Book Title: IN SEARCH OF KNOWLEDGE AND
SELF-DEVELOPMENT
Author: Muhammad IS. Gassama
18th March 2017, UTG Law Faculty, MDI Road
This book is a product of the personal
history and experiences of a retired but not tired Gambian diplomat, a
bi-lingual writer and continental public servant that has served more than half
of his life in the service of the African continent through the defunct
Organisation of African Unity (OAU), and later the African Union (AU). He was a
career diplomat before his stint at the OAU, and later AU.
If a memoir is a historical account or
biography written from personal knowledge, and an autobiography is an account
of a person’s life written by himself, this master piece by a master story
teller, Muhammad Imam Sambou Gassama, is indeed, both a memoir and an
autobiography of the first order. This is against the background that it is a
fitting frame for a personal tribute as in the title, “In Search of Knowledge
and Self- Development”.
Such a tribute by oneself, as in the case
of Gassama, is unique in that it is a break from the general norm of presenting
tributes. This is against the backdrop that who else can tell another’s story
at best than oneself. No doubt, this is a fact of life! And what makes this
story and /or tribute poignant and telling is that unlike most tributes that
are often done when the subject in question has passed on, Sambou Gassama tells
his own story as a living legend, as he narrates his story from the horse’s
mouth. Just like in the Mandinka age, “chow pii-ro kadeya wolo lay da-kono”. In
view of this, the author allows his distant recollections to flow in their
natural way without any attempt to direct his train of thought in capturing
them. Thus, my task, is therefore a serious challenge, in that, this occasion
is meant for a budding story teller to convey the story of a master story
teller. I wonder how fair it would be for me to review a senior’s work, much
more a work on his life. I hope I would have done justice to my task at the end
of this review, laughs.
It is a memoir and autobiography consisting
of 29 chapters and a conclusion, fitted and weaved in 184 pages, highlighting
32 years at the OAU (now the African Union). And Indeed, this memoir is a
catalogue of the author’s trial and tribulations as depicted in the title, In
Search of Knowledge and Self-Development. It examines the modest beginning of
Sambou Gassama, the son of a migrant tailor resident in Banjul, the struggles
to pursue Islamic education or otherwise as wished by his father for his son to
become a “Foday” – Islamic scholar. It also chronicles the challenges of
meeting a father’s expectation of such a desire at all cost no matter how far
away from home, which also resulted in the occasional contestation of a mother
for such a wish for a young and innocent child after some failed initial
attempts to make young Sambou Gassama a Foday. The experience in the Kombos, especially
in Sanyang Village, was quite disturbing to say the least.
As it will be shown below, the struggles
and challenges in this work would be emboldened by these quotable quotes:
Winston Churchill, “Courage is going from failure to failure without losing
enthusiasm”; Robert Frost, “The best way out is always through”; and Baltasar
Gracian, “Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit”.
In this regard, the story highlights his
adventurous journey in realizing his supposed dream to places like Thies, St.
Louis, Dakar and Sudan; before his ambition came to fruition. But it must be
said that this experiences were without some consequences, as he persevered to
pursue his dream.
The
story also chronicled the experiences of his desire and quest as well as
challenges and constraints to learn English, his days at the Daara in Sanyang
Village in the Kombo’s and Lamin in Niumi, but particularly the wretched
experience in the former; university education, job hunting, the frustration of
being a teacher in Brufut and Malfa schools with the often misguided perception
and/ or living the life of an Ustas or Islamic teacher.
The life, opportunities, challenges and
limitations of a diplomat in Libya and London, as well as living and working as
a continental public servant for a supra-national organization like the OAU and
then AU, retirement and life after retirement are succinctly captured in the
work. The tell-tale in this memoir is therefore a must read for all and sundry.
The author is indeed grateful to all those
who crossed his path in one way or the other during the course of his life, and
as time and space cannot allow in this review, they are all recognized for
their effort and contribution. However, some names deserved special mention.
Nonetheless, the author begins by
unreservedly acknowledging and thanking all those who in one way or the other
made this book a success, especially Kalipha Manneh, a Gambian fellow, and
laboratory technologist at the AUC Medical Services Directorate, who spurred
him into a challenge that ultimately led to this book; Victor Afagbegee, a
longtime former colleague, who accepted to write the foreword, and his
publisher-friend, Fodeh Baldeh.
Although he takes responsibility for any
error in this book, I kindly differ from this contention, as in the words of
the late Guyanese and revolutionary scholar, Walter Rodney, this is called
“bourgeoisie subjectivism”. This is because any work of this nature involves a
collective, and as such, any error there in should be collective.
This memoir is therefore a perfect response
and product of a suggestion and challenge. The pattern of the work does not
follow any academic or scientific methodology. Rather, and in the words of the
author, “what I did was to allow my distance recollections to flow in their own
natural way without any attempt whatsoever to direct my train of thought in
capturing them (p. 13).
The book is a story of the 5 Allen Street
young man then, whose father’s desire to turn his first male child into a
“Foday” – Islamic scholar from Banjul to the farmlands of Jibooro in Niumi
Lamin at the age of 8. Before then, he lived out his childhood dream of any
child like riding bicycle (falling down times without number) around Bund Road
area, daaras and the jungle justice of picking up blows, as well as swimming in
both Lamin and Banjul. For fear of the sea or water phobia, he would accompany
his friends to swim and admire them but he still cannot swim largely due to
fear. He recounted the death of Modupeh as a constant reminder about the sea. It
became a rude awakening and danger about swimming that continues to haunt his
conscience to this day, especially his first experience of seeing a corpse (pp.
14-15).
The father was determined in making sure
that his son becomes an “afang or arfang”- a student who would eventually
attain the coveted title of “Foday”, Mandinka for an accomplished scholar or a
professor (p. 17). Sambou’s father, Almameh, the tailor, had become popular in
the Greater Banjul Area among his wide clientele.
On account of realizing his wish for his
son, Sambou Gassama was sent to Afang Sambujang Ceesay in Sanyang Village, in
the Kombo’s for one and half years. This attempt failed when it was discovered
that the young Gassama was being abused and exploited by Afang Sambujang’s wife,
Sissending Dabo, to perform all manner of chores other than learning (p. 18).
Following this discovery by Baaba’s father-in-law, Baaba saw the young Gassama
virtually … in shabby dress, emaciated with visible traces of starvation and
frustration, which was very visible on the innocent child, as the father was
stunned to the core. Sambou’s mother, Fatou Njie Funneh, who had never been
consulted on Baaba’s decision felt more shattered (p. 18).
Determined to get his son acquired Arabic
or Islamic education, he was enrolled at Pa Janneh’s daara, opposite 18 Allen
Street. He recall how his father had to put him in a Daara very close to their
house in Banjul so that he could keep an eye on him, as in his own words, he
was virtually dragged into the class (p. 20). This was before he was sent to
the village of Lamin, in Niumi under the venerable Islamic scholar, Karang
Junkung Jaiteh (p. 19).
He recall with clarity the beating they
underwent in the hands of some senior students or Magi Daara or Head boys like
Batch Faal, Kebba Samateh, Nai Ceesay among others at the daara for failing to
remember what was taught the previous day.
In spite of being born and bred in Banjul,
his father could not hesitate to send him away to Karamo Junkung’s care to
acquire the all-important education in Niumi Lamin against the mother’s fierce
resistance (p. 24).
As all work and no play makes Jack a doll
boy, the young Gassama vividly recounts some of his past time activities like
following wrestling activities from village to village in the Nuimi’s. He
argued that in those days, Nuimi Lamin was second to none as the village boast
of the indomitable Masaneh Sonko who rose from a village champion to a national
wrestling hero (p. 24).
The Bantaba was also a regular rendezvous
spot for all manner of social interaction among the youth. The taboo about
drumming was broken, and the introduction of music and musical instruments also
emerged, and the inauguration of these musical appliances was characterized by
pomp and pageantry as the jubilant boys and girls danced their heads – off to
the melody of records played (p. 27).
Farming activities at the Jibooro farmlands
were common, as the students were made to work for their karamo/teacher every
Thursday as a conduit for their fees and sustenance, and although the teacher
expanded the farmland for large scale farming. It could be interesting to see
how a Banjul born and bred young boy then would put up with such farming
activities. The rest is history, and kindly read the book to follow the story
(p. 32).
Cultural issues were wide spread like
initiation and it attendant vices involving Nansinoolu and Kintannoolu. The
idea was due to expose the initiates through set off shared traditional moral
values and secrets. However, he deplored the dying of this important tradition
and cultural value (p. 36).
Still in his search for knowledge, Sambou
Gassama was also placed under Karang Sulayman Junkung Jaiteh, who received him
with opened arms, and Karang Jaiteh never regretted his admiration for the
young Gassama because of his brilliance and focus on his studies, which took
off with speed (p. 39). However, in spite of his seriousness and intelligence,
and as a child, his occasional waywardness was eminent as this was accorded
with some beatings for refusing to do his assignment (p. 41).
Among the few things that he taught himself
was English through the coaching of his longstanding friend, Alpha Bashiru
Rahman King (Touray), who taught him the English alphabets, some vocabulary,
and elementary reading and writing. Thus, listening to radio, reading various
books on different subjects and also engaging people in Arabic conversations
paid well for him in honing his skills.
Determined as ever, and in his search for
knowledge and self-development, he then registered at the British Council
Library, the current location of the National Museum - the National Centre for
Arts and Culture (NCAC), to borrow books for reading and studying. In either
Lamin or Banjul, he continued to seek the guidance of teachers, and assistance
like his cousin, Jerreh Touray. The late Seyfo Jerreh Bojang of Brikama, Mr.
Faal and Mr. Dem of Albreda Primary School were useful in consolidating his
strong sense of self-application and personal orientation (p. 43).
Formal English studies only started at
university in Sudan, where English became one of his major subjects at the
Islamic University of Omdurman, where he graduated with BA (Hons) in Arabic
Literature, in 1973.
He admitted that his love affair with
seeking knowledge was not limited to English, as he was also learning how to
speak Arabic at the Majlis. He recognized that while many were not up to the
task of speaking Arabic fluently, yet there were many poets like Situkoto Dabo
and Alieu Saho, just to name but a few in whose footsteps he later followed
(pp. 44-45).
Listening to BBC Arabic was useful in
honing his Arabic speaking skills, as well as listening to other Arabic
speakers and reading Arabic books during his posting in Brufut as an Islamic
Studies Teacher, under the Gambia Islamic Union. His Arabic speaking was aided
by other teachers Kering Drammeh, Hatab Bojang, Mass Kah. But prominent among
them was Ustas Sobki Sillah, who taught him first in a formal Arabic school, in
Dakar (p. 45).
Given his speedy improvement and progress
while in Brufut as a teacher, he started presenting the weekly Friday Islamic
programme, entitled “The Muslim World”, at Radio Gambia before going to the
Sudan. It continued on a weekly basis in both Arabic and Mandinka.
In 1965, young Gassama decided to leave Nuimi
Lamin to embark on his ill-fated journey in search of knowledge to Thies,
Senegal with a Cassamance native, called Sulayman Camara. The adventurous
journey was so challenging that his adventurous mate had to abandon the journey
after several struggles, menial jobs and other worries. In spite of the
suffering and frustration, he made it to St. Louis before Dakar. These moves
were not without several challenges, and to paraphrase as the author contend,
“just like the Back way maniac, it was a question of Arabia or Barzac” (p. 51)!
The journey from Thies to St. Louis was so
cumbersome and challenging that for the first time in his life that he went for
two days without food. Compounded by this, he found himself in the midst of
people so different from him not only in terms of physical structure but in
their mannerism that he found himself completely lost and disconnect (p. 55).
What a rude awakening!!!
Notwithstanding, the experience became a
blessing in disguise as he was directed to the Zawia hostel that was meant for
stranded people on the move like him. Thus he was enrolled at the Zawia Madrasa
under the tutelage of Sheikh Yacoub Faal, who taught him Arabic grammar, syntax
and some linguistics. He was accorded some very humane treatment as food and shelter
were no longer a burden (p. 55).
In his admiration and love for St. Louis,
he remarked, “historically, St. Louis is dubbed as the ancient capital city of
Senegal with its three parts linked together by a bridge. It is very much
representative of a rich cultural city par excellence and home to acclaimed
scholars and memorizers of the Holy Quran just as it is famous for its
delicious cuisines, good taste and elegance of its proud inhabitants” (p. 56).
“All in all, it is a city that prides
itself on being the powerhouse of knowledge and culture. Its people are kind,
friendly and consciously religious. They make one feel so much at home because
of the care and attention within which they treat their guests. This was why I
fully enjoyed my one year or so sojourn in such congenial environment receiving
instructive lesson from my erudite teacher” (p. 56)! In fact, he still reckoned
all that was offered and done for him, years after living there, and yet, he
still feel some sense of nostalgia anytime St. Louis is mentioned.
Ambitious and still determined to pursue
his dreams, in search of knowledge and self-development, he then proceeded to
Dakar for enrolment in a proper Arabic School. The Dakar adventure led him to
the mentorship in Ustas Sobki Sillah’s Arabic school, where he was taught
various subjects. The influence of Arabic phonetics greatly improved his
pronunciation skills (p. 58).
On hindsight, he still cherishes the effort
of the then President of the Gambia Islamic Union, Alhaji Muhammed Lamin Ceesay,
fondly called Tankular Ceesay, who enabled him to obtain a teaching job at the
Union’s Arabic/ Islamic School in Brufut (p. 60).
Giving the novelty of obtaining a degree,
an even after his initial dreams of securing a scholarship for a coveted degree
failed, this never deterred the young Gassama then as he continued to nurture
his dream until it became a reality (p. 64).
In 1969, he finally obtained a scholarship
to go to the Islamic University of Omdurman, Sudan, to pursue a four year
degree programme in Arabic Literature, alongside other Islamic courses and
English. It must be stated that it is at university that he formally study
English, albeit his initial study of English was self-made through friends,
teachers and other acquaintances for self-development. On the road to Sudan
after obtaining the award, the struggle of meeting the cost of air ticket to
Sudan and stranding in Accra were quite telling. However, this never deterred
the young Gassama as he remained focused on the ultimate goal ahead. The rest
his history, as in addition to obtaining his degree, he also succeeded in
meeting a father’s wish of performing the pilgrimage to Mecca before his home
return!!!
Other strong cultural issues like a father
selecting a first wife for a male child came hunting, as the young Gassama was
made to marry a wife against his will. However, it is instructive to note as in
the words of the author, it was a blessing in disguise as there was no regret
in doing so (pp. 92-95).
He decried the conditions of service and
teaching at the Malfa School with high sense of frustration and lack of
motivation that made him conclude that he was not cut out for the profession
(pp. 96-99).
In his life as a diplomat, first at the
Gambian Embassy in Libya, it was not a good beginning as it took off with
contractual issues that the Libyan Government had initially failed to meet, the
weirdness of the late Libyan Dictator, Col. Gadafi and his utopian dream of the
Green Revolution (pp. 100-111) were common place.The experience of the challenge
of posting in London, against the studying at Cambridge versus the prospect of
promotion was interesting. It was indeed a case of a Frostein scenario is his
poem, entitled “The Road not taken”. Guess what, the answer can be found in the
book.
Following his appointment as Arabic
Translator with the OAU/AU, the work in itself was not entirely new as he has
done some translating work during his stint at Radio Gambia for hosting the
Muslim World weekly programme and visits to Sierra Leone with a Mauritanian
businessman (pp. 68 & 70); although it was a bit different from the new
challenge of the OAU/AU work.
Life at the OAU/AU in the 1980s, coupled
with the pros and cons of resorting to such a decision and the people behind
it; work as an Arabic Translator, as well as learning on the job and perfecting
his skills are all documented. The challenges of work and the unfair
professional treatment by colleagues, coupled with nepotism at best and racism
at worst, learning on the prelude to professional leadership roles of the staff
association, first as secretary and later as president with the achievements
and attendant challenges or short comings are quite interesting for anyone who
cares about such responsibilities to read and adhere to it.
The exigency of a continental public
servant, a family head, loss of father while on duty, mostly away from home can
be heart rending, and sometimes filled with guilt for being away during such
times. How to cope with the loss of a wife, and thereafter a mother, and the way
forward and life after retirement; are some of the embodiments of this memoir,
In Search of Knowledge and Self- Development. Grab your copy now, now, now, …!
He confessed that the most important lesson
that he learnt in all the places he visited and lived, “was the imperative need
for one to be at once versatile and resilient for one’s own continued survival
and success in life”. He noted that this was what enabled him to always grapple
with the harsh realities of life to the extent that he can still live, eat and
sleep anywhere and under any conditions, when it comes to the crunch (p. 63).
This memoir is indeed one of the best
personal histories of our time. The sequence of events as they flow and
captured in their natural form is a significant measure by any indication. But
it must be said that it takes wisdom and serious deductions to tell such a
story. The author’s choice of words, and the beauty of the language flow can
only be likened to the flow of the River Gambia, as it meanders to empty its
waters into the Atlantic Ocean. The experiences shared by this master story
teller, Sambou Gassama, is larger than life itself, and as such, it is a must
read by all manner of students, and elders for life long reading.
As I end this review, just like the life of
Sambou Gassama, I will live you with this quote by Henry Thomas Hamblin, “a
man’s success depends, more than anything, upon his faith; his faith in the
good purpose of life; his faith within him and his ability to overcome every
obstacle in his path.
Once again, I wish to thank the author
profusely for crafting such a work for public consumption.