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Momodou
Denmark
11809 Posts |
 Posted - 07 Apr 2008 : 20:28:56
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TRIBUTE TO A HEROINE
To the people of the Gambia she was a friend (a childhood friend for that matter)
To the orphaned chimpanzee of Sulu Bolong (Baboon Island) she was a custodian, mentor, mother and a rehabilitator. To the monkeys of the river (baadimaayo) in my (native Fula language) she was a friend in need and a good neighbour indeed.
To the orphaned children of Niamina she was a mother (a good mother) and a god mother.
To the elders of Niamina she was a daughter.
To the men of Niamina she was a provider. To the women of Niamina she was a rescuer.
To the youths of Niamina she was a mentor and an inspirer.
Unfortunately for me I only knew her at her burial. To quote a caption of the 4th February 2008 issue of the daily telegraph newspaper (in UK), she was a pioneer of chimpanzee
Rehabilitation and founder of the chimp rehabilitation trust (CRT) of which Gambia is a role model in Africa.
She was born on April 19th 1951 in the Seyechelles where her father was a forest officer. Her father moved to the Gambia in 1957 where my heroine (I quote again) had an idyllic childhood with a house hold of orphaned wild animals. Aged 9 she was sent to Dr. Williams School in North Wales in the UK. The bullying she suffered there develop her empathy for the under dog and established an unusually strong sense of compassion (quotation). from her experience with William, the first chimpanzee that came into her life in 1968, my heroine, the good friends of the Gambia from UK, Netherlands & myself have learnt and accepted that the chimp, is a sentient being just looking different but still needing love and caring for likes its crosh relative human being.
For the children, men and women of Sambel Kunda and Niamina east, this heroine in question was “Sitella” for me she was Stella brewer Marsden second daughter (out of three of Eddie Brewer). Eddie Brewer a name that was not strange in colonial Gambia and not strange either in Yahya Jammeh’s Gambia. Stella is survived by her sisters Heather and Lorna (also great friends of Niamina and the Gambia) her dear husband David Marsden and two sons John and Daniel Marsden.
Rest In Peace Stella.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 40/2008, 7 – 8 April 2008
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