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shaka
996 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 11:58:36
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| Kay, my apology to you if you feel offended about my earlier question regarding Sarjo Jallow, i have never meant to be funny. I overlooked the fact his new appointment was was an ambassadorial role. That said, a feed from you would have been much appreciated. Thanks |
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kayjatta
2978 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 12:10:03
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| Hey no problem Shaka. We might have differences here in the way we see things, but I have no doubt we all have the same goal, that is, a better Gambia and a better world. I am sure other contributors earlier on this topic have the same goal too. It is noble and fitting to call for higher standards in the practice of journalism by our online practitioners particularly, but when making that call we must be really genuine. We cannot simply have one foot playing press freedom and the other foot playing censorship. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 17:04:08
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Welcome Cherno. The floor is all yours. As always, Banataba is an open forum. Lets share ideas as never before. Perhaps this can be termed the Gambian Rennaisance.
When all of a sudden you have what you never had, like my old Fulani friend once told me, that, that was called NYAM JODO (fulani). I guess the sudden technological advancement has placed Gambians in a position to write their feelings and not bound by geographical factors, such public interest in political discourse is bound to happen. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 17:33:41
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So the call to for journalists to report facts amount to censorship. This is the height of political correctness gone mad or should i dare say the "i don't care so long as it does not directly affect me" syndrome. You academic theorists scare the **** out of me some times. Is factual writing and expression not a basic tenet of journalism and an ethical/moral obligation of every individual? To tell me that we should ignore injury and offenses committed in the name of freedom of expression, would amounts to permitting a crazed gunman to go rampage because it is his right to pull a trigger.
Here is simple scenario. Pa Nderry Mbai publish a story on his "newspaper" that a Bajinka brother (who happened be unforunately incarcerated in Mile Two Prison by the Jammeh dictatorship) was tortured to death. Meanwhile this news report leaked to the poor parents and family of the Bajinkas. I need not tell you what it is like to have your loved one unjustly incarcerated for over a year in Mile Two hell not to mention what it is like being delivered the news that he had been tortured to death can do to any parent, family and loved one. Having gone through this initial shock and trauma, it was fortunately comfirmed that the said news was false. In the mean time someone relayed to "Editor" Mbai that the said news was wrong. Typical of of him, he spat obscenity and asked for the body of the Bajinka brother to be brought to his face otherwise he had no apologies for anybody. In the midst of this chaos and madness, i(my humble self) opened my bloody mouth and pointed out that what Pa Nderry had done is wrong. Lo and behold some wishy washy academic theorists accuse me of censorship and being moral adjudicator. What planet are you living on? I ask only because everywhere on planet earth freedom of expression is exercised according to the rules specified by the laws of any given society. I guess these rules are there for a reason and are embraced by every democracy.
Another point worth mentioning is the opinion that we should chastise the Jammeh Government as much as we critique the private media. I guess if we go that route then it will take five days to read through what would normally be a daily political exchange on this Bantaba, because i can safely say that 90% of the political exchange in relation to the Gambia is directed at the Jammeh Government in this Bantaba. So what are you on about? Also the notion that public official should have no private life is absolutely ridiculous. What you are telling me is that we should hire someone, entrust him public confidence, wealth, health, security and other government functions and in return he ought to declare in public how many times he went to toilet, what he did in bedroom, what meals he had, who are his friend etc. Now this is pathetic.Who wants to live his life like this. When did we become a nation of sad voyeurs. Some times we need to dish away this academic hogwash and try to be real, man!! Let us try to separate a man's public life from his private one. |
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Cherno B Jallow
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 18:42:57
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| Kondorong, "When all of a sudden you have what you never had, like my old Fulani friend once told me, that, that was called NYAM JODO (fulani)." Where are you going with that? I sense some teasing here, Kondo. Take it easy on me! (laughs) |
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ebou4th
USA
106 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 19:18:26
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| Shaka, thanks for your input. These are the type of stories I have been talking about, it is going to take many people to stand against this tabloid style of journalism. |
“Revolutions are brought about by men, by men who think as men of action and act as men of thought.”
Kwame Nkrumah
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 19:28:40
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quote:
Originally posted by Cherno B Jallow
Kondorong, "When all of a sudden you have what you never had, like my old Fulani friend once told me, that, that was called NYAM JODO (fulani)." Where are you going with that? I sense some teasing here, Kondo. Take it easy on me! (laughs)
What i am trying to say is that with the internet, its become possible for gambians to speak out as never before. So this is a honey moon for writers, amateurs, authors, artists etc. A new found love, which at the moment is in high gear. Hopefully after a while, the dust will settle and the real journalist will rule the media.
For now, the "Jonny Just Comes" like me, just like bashing in while the sunshines. Ofcourse we are in uncharted territory at the moment and evenn during the rennaisance in Europe, such controversies were not uncommon. So Gambia will not be an exception.
So we need seasoned journalists to be the torch bearers of standards for many KANKURANGS in the ring. It takes time. Like the Wolf say : GOLO AMNA ALMET. (If you give matches to a monkey, what do you expect; bushfires). If all of a sudden technology has made it easier to publish and especially with limited scrutiny, everyone will publish. So what may be right or wrong just depends on which side one's bread is buttered.
You know NYAM JODO, should i say from Basse. My fulani old man told me that NYAM JODO does not exist and that its about being treated for what one is worth, especially if one was hitherto not worth anything in one's previous society. Like the Wolof say BAKAN JAMMA LA BUGGA. Treat a man right, you can get him to do anything.
So NYAM JODO is infact being treated right. TEDDU NGAL ESIRABEH
Just watch out for the Sarahule men here.
Secondly too, there is a cultural revolution going on and reconciling the western and Gambian will not be easy. I must say in the 1990s, i was shocked why the Americans talked about Bill's affair. That was a taboo then. Not any more now.
Like Ali Mazuri said, every day as a child when he woke up, he travelled through two cultures: african and western and that in the end, he just becomes an inernatonal man, basically struggling to fit into either cultures.
So the issue of what is private or of legitimate public interest depends on which culture one is leaning towards. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 19:33:01
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quote:
Originally posted by ebou4th
Shaka, thanks for your input. These are the type of stories I have been talking about, it is going to take many people to stand against this tabloid style of journalism.
This is the problem. A tabloid serves a political constituency and you will find many in the UK.
gambians are not used to tabloids because its not social or political or cultural correctness. But increasinly gambians are becoming exposed to other cultures and as such there will be a fusion.
I am now very hesitant to talk about a truly Gambian culture. Thre are few areas left untouched.
I am not saying tabloids re right or wrong. Just saying that it appeals to some and thats why its emerging. gambians seem to be having a tase for it. Its simple demand and supply economics.
I dont judge anyone. That is better left to Judges.
Shaka
Your quote below:
"I guess if we go that route then it will take five days to read through what would normally be a daily political exchange on this Bantaba, because i can safely say that 90% of the political exchange in relation to the Gambia is directed at the Jammeh Government in this Bantaba. So what are you on about?"
You cannot talk about Gambian politics without talking about the Government. Its that simple. Either good or bad. Even if halifa or should i borrow Nyaring's word "Ayatollah", is the president, the same will happen. You cannot seperate a sitting government from a politcal discourse.
No one talks about Magareth Thtacter like before. So, sooner or later the tides will change to Jammeh's successor. At least thats the way i see things.
Public officials hold public offices and as such their actions are of legitimate public interest. I do know that what is of legitimate public interest will neverbe agreed on. So i dare not attempt to define it. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 20:15:27
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"You cannot talk about Gambian politics without talking about the Government. Its that simple. Either good or bad. Even if halifa or should i borrow Nyaring's word "Ayatollah", is the president, the same will happen. You cannot seperate a sitting government from a politcal discourse" (Kondorong). That is not what i was driving at Kons. What i meant is that we have addressed the ills of Jammeh's oppressive stance towards the Gambian press a million and one times in this forum. So why should anybody accuse us of not doing so and instead direct our vermin on the private press. That is not so.
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 20:22:09
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quote:
Originally posted by shaka
"You cannot talk about Gambian politics without talking about the Government. Its that simple. Either good or bad. Even if halifa or should i borrow Nyaring's word "Ayatollah", is the president, the same will happen. You cannot seperate a sitting government from a politcal discourse" (Kondorong). That is not what i was driving at Kons. What i meant is that we have addressed the ills of Jammeh's oppressive stance towards the Gambian press a million and one times in this forum. So why should anybody accuse us of not doing so and instead direct our vermin on the private press. That is not so.
Sorry. I misunderstood you. You see, if you speak in riddles, i cannot decode it. Sometimes, you write the Queen's English, difficult to understand. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 21:03:11
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RAP 21 Africa Press Network for the 21st Century
Media at a Crossroad
/---According to a United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) report, by the end of last year the institutions offering journalism and mass communication programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa in the last two decades had increased by 422 percent.---/
In this unfolding situation, a morass of archaic media legislation and intransigent governments who are bent on controlling the media, mostly to cover their inadequacies, is not making the situation any better./---/
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Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 21:26:38
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Janko
Your source has done for me exactly what i was trying to explain. Sub Saharan Africa is exploding with information and i cannot but smile when i pass farmers talking on their mobile phones whilst on the farm to families in the West.
A lot has changed these days. I visted my sister the last time and she was telling me she just spoke to my other sister in another village. I remeber we used to send a young man at the crack of dawn to deliver a simple message. Today text messages and mobile phones are doing just that in a second.
Its taken our region unawares and citizens and Governments are scrambling to take a share. But ultimately the loosers will be those who want to resist the change beacuse the world is melting without them. |
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.” |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 21:49:56
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
Janko
Your source has done for me exactly what i was trying to explain. Sub Saharan Africa is exploding with information and i cannot but smile when i pass farmers talking on their mobile phones whilst on the farm to families in the West.
A lot has changed these days. I visted my sister the last time and she was telling me she just spoke to my other sister in another village. I remeber we used to send a young man at the crack of dawn to deliver a simple message. Today text messages and mobile phones are doing just that in a second.
Its taken our region unawares and citizens and Governments are scrambling to take a share. But ultimately the loosers will be those who want to resist the change beacuse the world is melting without them.
Change comes weather we want it or not,time does not stand still!!
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 22:39:38
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| The best change is the change that naturally comes to you, not that which was forced on you. The pangs and effects of slavery and colonialism is here to remind us that. The video of the children and the dolls experiment is still fresh in our minds. Let us not deviate from the issue here and that is the standard of online Gambian newspapers. |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 24 Apr 2008 : 23:20:01
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How much sanity is there in a situation of total greed over everything? How can a bunch of people take public resources and want to be seen as though they are doing a favour for the rest of society who command the same rights? This is not about particular Mr/Mrs/ A, B, C, number 1, 2 3. There is public interest at stake. Those who prefer not to be named and shamed better be warned, to stay out of the ring. This is not party politics. It is public interest.
Quite UNFORTUNATE for those choosing to occupy the seat we all pay for, they have a choice to stay or bear the brunt of it. "KU BUGGA AKARA NYEMEH KAANI."
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Karamba |
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