Our way took us past a large gathering of women, assembled under the magnificent shade of a majestic baobab tree. Engrossed in a captivating display of song and dance, they created a vast circle, their united voices rising and falling to the primitive rhythm of a drum and the melodious sound produced by a calabash striking water held within a sizeable plastic container called "gii-kii-jo". A middle-aged woman commanded the rapt attention of the crowd with her skilful percussion, while her companions clapped in harmony, offering a musical backdrop to those singing the chorus at the circle's centre.
After some time, the initial singer discreetly withdrew, yielding her position to an elderly woman, seemingly in her sixties. As she commenced her song, the atmosphere palpably changed, the formerly jubilant rhythms and clapping evolving into a more solemn and contemplative mood. The song, performed in Mandinka, was profoundly emotional and carried a poignant message. Its lyrics;
eeh nyi nyawoo....
Mmang hanyi nyi-nyaa laa...
Jawya leh baa noma....
The group of women repeated the lyrics in unison. Their voices interweaving to produce a sorrowful auditory tapestry;
eeh nyi nyawoo....
Mmang hanyi nyi-nyaa laa...
Jawya leh baa nomaaa
The lesson of this song was a lamentation on the perilous nature of goodwill. It narrated a story of the trepidation linked with acts of kindness and generosity, as frequently the recipients of such actions repay them with ungratefulness, disloyalty or even maliciousness. This evocative melody conveyed a harsh truth - that no good deeds goes unpunished, and that even the most well-intentioned among us may face treachery and disillusionment from those we sought to help.
It was only through the passage of time and the accumulation of wisdom gained from maturity that I understood the profound lesson the elderly lady was striving to convey through her song. It is often those who are the most selfless, the kindest, and the most generous, who suffer from treachery and betrayal. They are regularly let down, betrayed and deceived by the very people they have helped. However, it is crucial to recall that acts of kindness and charity should not be carried out with the anticipation of reciprocation or appreciation. Genuine benevolence is driven by an innate desire to do good, to help others, and to make a positive impact on the world, regardless of the potential for betrayal or disillusionment.
Therefore, even in the face of possible adversity, one should remain resolute in their commitment to helping others, prepared for the possibility of betrayal and ingratitude, but unwavering in their pursuit of kindness and goodness.
Alasan Ceesay is a Cambridge University Postgraduate student and the founder of both Rahma Food in The Gambia and RahmaTech in the UK
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