hypothesis (...laugh). It is just that for now my passion is to write
things uniquely Gambian. I am simply using my life experienced as a vehicle to create characters that
many Gambians will identify with.

GON: No doubt you are soccer fan and a then soccer player as evident in your piece. Briefly tell us
about this experience?

Laama: Well as you are aware I was a soccer player in my day. An experience best described in
the piece "UNICLAM" I am still an avid fan of the game and really followed soccer developments
worldwide especially in the Gambia. Having said this, I might add that I am also an avid American
football fan and a strong supporter of the Carolina Panthers

GON: Any works on the Pipeline?

Laama: Look out for my next piece "BOY DOMA" - The Gambian Einstein

GON: Thank you for being Gainako's special guest. What's your last word to Gainako's readers?

Laama: We are experiencing an interesting time and we are all witness to the making of history or
as one writer puts it " The dawn of Gambian literary renaissance ". I hope the views to be more
divergent, the topics more diverse and the discussion more indebt. Also to be more inclusive above
all to urged Gambian women to participate by introducing topics that cover a wide range of
spectrum.

Below is a list of the pieces written by our gallant shephered Laama Jallow

..NERVES - An Apotheosis of a whole generation
..UNICLAM - A Nawettan Phenomen
..ROUSE -The Ideosyncracies of youth
..ERINJANG - Under the Shadow of the gods
..87 STUDENT RIOT -Lost of our Innocence
..FANKA MANNEH - The Floating prophet
..DEUTCHLAND - Land of My Dreams
..KARAMOKO - An embodiment of a Genius, Mystics and Teacher
..AFRICA - A Confluence of History, Tragedy & Hope

...FIVE SENEGALESE OFFICIALS PARDONED
..............................Coutesy of Foroyaa.....................Posted May 20th, 2007

Radio Gambia yesterday announced that President Jammeh had granted pardon
to five Senegalese officials who were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment
for a term of 18 months, by the Kanifing Magistrate Court, on Wednesday 16
May 2007.

The five were convicted on charges of unlawful possession of firearms and
unlawfully entering Gambia without lawful permit.

According to the announcement, the five were handed over to the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,
Madam Mariam Mohammed, who in turn handed them over to the Senegalese High Commissioner,
Mr. Faal.

At the handing over ceremony at the Department of State for Foreign Affairs, the Foreign Affairs
Secretary of State, Mr. Bala Jahumpa, was quoted as saying the President has a big heart; noting
that their release is due to the friendly relationship between The Gambia and Senegal in the pursuit of
African Unity.

According to the radio, Interior Secretary of State Sonko described the pardon as a show of good
neighbourliness between the two countries, noting that it was taken in the best interest of the two
countries. He also called him a Pan Africanist.

Madam Mariam Mohammed, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corp, is reported to have said: It is not
easy to forgive……..(But the President) found it in his heart to forgive.

The Senegalese High Commissioner, Mr. Faal, is said to have thanked the President for the gesture.

Comment
To pardon the five Senegalese after their imprisonment is a step in the right direction. Lest President
Jammeh has forgotten, we wish to remind him that more than a dozen of his countrymen are still
being detained without trial.

The constitution which he has sworn to defend forbids the continuous detention of these people. We
call on him to find a place in his heart to release them.

Furthermore, as a Pan Africanist, the president should ensure that security forces show tolerance to
Africans from other states.

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