I
can’t imagine being distances away from my family, friends and country on the
very fateful day of the Muslim feast, Eid-ul Fitr or koriteh as known by some
people.
On
the second day of the Koriteh 2016, I felt bored I don’t know what to do or
where to go to. Knowing fully well that
my current environment totally differs from the one I am used to (The Gambia)
when it comes to the format of feast celebration, the ambiance at displayed,
friendly-bond, and sense of excitement.
At
this moment, I was left contemplating what to do and what not to do.
I
decided to take to the social media, Facebook, to get in touch with the
happenings back home, The Gambia, my native land. Thanks to the digital age
which enables us to be in the same wavelength with people as far as America,
Europe and Africa. And this pays well,
especially in my case in this crucial day. Even though my host country, Turkey,
is majority Muslim people. Still the koriteh syndrome was in me. Only what I
felt was to be closer to my people to dine and wine with them.
Surely,
with the expectation that even though I am lonely in my room. The only
alternative available for me was to listen to a line-up song by legendary Bob
Marley among the tracks ‘Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but
ourselves can free our minds!’
And
my second best Lucky Dube sensational track dubbed ‘Different Colours, One
People’. These moments really takes me home. Totally feels nostalgia. I start
remembering back a days, especially the ambiance at the centre of Serekunda,
Westfield Junction, and the corners of Latrikunda German and its environs. How
it looks like in this special day. More so, putting into consideration the
teeming number of youngsters on ‘saliboo’ mission and the middle and elderly
age rocking the streets of Greater Banjul Areas to exchange greetings (siyaree)
with families, work mates and loved ones.
The same moods cut across the length and breathe of the country.
Luckily
for me, while I am getting the music vibration of Father Bob, I was glued to my
Facebook. At this very widely use
medium, I came across a photo on my Facebook wall posted by a Gambian
journalist who beautifully dressed in an African ‘haftan’. Interesting enough, in curiosity mood for me
to unearth who was pictured on this very, very nicely looking long pink
‘haftan’ sitting in the recording studio of GRTS TV, as display by the photo
background.
Of
course, after having a view on the photo, I knew that is journalist Famara
Fofana of GRTS commonly known as Sultan.
A friend of mine in the journalism arena. He (Sultan) doubles as my own
Pulaar Language (Fula) student. There
comes a pouring of messages from every nook and cranny of the globe. Showering
praises on his well-dressed African ‘haftan’. This is capable of attracting any
citizen of the World to emulate the journalist’s Koriteh dress cloth.
Commenting
on Journalist Sultan’s (Famara Fofana) photo. I pressed the ‘Like’ bottom
initially. Yet, I felt uncomfortable and finally join the commenters; my
comment: “Mighty Sultan Koriteh swag thing. Nice naa”.
Shortly,
Sultan responded to my comment. And his came on this fashion and it reads
“National Sanseh Day” hahahaha. At this
moment, I felt nostalgia even more. I
recall my own days back home on this fateful day with my ‘haftan’ and the sense
of joy I derived from spending the moment with family members and friends. The
Koriteh indeed is a remembrance moment in one’s lifetime. With all its goodies.
Sultan
refereed to the Koriteh as ‘National Sanseh Day’ and other people called it
‘Goudi Sanseh’. I spent that night
deeply reflecting on these terms and the shared love and togetherness people
continues to showcase among themselves during the Koriteh. From the morning Eid prayers, afternoon
‘Attayaa’ vous, ‘Saliboo’ moments to clubbing time, etc. This is just amazing.
I
wish I spend 2016 Koriteh day together with my family, friends and love ones in
The Gambia.
Happy
belated Koriteh 2016. On Jaarama muusibe Gambia. Alaa baraka baadin
Gambiayakoloo.
