By Essa Bokarr SEY.
Dear Editor Mbai,
I
have seen the corrigendum from Mr Ebrima Sankareh. Actually this is why
I entitled this latest piece "Expensive Co-incidence" I was not the
least refering to the Edward Small the historical figure as far as
Gambian history is concerned. Having said this I think the Gambian
female author's explicit versions on our nation's history has also left
a lasting memory in me. Isn't her name Patience? Laugh! I
was simply using a name in a satire co-incidentally Edward's happened
to be one that I like. Certainly I know the author of the national
amthemn as stated on my brother's corrigendum. Part of my gendarmerie
training from 1985-1986 included extensive lessons on the criminal code
and studying the meaning of texts like the national anthemn. These
studies prepared us the intakes to either pass or be dropped. Former
barracks commander Alpha Ismaila Ebrima Chongan a British citizen now
and LLB in law can attest to this fact with reference to my results as
a former recruit at GTS. History has proven that I passed and the files
are kept in Bakau barracks.
Koni Sabarri, the son of pen!!
Former
Lt Lamin Saine can also attest to this fact ie to ascertain whether I
passed or failed these tests where names of historical figures like
Edward Small were never omitted. Lest I also forget when we raised or
dropped the national flag at the Fajara barracks everyday. Indeed the
national anthemn and its meaning including who wrote it or not is the
nucleus of the existence of any soldier.
That
said I equally commend Mr Sankareh for bringing this up because
poetry,proses and other literary texts are like movies. Usually the
names of characters co-incide with real names. This however does not
mean that the author was actually refering to them per se. This, I am
confident enough to say is something Ebrima himself knows very well.
Therefore I do not want to spend time on it as far as replying an
intelligent scholar like him is my challenge write now. Anyone who
reads my pieces very closely can realise the above therein. Many a
times I have been using the term Uncle Pakin and other names thus
sending a message via what we call "fiction" etc.
Therefore
to make this part categorically clear I was not refering to the real
Edward Small. The "expensive" co-incidence here is that in the satire I
chose to match a renowned Gambian figure and scholar to the national
anthemn, when he authored other things in the past. Thus the essence of
science came into play. That is,what we learnt during our basic physics
classes at school. POSITIVE AND POSITIVE REPEL-NEGATIVE AND NEGATIVE
REPEL. Whereas the contrary says-POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ATTRACT ONE
ANOTHER.
What am I trying to say here as a challenged Gainaako from Saareh Kunta?
That
is,both the national anthemn and the name Edward Small are positive
historical land marks in our country's history. Therefore me choosing
Edward was an "expensive" co-incidence in a satire that was meant to
address the same Gambia's present and its past. This is where the
naivety of poetic "license" misled me within the wilderness of history.
The
general rules of writing include one fact and that is...writers have no
right to control or shape the perception of those reading their texts
when they are published. This being the case I highly respect
Sankareh's decision to air out how he understood the context with
reference to the point of observation he made. Next time when I reach
points like I may use John Small then or Barbara Stadford....
Thank you and I appreciated your encouraging words towards the struggle.
" Gorko Achu! Adha Sobbi!!!" Sankareh knows what I mean by this fulani swipe.
Wish all of you a long weekend.
Essa Bokarr SEY.