Semestermania currently gutting and trending on Gambian Social media.One has to understand the connotation of "Semester" before accepting to be associated or described by this nomenclature. Growing up in Banjul, my understanding of Semester used to describe holiday makers predominantly from Bundas (Germany), Oslo and Stockholm in the mid 80s and early 90s. These holiday makers were known for their extravagant life style, sense of style and excessive display of material wealth mostly cars and money. They distinguished themselves from holiday makers from UK, USA and other western cities. Cafe Texaco, Tropicana, Oasis, Il Mondo, Bellengho, Club 98 were the spots these people frequented and they have left an indelible mark in the story of Gambian expatriates returning home to celebrate their fortunes. Hotels such as Novotel, BB, Sunwing, Kotu Strand were the rendezvous that these self made Gambians lodged for their escapades in the sunny smiling coast. This chapter of our social narrative created mythical legends that will forever be remembered for their lifestyle and exploits on the streets of Banjul as they were blue chip holiday makers. This chapter of our oral history cannot be told without mentioning iconic semesters such as Jurgor (Georgie), Njily Mbye (Lamin Sowe), Schoolen (Kebba Buya), BatchSamba Nyang Small Jarbo, Foo (Alpha Ceesay) Pai Njie, Wahab Faye, Papa soumbundou, Bongay and many others who really illuminated the social scene. These men took holiday making to another level never before seen in the Gambia. Time come and time past and current holiday makers are referred to semesters but the game plan is not the same and can't never be the same.
I am blessed to have witnessed the tail end of the last generation of Gambians and I do live and operate in the epicenter of this generation and nothing compares to what I have seen in the late 80s. Semester bashing and the exhibition of material excesses by so called modern"semesters" highlights an undertone that is deeply rooted in social deficit cum complex. Unfortunately materialism has become a way for many to socially impose their existence in society for recognition and acceptance. Equally, the locals do feel oppressed by the excessive exhibition of wealth being flaunted by the semesters. For any action to take root in society, it has to be endorsed, accepted and promoted by society. Our society rewards, promote and champion the semester lifestyle as success is measured on that yardstick. Education is not champion or promoted any longer. What one drives and the amount of noise made has become the yardstick of success. Instant gratification has become the Gambian way and the so called semesters have mastered the craft and they play along the scripted drama called the new Gambia. Therefore lets not kill the semesters cos they are just characters in the scripted play called the Gambia where materialism and joni joni are the the barometers of success. Jollof is as complex as the color palette that makes up the spectrum and the more we try to understand it, the more it highlights the weaknesses inherent in our psyche and most often, they are socially oriented and anchored on materialism and vanity. Welcome to Jollof a sick nation that needs internal and external healing from wounds of material deprivation and mental imbalance that promotes inferiority syndrome that is exhibited in showering worldly excesses to be seen or heard.
The fuel that is igniting semesterism is POVERTY and a degenerate value system. The elders of our society not only endorse semesterism but promote it by welcoming these holiday makers to their bedrooms as they are sponsors of the very life style they enjoy. Poverty breeds the look of no hope like God over looked us when he dished out his graces. People put their souls as collateral on this roller coaster ride to materialism. Gambia makes you an opportunist as the get rich quick scheme kills the raw talent in us and leave us with our infantile education that corrupt our perception of the truth. The road to salvation for the Gambian is through the eradication of poverty as liberation of the mind starts with economic independence. Mind you there is a difference between poverty eradication and poverty alleviation. Alleviating poverty reduces the suffering but does not breed independence. Economic opportunities are key to social upward mobility and this fosters an independent mind and an independent mind creates a social construct that will usher the "New Gambian". The new Gambian will usher in prosperity to this land we call the smiling coast. The sooner Gambians think introspectively on the mirror and see themselves (us) as the problem ailing this beautiful country, the sooner we can fix it. Self denial is a cancer that plagues us and a therapeutic session starts with owning up to our fuck ups (sorry for the lingo).
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