Author: Gainako

“People get the government they deserve” Alexis de Tocqueville Since the restoration of multiparty politics in 1996, elections in The Gambia have been flawed by worryingly low voter turnout, especially among the youth. Although there is no data on the number of young people between the ages of 18-35 that voted or otherwise, one can argue that a great majority of young people in Gambia do not vote despite their demographic advantage. The issue could be linked to a lack of interest or seeming discontent with Gambian politics and as such, resisting the whole political establishment. The figures in…

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By Mathew K Jallow It’s a saga, much like a soap opera, with something of a fatalist plot. On the one hand, the cast of characters with loyalty to a cause, but who, time and again, have miserably failed the simple test of sound judgement and moral commitment. And on the other, an entrenched regime, whose sole purpose is to make democracy harder; not easier to exercise. The issues; ignorance, tribalism, intransigence, egoism, jealousy, selfishness, deception, incompetence and bluster, all come into play in the incessant effort for regime change. After twenty years, every effort in the struggle for political…

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16 April 1963 My Dear Fellow Clergymen: While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came across your recent statement calling my present activities “unwise and untimely.” Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas. If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work. But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I…

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My brother, Sankulay Jallow, the amazing technology man By Mathew K Jallow On the kitchen floor of their apartment, wires cross-cross into electrical outlets and gadgets I had never before seen.  To the technically challenged, it was an overwhelming realization of how unnerving technology can be, but to Sankulay Jallow, it was like an architect peering down the intricate outline of a complex architectural design. Normal. But his story began far from the eastside of Madison, Wisconsin, where we both now live. His is a love affair with technology I saw my young brother, Sankulay Jallow, slowly grow into since back…

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September 17th, would be one of the grand showings of the king of Mbalax since his return to the stage after a brief time off… You do not want to miss this show: Please note that tickets are $60 plus tax and that limited tickets have been printed and made  available at Bisimilah Stores on Buford Hwy. If tickets are sold out at  Bisimilah Stores , you can  either go to the Center Stage  box  office at the Venue or buy them directly from Ticketmaster. Finally, there are only 50 VIP tickets available and anyone interested can contact the names…

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Killa Ace has taken The Gambian music and political scene by storm with his release of “Ku Boka C Geta G”. This Gainako exclusive story looks into why the song is causing so much of a stir and why Jammeh is afraid of “Ku Boka C Geta G”. This is a story of a young man who survived death threats as a result of releasing a song criticizing the Jammeh regime. Ku Boka C Geta G is an ultra conscious song produced by Walk a Mile records featuring a trap star beat. The song holds no punches and dives right into gross…

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Statement from The Gambian Independent Candidate on the passing away of The Gambia’s legendary Musician Musa Ngum My family and I deeply mourn the loss of The Gambia’s legendary Musician Musa Ngum fondly called “Musa Afia Ngum”. The Late Musa Ngum was instrumental and dedicated in keep together the ties between The Gambia and Senegal through his musical lyrics for over two decades. He lived a humble life as a young man till he became of age as a ‘Baye Fall’. His ‘Baye-Fall’ life emanated from him being the follower of Cheikh Ibrahima Fall a disciple of the ever Grand…

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Momodou Ndow Not a day goes by without hearing complaints from those residing in The Gambia about how desperate the situation is there. They lament about flying inflation, lack of employment and opportunity, harassment, intimidation, abuse,  chronic corruption, fear, and all this is done through whispering because they think someone is listening. Sometimes they just sum it up as “Gambia easywut”. You hear these complaints from people from all walks of life. From high government officials, lawyers, doctors, artists, business owners, petty traders, fish sellers at the market, and of course, the unemployed. Basically, across the spectrum! I would not…

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Striving to remain pure and pristine like a snow flake in a world sinking in sinful drips is absolutely a herculean task especially if one is gullible. History has recorded different generations which unconscious drifted away from the path leading to eternal bliss to makeshift cities were nothing is neither right nor wrong. Suffice it to say most of those slips are often precipitated by a single act of innocence and goodwill which eventually finds itself transformed into a new form and meaning. This can be better demonstrated by citing a familiar instance at home;“Meet the Farmers Tour” initiated by…

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A BRIEF REALISTIC REMINDER OF HOW ISLAM HONORS AND ELEVATES WOMEN. Lamin Sabally, Minneapolis, Minnesota A great number of western media has been chronically abuzz with degrading stories depicting women as having their rights systemically suppressed in Islam. These negative and very disturbing truncated stories have therefore permanently shaped a strong public opinion in the western world about Islam, which is equally gaining huge followership in the west at an unprecedented speed.  From all carefully verified and vetted signals, these are mainly falsified characterizations of women’s rights within the purview of Islamic law (Sharia). Unfortunately, the mere mention of…

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