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lurker
509 Posts |
 Posted - 07 May 2008 : 21:45:11
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hi folks.
i have a very good (white) friend in Gambia.
I introduced him to gambia 10 yrs ago, he loved it instantly. he went there dozens of times, bought a house there, got married (and divorced!) there and now remains, working hard, enjoying himself and he has been living there full time for 6 years.
we skype a lot and today he wrote some interesting stuff.
he says that he thinks there is a noticeable increase in anti-white feelings from the govt. press, the local councils and from the president himself. he says that he feels insecure about his future ther as a toubab.he wants to sell his house and get his money out of the gambia...in case things blow up.
he says that this oil exploration has already got the gambians in power plotting and scheming and devising ways to get rich at the expense of everyone, especially toubabs. he says that he can see himself having to leave one day as he thinks that toubabs will becoem victimised economically and possibly in other ways, especially since gambians cannot afford their own land. he says that the price rises and the increasing embitterdness of the poorer locals will result in big trouble down the line and that the ex-pat toubabs are all feeling an undercurrent of increasing resentment and fear for their security in the next 5 yrs or so.
He feels that corruption is drastically worse and more overt than ever before.
there was a report on the radicalisation of some muslims in the Sahel region of west africa recently and there is concern that gambia could be a target one day for al qaeda training cells and for tourist bombing.
all in all, he feels a lot, doesn't he?
but,...... is any of this a realistic possibility? is resentment to the toubab going to grow for all or any of the above reasons?
and what if toubabs leave and tourism diminishes and trouble brews economically and politically?
i have not been for 16 months now, so i have no idea.
does any one have any thoughts?
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Edited by - lurker on 07 May 2008 21:47:29 |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 00:04:35
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| lurker, it is an interesting observation by your friend. may be one of our journalist can look into the concern and report the findings. |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 00:31:52
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That would make interesting reading if it were to occour,watch this space for further developments...............maybe or maybe not.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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lurker
509 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 09:42:44
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it would make for interesting reading, i agree, but i doubt that the press would ever commission such a report as they may not want to report what they find out about the concerns/perils of being a toubab in gambia - if there are any.it is not in their interest to highlight such stuff. along the way they would discover the "pleasures" of the ex-pat toubab life in gambia.
that would certainly get coverage and would engender still more resentment .
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Edited by - lurker on 08 May 2008 09:43:11 |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 10:16:25
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| What happens in Gambia is a direct consequence of what is happening around the world, in England, Europe, USA, etc. Don’t you think? |
Clean your house before pointing a finger ... Never be moved by delirious Well-wishers in their ecstasy |
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lurker
509 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 10:33:05
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personally, no. i think gambian attitudes to toubabs are based on their immediate interactions with them and that the political interferences of the west in other , especially muslim , countries is probably not on the minds of the gambians who may choose to dislike the toubabs they are dealing with on a day to day basis. gambia is a small country. i doubt whether the resentment/taxation of toubabs is based on the problems in the middle east etc.
it is , possibly, more likely to be local micro-economics that results in immedite responses to the situation the gambians are facing, rather than a global issue.
i am sure that the gambians, like all people, have their opinions on these bigger matters, but the local stuff is surely day to day basic economically driven stuff which may bring about the resentment my friend perceives.
it is just worse now as gambians are getting poorer by the sounds of it. |
Edited by - lurker on 08 May 2008 10:43:21 |
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MeMe
United Kingdom
541 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 10:46:13
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So are you trying to say that the Gambia is about to become a second Zimbabwe???? This is hearsay from one single white person (and I got it in the neck for tarring all Austrians with a single brush  )
Honestly, if it's not the tabloid press whipping up some sensationalism and trying to create issues ..... |
It is better to die standing than to live on your knees - Ernesto Guevara de la Serna |
Edited by - MeMe on 08 May 2008 10:49:46 |
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AbeCham
United Kingdom
19 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 11:08:09
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| Lurker I find your fried's observations rather prejudicial. Maybe the Govt and the medeia are touching on issues that affect the ordinary Gambians which is there responsibility. Like here in the UK where the media and politicians are constantly and unashamely on the thorny issue of immigration. That's the world we live in and as individual we make our own dicisions and get on with our lives. Anywhere you go you bound to experience anti everything. Not saying that's right but tha's the way we are. I believe Gambians are moderate inthere kind of way; and the bashing of other cultures and races you experience in other parts of the world would never be found in The Gambia |
Saul |
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lurker
509 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 11:10:24
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to MeMe
blimey, a simple posting and the knives are out already.
of course i am not saying that.! i am not saying anything. someone elsse is.
i report an opinion from an expat and ask for thoughts and reactions as i am not there on the ground to offer an opinion myself.
simple , really.
who's tarring who with what here, MeMe?
by the way, it is not from a single person. i have heard this from loads of people, but i chose to mention one , who expounded his feelings more profusely than the others .
your "anger" seems unwarranted here. some people there feel that there are problems brewing. it is not wrong to discuss their feelings, simply because you may not want to hear them or think they over-reacting..
this bantaba is very fractious these days.
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Edited by - lurker on 08 May 2008 11:18:56 |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 11:13:28
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quote:
Originally posted by MeMe
So are you trying to say that the Gambia is about to become a second Zimbabwe???? This is hearsay from one single white person (and I got it in the neck for tarring all Austrians with a single brush )
Honestly, if it's not the tabloid press whipping up some sensationalism and trying to create issues .....
Not fair at all,a point of view has been expressed and is here for discussion and not to be treated by "Moe bashing" .
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 11:14:51
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Has nothing to do with Islam or the Middle East
The local micro-economics is directly linked to the global economy; ex the price of a bag of rice and other basic needs depends on their demand globally, at that given time.
What happens to Gambians in England, Europe and USA has nothing to do with the “middle east” or Islam, does it.
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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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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 11:15:39
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quote:
Originally posted by lurker
blimey, a simple posting and the knives are out already.
of course i am not saying that.! i am not saying anything. someone elsse is.
i report an opinion from an expat and ask for thoughts and reactions as i am not there on the ground to offer an opinion myself.
simple , really.
who's tarring who with what here, MeMe?
by the way, it is not from a single person. i have heard this from loads of people, but i chose to mention one , who expounded his feelings more profusely than the others .
your "anger" seems unwarranted here. some people there feel that there are problems brewing. it is not wrong to discuss their feelings, simply because you may not want to hear them or think they over-reacting..
this bantaba is very fractious these days.
Not enough Gambian Politics to discuss I suppose,Bantaba being taken over by toubabs?
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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lurker
509 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 11:17:43
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toubab and abe cham, you restore my faith in a free bantaba for anyone's opinion.
i think abecham is right . gambians are famously tolerant. that is why i think that these perceptions may be based upon local interactions at a low level - primarily money-orientated.i do not think there is overt anti-white racism..but my friend thinks it is changing. maybe it is....maybe not. |
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lurker
509 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 11:29:11
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| janko, apologies, i missed your point originally. yes , of course the global economy has a direct bearing on the micro-economy in gambia.. the price rises will make people angry and probably fuel resentment towards people who are perceived to be better off. so, do you think this is a legitimate causal factor in an expats perception of increased antipathy to the toubabs ? |
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Janko
Gambia
1267 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 13:35:38
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lurker,
I know the Gambian does not want anything bad to happen to his white. There has to be a reason for the growing antipathy.
Gambia is a small country, but not just the coastal area (Banjul Bakau, S. Kunda etc.)
Where is this antipathy growing, all over the country or in certain areas? What is your friend’s source of income in Gambia? (You don’t have to answer)
Secondly, don’t you think having more concern about the increased antipathy towards your friend; you are exempting the problems faced by the people, the majority?
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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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lurker
509 Posts |
Posted - 08 May 2008 : 14:19:00
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hi janko, he works in security. nothing special. his observations were a general sense and feeling from his point of view and the other expats he socialises with. he did say they felt it to be coming from the govt press, the local officials and even from the highest office. i could not comment on his evidence for that, but he is the most easy going, well travelled guy and it would take a bit to start making him verbalise his concerns. i feel.
so, i think it is not just him who feels this way but others there as well.
maybe they are being paranoid, maybe they are not. i wonder what kind of testing could be done to ascertain the truth. how could people analyse this kind of situation/ what parameters judge discrimination against toubabs? taxes/aliens visa problems/work permits/inflated prices/blatant racism/bumsterism levels?
the majority of expats i know live a fun life and love it there.
we all know that some of them are distastefully occupying themselves, but that is another thread! |
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