Gambia

The Gambia has gone through significant socio-cultural transformation over the years that the face of what Gambia once was is no longer (well atleast this is the view of the nationalist). I hear names and surnames that I never heard of growing up. Many a times, we hear staunch nationalist beating their chest validating their “Gambianess” and this begs the question as per what constitute a "Gambian"? A Gambian as per my definition is nothing but a nomenclature that distinguishes a set of people who share socio-cultural norms and values to attain their ideals and aspirations as a collective entity.

I am an avid opponent of nationalism be it economic, political or otherwise because I consider myself a Pan Africanist. Africa’s growth inhibitors are underpinned by strong nationalist tendencies that are promulgated by political elites whose primary intention is to consolidate power rather than relinquishing power to a regional/continental entity.  Integration (socio-cultural/political) is a sine qua non for the economic prosperity of Africans.

The word” indigenous Gambian” has always been a paradox in both my lexicon and reality because I am yet to see a native of the soil called Gambia. For starters, I will be forthright to accept my lineage as part Fulani and Berber whose abode is clearly not present day Gambia and yes we settled much earlier than some new settlers but this does not make me more Gambian than them. We also have in our midst people of different hues who have settled here for over a century and know no other place than the land we all call home. Our collective strength lies in our diversity but this positive attribute has become a divider that will deter our growth. Gambians are quick to stratify themselves into substrates that are either, tribal, economic or political and time is yet to heal this phenomenon because it has been passed on from one generation to the other. How can a group of people that SHOULD share a common purpose identify mostly as (Wollof, vs. Wollof fi kow kow/fana, Sosseh vs. Kianko, badibunko, etc) This has slowed our progress significantly and reduced the scope of our world view. Gambians hardly agree on a consensus because we always have peripheral issues that clouds our rationale towards the interest of the greater good.

The only way forward for the grouping called “Gambia” to forge ahead is to change our narrow perspective of what the collective good ought to be. We cannot be seen as a nation if we don’t share common values and aspirations, we cannot be seen as a nation if we cannot tolerate or accept all as equals socially. The wollofs have their short comings as they believe they are kingmakers and power brokers. My mandinka kin ought to be more responsive to the sensitivity of others. I am not a good speaker of the manding language but it baffles me why the Aku is always mentioned as an “Aku Kebba” irrespective of his age and the Wollof is mentioned as a “Suruwaah Ndingo” irrespective of age. A new Gambia starts with a social construct devoid of tribe and other social sentiments that does not foster collectivism.