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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
 Posted - 04 Apr 2011 : 13:31:07
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1. Gambia: Tribute: The passing of Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof CULLED FROM FREEDOM ONLINE NEWSPAPER UNDER http://www.freedomnewspaper.com/Homepage/tabid/36/mid/367/newsid367/6049/Gambia--Tribute-The-passing-of-Alhaji-Alieu-Ebrima-Cham-Joof/Default.aspx
Tribute: The passing of Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof
By Tamsier Joof
BANJUL, THE GAMBIA—It gives me great sorrow to announce the passing of Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof this morning Saturday 2nd April 2011. Although a public figure in The Gambia, he was a very private man. Commonly known as Pa Cham Joof, to many of us as Uncle Pa Cham, he has been a public figure for more than 50 years. In 1953, he represented The Gambia then as the Head of The Gambia Boys Scout during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. He was right there in the early beginnings of The Radio Gambia. He was their Director of Programmes a position he held from 1968 until his retirement in the early 1980s. He was of course the person who helped Alex Haley (an African American) discover his roots in The Gambia, whom he was introduced to at The Atlantic Hotel and asked whether he can help him. He also headed the programme called "Chossani Senegambia" which was a collaboration of Radio Senegal and Radio Gambia. He travelled the length and breadth of The Gambia and Senegal with his team interviewing the elders to narrate the history of Senegambia. He himself was an accomplished historian and author who have written several manuscripts about the history of Senegambia. He was a well respected historian within the profession. He was the mentor of the students from the University of Gambia who would line his house taking notes as he narrated the history of Senegambia, the Great Senegambian Kings, the ancient Kingdoms, Battles etc. Very few Senegambia authors and historians can claim to have written their books without first interviewing Pa Cham Joof. He was the mentor of the well respected historians Professor Samba Jobe as well as Professor Nyang from Harvard University (USA) whom were one of many of his pupils whom he would give audiences to enlightening them on Senegambian history
He was a well respected politician, a trade unionist, co founder of ECCO 1997 [The Education Through Community and Culture Organisation]; former chairman of The Gambia National archives [NRS - National Record Service]; Member of The National Consultative Committee; Assistant Scout Master [1946 - 1952]; City councillor; Social Secretary of The Gambia Democratic Party and Assistant Secretary of The Democratic Congress Alliance [1960]. He also stood as candidate against P.S Njie in The Gambia's first General Election. He was an important figure during the colonial era and he would organise demonstrations against the British Administration in The Gambia and lobbied the Administration in order to acquire independence for The Gambia. It was through his efforts among with his colleagues which led to Gambia’s independence. He was also the founder member and first Secretary General of The Gambia Development Company [which introduced tourism into The Gambia] [1966].
He had donated several documents and historical information to the NRS, Universities, authors etc. Yes, he was that generous with his property and time. Most historians (Senegambian or otherwise) and Government Agencies including the NRS, who wished to know the history of The Gambia as well as Gambian Institutions have visited him on several occasions and still did right after his retirement from public office due to age and poor health. Even right after his retirement, he still continued to give audiences.
He is a well respected historian, political and trade unionist figure. From being a key figure of “The Bread and Butter Demonstration” in The Gambia [1959] which resulted in constitutional development in the country, to holding several high profile jobs over his long career, Uncle Pa Cham Joof saw no point of just sitting down and doing nothing, but concentrated on his books and talks.
He was born on 24th of October 1924 in Banjul to Ebrima Joof and Aji Anna Samba. From his father’s side, he is a descendant of the Joof Royal Family of Sine and Saloum, the Njie Royal Family of Jolof and the renowned Nyang Family of Saloum. He was the Great grandson of Kotcha Joof from Sine-Saloum and Fakebbe Njie (sister of Buur Ba Jolof – Alboury Sainabou Njie). On his mother’s side, he was the grandson of Tafsir Ebrima Samba (commonly known as Tafsir Ebou Samba), cousin of Tafsir Demba Njange Mbaye. Tafsir Ebrima Samba was of course the nephew of Tafsir Sa Lolly Jabou Samba – the military adviser, strategist and general of Tafsir Amat Jahou Bah (commonly known as Maba Jahou Bah who fell at The Battle of Fandane –Thiouthiogne commonly known as Somb 18th July 1867 fighting Buur Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof) as well as Sheickh Omar Futi.
Uncle Pa Cham was the elder brother of the late Alhaji Bai Modi Joof (commonly known as Lawyer Joof –Senior, one of the top Barristers of The Gambia). He was the patriarch of the Joof Family, the Njie Family, the Nyang Family, the Samba Family, the Gaye Family, and so on. No one will do anything without first informing him. He was well respected not just as a public figure, but also within the family. Commonly known as Buur Sine Kumba Ndoffene (King of Sine Kumba Ndoffene) among his friends, his biography will make an interesting read. My deepest condolences to the entire family, in The Gambia, Senegal, UK, America and beyond"
2. SAME AS ABOVE WITH GAINAKO ON-LINE NEWS Obituary: The passing of Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof UNDER http://www.gainako.com/news/news/2011/04/03/obituary-the-passing-of-alhaji-alieu-ebrima-cham-joof.html
3. ALSO THE DAILY OBSERVER NEWSPAPER AE Cham Joof passes away UNDER http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/ae-cham-joof-passes-away
ANOTHER GREAT LOSS TO THE NATION OF OUR GREAT ELDERS; THROUGH NATURES' WAY MY CONDOLENCE EXTENDED TO FAMILY AND THE NATION!
MAY ALLAH ANSWER ALL PRAYERS FOR HIM AND ALL FAMILIES (NATION WIDE AND "UMMA") SHARE HIS BLESSINGS FOR GOOD DEEDS!
A PROPER MUSLIM PRAYER; "INNA LILLAHI WA INNA LILLAHI RAJIOON"!
AMEEN!
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Edited by - kobo on 04 Apr 2011 15:33:19 |
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