Fafa Mbaye, a senior private lawyer, has appeared before Justice MM Yamoa of the Criminal Division of the High Court, in the ongoing murder trial involving one Alasana Beyai.

The suspect, Alasana Beyai, is charged with the murder of Mr Yaya Sowe, a shopkeeper, at Brikama Gidda, Western Region (WR), in December 2005. The deceased apparently died in a “wrestling encounter” in the region.

Giving evidence on traditional wrestling on Wednesday, Lawyer Mbaye said he knows the customs and traditional practices in Brikama and the phenomenon of wrestling in “our typical traditional and cultural norms and values”.

He told the court that the customary tradition is observed among many ethnic groups in The Gambia.

"’Wrestling is often done during traditional ceremonies like the harvesting period, circumcisions. The act of wrestling does involve malice, but wherein harm is done, there used to be no course of action against it. As an adult, I like watching wrestling contests. However, it is common for people to do wrestling based on a relationship between them,” Lawyer Mbaye told the court.

Responding to questions during cross-examination by the state counsel, Lawyer Shanaka, Lawyer Mbaye acknowledged the existence of specific places in The Gambia designated purposely for wrestling, adding that wrestling can also be a source of income.

Meanwhile, the accused, Alasana Beyai, in his evidence-in-chief, informed the court that he is a mechanic apprentice and confirmed that he knows the deceased, Yaya Sowe, whom he said was a shopkeeper in his neighbourhood.

The accused recalled that on 10th December, 2005, he went to buy two sticks of Bond cigarette. He said the deceased followed him on his way home and engaged him in a wrestling contest, during which the late Sowe wrestled him down twice.

"I told him to leave me alone, but to no avail. Upon my attempt to run away, Yaya Sowe stumbled on a stone and fell to the ground. He went unconscious. I called my commercial vehicle driver boss to assist me to take him to the hospital, where he was admitted and I reported the matter to the police station,” Mr Beyai told the court.

Responding to questions during a cross examination by State Counsel Shanaka, the accused person insisted that they had no problems before, as the late Yaya Sowe was a close friend of his. He said he never thought of causing him harm, much more to kill him. He told the court that most of the prosecution witnesses, who testified against him were not present when the incident occurred.

The newly appointed chiefs, Bakary Dampha of Jarra Central District and Kashim Leigh of Sami Pachonki District, have been inaugurated in separate ceremonies in Lower River and Central River Regions respectively.

Chief Leigh, who replaced Morro Jawla, was inaugurated on Saturday, while Chief Dampha, who replaced Haruna Sabally, was inaugurated on Sunday at Jarra Japineh.

Confirming this in an interview with the Daily Observer, the paramount chief, Alhaji Demba Sanyang, said both ceremonies were held in line with the traditional proceedings of chieftaincy inauguration.

He described the events as successful and affirmed the respect his office and the Council of Seyfolu have for the traditional norms and values.

He highlighted some of the activities that his office, in collaboration with the Council of Seyfolu, are undertaking in response to President Jammeh’s back to the land call for food self-sufficiency.

He told the Daily Observer that all the districts have started preparing their farmlands for cultivation. According to him, they are determined to contribute effectively towards the attainment of food self-sufficiency.

For the first time in the history of Gambian show-biz, the world acclaimed Kora Award has chosen DJ Lamin Cham as their Gambia based director.

The world renowned multi-million Kora Award based in South Africa , annually reward distinguished artists all over the globe who have made significant inroad in their respective field of endeavour. Among the Gambian rap groups who benefited from the prestigious Kora Award in South Africa were Da Fugitivz’s one of the most successful Gambian rap groups, now based in Sweden..

Over the last years, organisers held series of award ceremonies in South Africa, Nigeria, France and New York.

The 2006 President Award Winning DJ, Lamin Cham of the Champion Sound system, described the news as another boost for the Gambia entertainment industry.

He therefore called on Gambian artists to unite and remain steadfast in realising their targets goals.

According to him, this would serve as a moral boost for the upcoming stars in the country, especially in getting more international recognition, adding that this years’ award would be held in December..

Champion DJ, as he is fondly called, has in the recent years has been very active in the country’s entertainment industry .

For more information about the award, read our subsequent edition..

Your Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Chancellor of the University of The Gambia,

ALHAGI DR. YAHYA A. J. J JAMMEH

The Vice-President of the Republic of The Gambia,

AJA DR. ISATOU NJIE-SAIDY,

My Lord Chief Justice of The Gambia, Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,

Honourable Secretary of State for Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology,

Honourable Secretary of State for Basic and Secondary Education,

Other Secretaries of State present,

Honourable Members of the National Assembly,

Secretary General and Head of Civil Service,

Permanent Secretary of the Department of State for Higher Education, Research, Science & Technology,

Permanent Secretary of the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education,

Other Permanent Secretaries present, Representatives of the UN-system and other international bodies,

Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps,

Venerable Religious Leaders,

Chairman and Members of the Council of the University of The Gambia,

Deputy Vice-Chancellor and University Registrar,

University of The Gambia, Members of Senate,

University of The Gambia, Distinguished Invited Scholars,

All other invitees, Members of the Media.

And last, but not least: COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE GAMBIA! All protocol respectfully
observed!

Ladies and Gentlemen!

@COMMEMORATION:

Let us first commemorate those who have departed since last convocation:Professor J. O. Mogbo, Professor of Chemistry, Mrs Isatou Barrow, student, Department of Economics and Management, Mr Momodoulamin Ceesay, student, Department of Economics and Management, Mr Kalilu Jaiteh, student, Department of Science and Tecchnology, Mr Ebrima Jallow, student, Department of Economics and Management, Mr Yankuba Jarjue, student, Department of Economics and Management, Mr Saikou Jawara, student, Department of Economics and Management, Mr Joseph Pa Mendy, student, Department of Nursing. MAY THEIR MEMORY BRING YOU COMFORT!

Please raise and join me in one minute of silence.

@INTRO REMARKS:

Convocation day is a milestone in an academic career. It is a day to remember and retain for the graduate’s family and friends. For the graduate it is the first stepping-stone on a life-long career.

For the university proud to educate the candidates, graduation ceremonies are signposts on the academic path towards increased institutional quality, relevance, and social impact.

The graduands presented to you today are our tribute to government and society.

@WELCOME:

It is a pleasure and a privilege to welcome you all to the Fourth Convocation Ceremonies of the University of The Gambia on this 26th day of January in 2008.

A special welcome to the Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, his Excellency the President of the Republic, ALHAGI DR. YAHYA A. J. J JAMMEH, and his spouseas well as the Vice-President, AJA DR. ISATOU NJIE-SAIDY.

@GUESTS TO RECOGNISE:

Please allow me to recognise the following guests:

Professor Sory Camara and his wife from the University of Bordeaux in France

Professor Femi Ojo-Ade from St Mary’s College, Maryland, US

Dr Ebrahim Malik Samba, retired WHO African Regional Director

Mr Mathiew Ndure, retired registrar of WAEC

Eight Norwegians under the leadership of Ms Linda Veraasdal. They are in The Gambia to study responsible tourism.

To all our distinguished guests, scholars and stakeholders, I salute you for responding to our invitation.

@TO THE STUDENTS:

Dear graduands, class of 2007!

Your achievements deserve our compliments. Your academic education has prepared you for working in a society that is rapidly changing. Academic and intellectual skills prepare you to participate in this ongoing transformation, to the benefit of you, your family, and your country.

When you start working to earn your living, you will realise that the quality of work done by people varies a lot. It is a fact that everybody can produce and present quality work.

Whatever work it is. Because quality is a life style. It rarely takes more time or is more expensive. It is just an attitude, just – quality. Aim to be a quality worker!

Future challenges to mankind, Africa, The Gambia, may seem overwhelming. With climate change, population growth, emerging diseases, and so on. But this is how the world has always been. I do not believe that our forefathers and –mothers had an easier life. However, they had very different everyday challenges.

Use your education to work for the common good. Prepare yourself for creativity and wisdom. Be a seeker; look for the new challenges, possibilities, perspectives, and solutions. Work with others because people need people. Common sense is not so common, we all need to develop our creativity to meet a changing and challenging world that require that new solutions are developed and brave decisions made.

@ON UNIVERSITY MATTERS:

Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen!

To day I will concentrate on the ongoing developments at UTG.

This is the fourth convocation in the history of UTG. Today the number of graduates is 176, bringing the total number of graduates up to 649. This year the second batch of medical doctors graduated. With those 12, the total number of educated doctors at the University of The Gambia is 23 so far. This is a fine achievement and indicates that we are on track.

@WHAT A UNIVERSITY IS

A university is a unique institution. Its existence and achievements are built on confidence and confidence only. That is why academic fraud is so severely punished by academia, and a university is so sensitive to false accusations and gossip.

A university is a place to produce science-based knowledge using scientific methods developed and tested over centuries. The institution brings global products of research to society for its scrutiny and use.

Academic freedom entails the right and duty to pursue research using the appropriate methods and to publish your finds. Together with its twin sister, academic responsibility, it is the functional basis of a university.

It entails the right and duty to analyse and criticise what other researchers have published; - and the sometimes very uncomfortable obligation to submit to your peers’ criticism of your publications!

It entails the duty to replace ignorance with sound, testable science-based knowledge.

It gives no right to venture into irrelevant or low quality research for selfish or destructive purposes.

Academic freedom is not the freedom to misuse project funds for other activities than for those they are approved.

Academic freedom is not the freedom to do nothing!

The university is a place to take the brave steps to traverse frontiers of knowledge never crossed before and succeed or fail!

Universities are members of the international academic society. Any university will be critically scrutinised, even academically investigated, by your peers at other universities, whether you are prepared for it or not.

This craves quality control in research and teaching, and autonomy, independence, and integrity in all activities. It is also important to develop a certain academic specialisation and focus. You cannot do everything.

Methodological transparency and accountability and the ability to publish the unexpected and sometimes embarrassing results and conclusions, but also a strong will to admit and correct failures in research. Research results must be presented and published in such a way that they can be controlled and corrected by other researchers.

@A GAMBIAN UNIVERSITY

Every university is special in its own way. What then, is a Gambian University? Can there be an institution uniquely identified as THE University of The Gambia. - Of course, it can!

A Gambian University should be an institution producing knowledge relevant to progress focusing on the improvement of human resources for the development of the nation. In every action, development should be the focal point of attention.

The second focus should be how to get optimum academic quality out of the resources available and increase the quality of the human resources accessible.

This university should give opportunities to all Gambian youths willing, eager, and qualified to go for an academic career.

However, this is not enough:

Our graduates should develop and leave the university with the will to serve the nation, acknowledging that development demand sacrifices.

I am not a historian, but I challenge them to give me one example where a good society was built without sacrifice and its sister virtue solidarity, from those who had something to sacrifice.

In every society, there are those who have been able to collect a variety of privileges for themselves. Many of them are protecting those prerogatives the best they can. They hardly understand or accept that when we are talking about development for all and for the common good, it is to their benefit too.
-------

How can we secure that UTG is a university for Gambian development?

Let me give you some examples on what we are into just now:

@RELEVANCE:

We have taken the first steps towards a curriculum reform looking at content and procedures. In this process, we conferred with some of the stakeholder Departments of State. This will continue and UTG wants to seek collaboration and co-financing to produce candidates well adapted to The Gambia’s needs.

I am a firm believer that it is possible to increase relevance without compromising on academic quality and standards.

@RECRUITMENT:

Last year we started access courses and opened for parallel tracks to the graduate programmes. We intend to go further.

Senate have approved the establishment of a Bridging year from senior secondary school to degree programmes at UTG in collaboration with Gambia College. In partnership with the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education, we have suggested actions that will strengthen and increase the number of secondary school teachers. It will open for new career tracks for teachers already in the system.

We have suggested measures that within relatively few years can bring the Gambian WASSC exams results to pole position in the Sub-region. This may be done at relatively low cost.

@MASTER PROGRAMMES +

In 2007 UTG started its first Master Degree Programme in African History.

In collaboration with Leeds Metropolitan University, we started a Master Programme in Health Promotion and Environmental Health with students from The Gambia and the Sub-region.

We are to sign a MoU with UniversitÈ de Limoges in France to start a Master Programme in French at UTG.

We are also at an advanced stage in developing a Master in Economics.

I hope to be able to present the upcoming master programmes to Senate for recognition this academic year.

I am also pleased to inform you that we are developing a tailor-made bachelor in accounting and finance in collaboration with the Directorate of Treasury.

@INAUGURATION OF PROFESSORS:

In 2007, the first two professors ever installed in the Gambia gave their inaugural lectures in the presence of the Chancellor, Alhagi Dr. Yahya A. J. J Jammeh. This was a milestone in academia in The Gambia and we expect more professors to follow.

@RESEARCH FOUNDATION

UTG is looking into the possibilities of establishing a research foundation within the university for activities it chooses not to place in the university itself. For instance, consultancies done by staff members, larger interdisciplinary research programmes, administration of strategic programmes, etc. Thus, staff at UTG benefit in their research from the administrative services of the foundation.

UTG has been pledged some funding for competitive research from the World Bank through PCU, and resources for a think tank for development from UNDP.

The foundation can also serve as transitory home for institutes with external funding that later can be reorganised to university departments.

A foundation is a good tool for accountability, quality control and peer review of reports issued in the name of the university.

Within the research foundation, one can develop extensive collaboration with parastatals to bring research out to them.

A developmental university must co-operate with the private sector to be relevant to development. This is one of UTG’s priorities in the coming years. We hope to develop models of collaboration that brings mutual benefits and strength to all partners. This is a challenge UTG is prepared to meet and the establishment of a research foundation is an important tool to facilitate externally financed projects.

@TERTIARY INTEGRATION:

I am pleased to say that our line minister and his ministry, Department of State for Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, are strongly committed to a successful tertiary integration.

Integration opens a historic window of opportunities. Complete integration with all tertiary institutions co-located in Faraba Banta will open opportunities nobody ever envisaged.

From other integration processes I have witnessed, I request to give this advice to the Government: "Do not let vested interests hamper integration". A half-hearted attempt to please everybody will fail, even be destructive. A few individuals must not be allowed to weaken, even destroy the integration progression.

And to the integrating institutions: Do not get stuck in never-ending discussions on how to organise. You will have to adjust anyhow. Have the guts to take brave decisions, and if necessary fine-tune and rearrange. Integrate all institutions in Faraba Banta and build a fantastic university!

Harvard, Oxford, Sorbonne is not the yardstick.

Our measuring stick is how the integrated UTG can support and create development in The Gambia and the Sub-Region.

Because of its diversity, the integrated university will be an essential partner to all public and private sectors in the Gambia.

@CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT:

In collaboration with the Department of State for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, GTTI and UTG, a highly respected NGO in Norway, Aktive Fredsreiser ("Travel for Peace" in English), has donated funds to build a house with computer labs, offices and lecture halls at Kanifing.

The construction has started and when completed the NGO will hand the house over to the university. All this money has been collected from private persons in Norway to support the development of The Gambia and UTG.

Last year the Chancellor Alhagi Dr. Yahya A. J. J Jammeh invited the Norwegian architect firm Sn¯hetta to develop a master plan for the campus in Faraba Banta. In a month, this plan will be presented and campus development will enter a new phase.

@STAFF

The members of staff at UTG is not working under optimal conditions. Let me, on behalf on all of us gathered here; thank the staff for their efforts sometimes under difficult circumstances. This goes to all support and administrative staff from the cleaners to the University Registrar, and to the academic staff.

Many things are going on in UTG just now and you have hard times ahead. There is a lot of work to be done to build our institution further. The development of UTG depends on your unconditional support to the institution. The campus in Faraba Banta will give you much better working conditions, but it is what you accomplish before UTG is moved to the new campus that will generate the success of that enterprise.

Let me express special thanks to the part-time staff. Without your efforts, there might not have been a UTG. I hope that the salary increase we were able to give last year shows our dedicated part-timers how much we appreciate their contributions.

@THANKS:

The University continues to receive benefactions from a variety of sources. Principal among these have been:

_ Technical assistance for the Medical Programme from the Government of Cuba

_ Support from WHO to the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences

_ Colleagues from several teaching hospitals and universities in the Sub-region and beyond have rendered services to the Medical School

_ Research grants to members of staff from CODESRIA and WHO

_ GPPC (Gambia Printing and Publishing Corporation) former known as BPMRU, Gambia College/School of nursing, GTTI, MDI, MRC, ITC (Classrooms and labs)

_ Republic of China, Taiwan (Scholarships and computers)

_ The support we get from PADEF is highly appreciated

_ Sabre Foundation and the Foundation for West Africa donated 15000 scientific books and text-books, very generously mediated by:

_ GAWFA Gambia Women’s Financial Association

_ Trust Bank is very supportive and facilitates in the collection of tuition fees from our students

_ Let me also thank our line ministry, the Department of State for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, for their efforts and encouragement.

_ Let me convey thanks to Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education and all the other Departments of State that have supported UTG

_ Let me not forget to thank GRTS who so generously gives us time on the air.

Special thanks goes to our integration partner, MDI. UTG spends a lot of money on renting lecture rooms, but thanks to generous help from MDI’s management, this cost is now reduced. Let me explicitly mention Alieu Tarju who has been instrumental in this respect.

I seize this opportunity to convey our profound thanks and appreciation to parastatals, institutions and individuals who have donated generously towards the funding of the convocation ceremonies. They are all mentioned in the Convocation Book. Let me; however, inform you that the Chancellor himself donated almost 2/3 of the cost of the convocation ceremonies. He has also pledged to do this in the coming years!

Thank you all for your generosity!

We want to be good receivers of gifts. And if we are not always up to it, I apologise. UTG is a small institution, and we have to work in sequence, do one thing at a time. We are not staffed to work in parallel.

CONCLUSION:

Before I finish I will convey personal thanks to the Chancellor of the University of The Gambia, His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia, Alhagi Dr. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh for his steadfast devotion and support to UTG and our students.

It takes time, patience, and commitment to develop a university; it is expensive and craves continuous government support to be sustainable. For each step up in quality, investments and running cost increases exponentially. Nevertheless, there is no alternative to a high-quality national academic institution.

It is my strong conviction that UTG now has reached a stage in its development when it can take off. However, it craves that all stakeholders increase their support to the university. I encourage all parents to send their children to the University of The Gambia. Especially those who can afford to send them abroad. It is an important signal of confidence that will strengthen the young institution.

The Chancellor has pledged 15 professorships to the university. In my opinion, this is the most important event since UTG was established. It will boost quality in education and research. It will make it possible to reinforce activities meeting national needs. It will expose the university nationally and internationally.

This injection of academic competence will change the university entirely. In the context of the integration, the 15 professorships are even more significant. I hope it will encourage private institutions to donate the same number of professorships to UTG in the coming years as needs are acknowledged.

For any university the support and interest in the institution by the Head of State is a principal asset. I feel confident that the relationships based on mutual respect between State House and UTG will continue and develop further.

Your Excellency, as Chancellor you are not only rendering oral support to the UTG. You also support the institution and our students through magnanimous personal contributions and scholarships. This is paramount for the development of the institution.

As Vice-Chancellor of the University of The Gambia I thank you for this!

Thank you all for your attention!

as 25.01.08

Myrddin Owen, a Samaritan, on behalf of his village, Cyfeillion Amlweh, in Wales, on Saturday, donated an ambulance to Sankwia Village and medical equipment to Soma’s major health centre in Jarra West at a ceremony held at Sankwia Skills Centre and Soma Health Centre respectively.

Cyfeillion Amlweh twinned with Sankwia village in 2005 thus establishing a charity called Cyfiellion-Sankwia Friends.  The Cyfeillion friends have since sponsored over 250 students, a skills centre and an adult literacy class.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, a native of Sankwia, Lieutenant Colonel Sarjo Fofana head of The Gambia Navy, who is the president of the village’s development association thanked the donors for their unflinching support. He pointed out that the Cyfeillion-Sankwia relationship has impacted positively in alleviating poverty in Sankwia. He urged the  villagers to make the best use of the donation. He finally thanked the government for providing the conducive environment without which such achievements wouldn’t have taken place.

In handing over the ambulance, Myrddin Owens, reiterated that the charity will continue to provide more support to the village in the near future, adding that already, they have provided solar panels for the skill centre. He also pledged to provide an incubator for the Soma Health Centre. He commended the villagers for their collective collaboration for the tesito work while they provide the money and materials.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Momodou Soma Jobe, the governor of Lower River Region (LRR), said that the provision of the ambulance complements to government efforts and would enhance the health delivery system in the area.

He urged the community to ensure the sustainability of the ambulance by ensuring that it is properly taken care of.

At Soma, Rohey Saidykhan Dampha, the nursing officer in charge received the medical equipment.  Ebrima Kanaji, the head of the  Divisional Health Team also expressed sentiments of appreciation. Malang Fofana chaired both ceremonies.

Because neither Islam nor Christinity had been introduced to our earliest ancestors, they held firmly to traditional African beliefs and customs. They were influenced by secret societies and initiation rites of different kinds. For example, they regarded the Earth as sacred, because she provided them with food, and received the dead into her bowels, so wrote a leading Gambian historian in the work ‘Stories of The Senegambia.

The Stone circles are indeed the leading archaeological relics of our country. They are found mainly along the North Bank, especially at Wassu and Ker Batch in the Central River Division, and since 2006 they have been part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, the most prestigious listing of heritage sites in the world.

‘Our ancestors performed many ceremonies at sowing and harvesting time in the fields. Many historians believe that the stone circles of Senegambia were built by these early peoples 9perhaps the ancestors of the Jolas and Sereres) as sacred sites for the celebration of the cult of the earth. A harvest time, the people would bring offerings from their farms as a form of thanksgiving to the Earth.

Oral tradition suggests also that the stone circles were built round burial mounds of Kings and Chiefs in the same way as such royal persons were build in the ancient empire of Ghana. Once Islam was brought into the Senegambia in the eleventh century, devout Muslims (marabouts) as well as chiefs were buried in this way; and the circles became holy places. Today, vegetables like tomatoes and pepper are still left on the stones’.

In 1964/65, the first major comprehensive archaeologcal diggings at the site at Wassu was made by a joint group of Sixth formers from Gambia High School and British students. The Anglo Gambian stone circles expedition spent many weeks at Wassu digging and they found many interesting artefacts. The subsequent scientific dating put the circles at 1000 AD, making them early signs of civilization in our country.

‘The circles are composed of standing stones between ten and twenty four in number, their height above the ground varying between eight and six feet six inches and two feet. Diametres is from one foot ro three feet six inches. Originally, the interior of each circle was a burial mound of gravel and sand, much of which is now worn away’.

According to the Expedition Report published in 1966, ‘the stones were cut out of laterite that occurs in large outcrops in the Gambia. It is a feature of this stone that it hardens upon exposure to the air, and that prior to such exposure it is relatively easy to quarry.

Iron tools could have cut out one of the latger stones within a few days. Stones brought down a steep hillside and transported on rollers, or hammocks must have required a considerable labour force.

I have always argued that it must have also required a strong ruler and system of moblisation to marshall such a labour force. This is another proof of the high degree of administrative sophistication of the people in the lower Gambia at the ninth century AD.

The Stone Circles are symbols of Gambian civilisation.

As the school academic year begins, election campaign for the Students’ Union Executive began last week at the Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI) campus in Kanifing.

The portfolios to be contested are the post of President, Vice-President, Secretary-General, Public Relations Officer (PRO) and Sports Coordinator. 
Speaking to the Young Observer columnist, Adama Demba, GTTI Election Campaign Manager, announced that elections are slated for Tuesday November 6th, 2007. He confirmed that four candidates are vying for the post of President, one for the post of Vice-President, one for the Secretary-General post, one for Sports Coordinator post and none for the PRO.

Young Observer also caught up with some of the contestants and below are their views.  
Morr B. Ceesay, who is vying for the Students’ Union Presidency said,“I am studying ABE Diploma 11 and Diploma in Law.  One of my major plans for this institution is to find solutions to the shortage of lecturers in the Business, Marketing, Professional Development and Construction Departments. I will also make sure that there is graduation ceremonies held and finance from the Student’s Union Account and the account be controlled by the Student Union Executive. Student Management Relationship and the provision of school bus and students’ union telecentre will also be among my priorities”.

Alex Sylva, also vying for the Students’ Union President said, “I am a final year law student and am contesting for the position of the President of the union, due to certain reasons. First of all, I want to incooperate the spirit of unity among students and also student management relationship. I will also discourage all forms of injustice and corruption in this institution to ensure equity and fair play.

Pa Landing Manneh, who is also vying for the Presidency and a Primary Teachers Certificate holder said “I want to make sure that this institution has an archive of the pictures of the former Managing Directors of the institution, as well as pictures of the great African heroes like Kwame Nkrumah, Nelson Mandela etc. I will also promote environmental relationship between sister institutions like the Gambia College, the University of The Gambia (UTG) and promote international exchange visit programmes. Fund-raising programme forums and symposiums will also be organised for the benefit of the student body”.

Fatou Ndow who is also contesting for the Vice-President portfolio also said ‘I am studying ABE Diploma One. I will ensure that the students are united and ensure that student-staff relationship is cordial. I will also make sure that plans for the institutions are well implemented. Additionally, I will promote environmental cleanliness and make sure that students are exposed”.

Ousainou Bobb, who is set to contest for the post of Secretary-General said, “I am studying Electrical Engineering and I want to develop the Technical Department of the GTTI. I will also work with the administration of the institute to ensure that classrooms are well refurbished and maintained and for the student Union to be publishing a magazine”.

At the time of going to press, Sait Njie, also contesting for the Presidency post and Frank Enuson, contesting to be the Sports Coordinator were unavailable for this interview.
Meanwhile the post of the PRO will remain vacant.

African female initiation ceremonies are rites of passage for girls entering womanhood, and are usually a public announcement of the girl's eligibility for marriage.

Nearly every culture in the world ritualizes the important milestones throughout life. Birth, marriage and death are typically marked by special ceremonies. The final passage from childhood to adulthood also figures prominently among various ethnic groups worldwide. Hispanic cultures have quincineras for their daughters. Jews hold Bar Mitzvahs and Bat Mitzvahs for their children. And in America we celebrate with Sweet Sixteen parties.

In Africa, initiation ceremonies are rooted in deep, conservative traditions. For African females, ceremonies marking their entry into the realm of adults are also a public announcement to the community that she is ready to be married. African life revolves around the family and therefore female African initiation ceremonies tend to focus heavily on the preparation of young girls to be good wives and excellent mothers.

Young girls from the Krobo ethnic group, which is dispersed across Ghana, perform the Dipo ceremony. The official ceremony lasts about five days, but pre-ritual preparation requires three weeks. The mother of a young girl selects a ‘ritual mother’ for her daughter. Like a favored aunt, the ritual mother prepares the young girl for her future role as a wife and mother. The young girl learns the art of cooking and household management (a skill she’s been performing beside her own mother since she could walk), music, dance and beautification. The girl is encouraged to leave behind her jaunty, carefree childhood ways and adopt the stature of a woman full of dignity and grace.

The ritual mother will also school the young girl in the art of seduction. The ability to please a man in every way is an art taken seriously by Krobo women. A special string of beads may be worn loosely about her hips as a visual gift to her husband. This focus of seduction, however, does not necessarily lead to a high-rate of promiscuity. Any woman who lets a man other than her husband view her hip beads could be considered unfaithful.

Once the young girl has completed her three-week ‘finishing school’, she is ready for the Dipo ceremony. Although the goal of the ceremony is to celebrate a young girl’s new maturity, it is also a forum for attracting a husband. To afford the best possible selection, the girl will travel with her female mentor to nearby villages to perform the ceremony. She takes with her all the glass beads owned by her family. Glass beads represent wealth among the Krobo and the more beaded necklaces, bracelets and other adornments she wears, the more attractive she will be. Traditionally the girls would perform the ceremony wearing nothing but their glass beads, but today all girls wear a loincloth. The five-day ceremony consists of dancing, eating and merriment. Serious negotiations also take place as local boys and men begin to inquire after a girl’s family. As Carol Beckwith stated in her book titled African Ceremonies, Krobo women are regarded throughout the continent as making the most suitable wives.

A similar dance takes place further south in Swaziland. Every year during the months of August and September, every eligible maiden from the Kingdom of Swaziland attends the Reed Dance, locally known as the Umhlanga. This eight-day ceremony marks the beginning of adulthood for Swazi girls, and also announces to Kingdom that they are ready for marriage. The ceremony, which is restricted to unmarried and childless girls, starts when the girls arrive at the royal home of the mother of the King of Swaziland. To protect the girls on their journey, reputable men from their home villages accompany them to the dance. Once they arrived at the royal compound, the girls are separated into younger and older age groups.

Within their groups they march to the nearby reed beds with long knives, cutting ten to twenty reeds a piece. Using plaited wild grass, they tie up the bundle of reeds and head back to the royal village by nightfall. The next day the reeds are presented to the King’s mother as a sign of respect. For the next several days, the girls perform a series of songs and dances, in hopes of attracting the eye of a suitor. On the seventh day of the ceremony the King arrives to watch the girls dance. If he so desires, he will choose one girl from the crowd to be his wife. The King orders several cattle to be slaughtered from which everyone shares in the feast. On the eight day, the ceremony is complete and the girls return to their villages ready for marriage.

Some women initiation ceremonies are slowly disappearing. In Nigeria, young girls would be cloistered for weeks in an effort to learn the nuances of being a good wife. During this time, the girl would be fattened so as to add several dimensions to her frame. Many ethnic groups in Africa find heavy women attractive. Their corpulence provides a public statement of a man’s wealth in that his wife has plenty of food and servants to do her bidding. Although a heavy frame is still admired among the Nigerian, and several girls will take great pains to increase their weight, the ritual fattening ceremony rarely takes place.

Another ritual that is fading, to the approval of many women’s rights groups, is that of female circumcision. This practice is still quite common among the Masaai and Himba people of southern Africa. As in most African societies, a young girl is considered an adult once she is eligible to marry. For the Masaai and Himba, a young girl will not be suitable for marriage unless she undergoes the circumcision ceremony. Usually the ceremony is attended by the females of the girl’s family. In a private room in their home or out in the countryside, an elderly matron cuts out the girl’s clitoris with a razor blade. The procedure is also called female genital mutilation and has been condemned worldwide for its potential danger to young girls. African tribes still practicing female circumcision insist that the ceremony enforces chastity among females and is central to the initiation rights of girls entering adulthood. Supporters also cite that circumcision ceremonies continue to exist among males with little condemnation from human rights organizations. Himba males, for example, are forced to undergo a painful circumcision. They are absolutely forbidden to cry out in pain for fear of shaming their family, whereas females are encouraged to release their pain vocally.

Female African initiation ceremonies, much like their male counterparts, provide instructions to females on what society will expect of them as adults. Having imitated their mothers from birth, most girls are already fully aware of what will be expected of them as women. The ceremony, however, is the public expression of this expectation by the society – a positive form of peer pressure. In most cultures, the initiation ceremony is something a young girl eagerly looks forward to, prepares for, and honorably takes part in. In essence, the ceremony is the ultimate expression of her flowering womanhood.