The Chronicles of Bai Peul

THE WEBSITE

Summer 2006, in the beautiful city of Waleigh there was a barbecue party at the popular “Yoo-Hooo” Inc complex. A small crowd of Gambians were in attendance to witness the launching of Bai Peul’s website “Gambia Okat”. His recent foray into cyber space, the World Wide Web generally refers to as the “Internet”. Bai Puel dressed in an expensive white linen shirt, nice khaki shorts and some brown alligator shoes, was looking good for the occasion. His large face, sweaty and beaming with excitement. 

This is the latest episode in Bai Peul’s series. A website, whose name was meditated on for weeks by his renowned marabous all the way from Mali and their prognostics, has been very good. He is told by the soothsayers that “Gambia Okat” will not only bring fame and fortune, but will even bring immortality. Although a couple of years late in the game and by some accounts a little old for an arena that is increasingly becoming the domain of generation X, but he is not here to play catch-up. Bai Puel is here to make “Gambia Okat” the premier website, the CNN of the Gambia.  

Amidst the sizzling barbecue grills, toped with prime ribs coated with delicious southern barbecue sauce, and cold drinks, Bai Puel began his speech. First of all, he began “I am sorry that my good friends Dr. “Cho-Pan” and Dr. “Am-Faida” could be not here with me today but I wish to thank the good people of Waleigh for gracing my historic day. I formally announce the launching of “Gambia Okat”. At this moment I have already dispatched Press Releases to all the major papers in the Gambia alerting them of my Internet presence. I am now putting everyone on notice that from now on no story will go unpublished; every crime will be investigated and reported. That all those goons who think they will rule my country with impunity better think again. For at this moment my reporters have been dispatch to all four corners of my beloved country. Now that Gambia Okat is fully operational, I will, with my sharp journalistic instincts, my Sherlock Holmes’s detective skills, and mastery of the English language, investigate the half-billion dalasis stolen from the GPMG, the disappearance of over 20,000 Gambians since 1994, the disappearance and reappearance of Gambia’s strategic crude oil, and the alleged secret nuclear weapons program complex buried deep in Njambarat forest. Also using 3 x 2 matrixes, explain why I think the ignoble Dr. Jissy Jissy, Dr. Zombat, Dr. Kakatarr, should rule my country.  

I would also like to, before I forget; thank the man, the technical guru behind the design and development of Gambia Okat. For those that do not know he is also my brother. I have appointed myself “Editor-in-Chief” and from now on wish to be address as such. On the advice of my Public Relation Firm “Kor Jegnyi” I have commission Felix Panoramic Studio to take me a series of professional pictures to be posted on “Gambia Okat” every week. This I am told would project confidence and strength of character and better yet show my critics that Bai Puel means business. “Boy Melah”! Someone yelled, He paused, a huge smile came across is face and calmly nod his head. 

Throughout the evening, people ate and discussed. Occasionally Bai Peul would yell to some of the smaller kids present “Sumaraka”, “Ndoke” and asked if they are having a good time. While he pontificates, many of the guests now oblivious to the rest of his speech were talking about mundane issues. As the evening wind down, a few of the guest would shake his hands to congratulate and wish him good luck. Others while shaking his hand would whisper cautionary advice in his ears about the dangers of the Internet. By and large all agreed that Bai Peul’s party if not for lack substance is a very good barbecue. As an expert cook, he prides himself in using the best. Prime rib is his favorite and the grills were churning enough of these juicy delicious ribs. 

After the party many wonder if the recent accolades being showered to the proprietor of the newly established “Freedom –for-all-Newspaper” have anything to do with Bai Peul sudden hyperventilation. That like a man awakens from a deep slumber; he is suddenly acting with such fierce urgency. Some wonders if the recent migraine headache he has been having has anything to do with the presence of this man who without a doubt has substantially increased the buzz on the Internet and is now receiving rave reviews amongst Gambians all over the world. How the talk of Freedom this.. and Freedom that…, has become part of the staple of Gambian internet diet, and how after over a decade of parading himself as the “ Top dog” of Gambian journalism to the people of Waleigh, Bai Peul, is suddenly exposed, find to be redundant, perhaps a relic of a by gone era. And now thanks to the ingenuity of his brother, his good brother all this is about to change, he mused!  

Others upon learning that Bai Puel has already broken two keyboards while trying to type the simple words “Editor in Chief”, laments what he is about to do rest of the alphabet. While they fell sorry for the poor keyboards, they fear more for the liberal Gambian Internet community that he is about to invade. An invasion, the likes that have not been seen since Hannibal’s assault on the Roman Empire centuries ago. But unlike the great Carthaginian general, Bai Peul will not loot and pillage he will instead serenade his captives with his large repertoire of English language to improve their vocabulary.  

After all “What is the use of my knowledge, if I can’t share it with the whole of mankind” He asked? In some twisted way Bai Peul sees himself as a 21^st century “Jihadist” out to propagate his infinite knowledge to the millions of masses hungry for his wisdom. The Internet will be the perfect vehicle to carry his sermons. Privately he has already told his closest friends to grab the first available dictionary, preferably (Cambridge advanced learner’s dictionary) from the nearest bookstores before it is too late. For people will definitely have to open a dictionary for every single word he writes.  

Still, others wonder, how will Bai Peul sustains the grueling task of working and running a website, when his suspected “manic depression” is known to have on few occasions led to a near nervous breakdown if not total meltdown. How with Bai Peul’s over inflated ego will he ever allow any meaningful on-line dialogue? How with his well-documented paranoia will Bai Puel ever overcome his demons or the myriad of conspiracies he perceives to be lurking at every corner, in every nocks and cranny?

Editors note: Thanks Mawdo Laama Jallow for the educative and informative essays. We call on Gambian students-most importantly arts students to read and digest Laama's series. What an interesting read?? The big read as Observer's Halaki puts it. Laama "touchateenayahei." Keep the pen pushing. Gambians are proud of scholars like you. Bravo!!!