Global Voices Online

Last weeks' torrential rains triggered disastrous floodings (Fr), killing 159 people and affecting over 600,000 in a dozen Western Africa countries, unprepared to face seasonal rains growing heavier and heavier. (See map). Afropages (Fr) describes the situation in Conakry, Guinea's capital.

Sofa Jawaro of The sword of truth pays a tribute to slain Gambian journalist Deyda Hydara on the 4th anniversary of his murder.

Emma of África en el mundo [Es] describes a masquerade dance called kankourang that is traditionally performed by the mandinka ethnic group in Gambia during the circumcision ritual. The post includes a video about the dance.

Emerson Santiago [pt] writes at Patafurdia Magazine about akonting, the musical instrument found in Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau in West Africa. “The Portuguese colonizers and the North American slaves owners began to call the instrument “Banjo”, coming from the Quimbundo word “m'banza” (language of the second largest ethnic group in Angola), which means “home”, “city”, likely a reference to the “banzo” that black slaves felt when supporting their lament on the instrument's strings.

Morocco, under pressure from Europe to crack down on illegal migration, has begun repatriating 345 Senegalese and Gambians it caught trying to reach Spain's Canary Islands, reports Moroccan blogger Saad.

Ginny's reaction to an article about Islamic revival among Diaspora Gambians: “And the insinuation was somehow made that Gambians were not religious before, and now, all of a sudden, they are starting to be. And of course, the words “terrorism” and “jihaidst” were thrown in for good measure.”

The global reach of Hip Hop phenomenon: “This is Gambian hip-hop artist Dr Olugander, one of the opening acts of the 2nd International Sable Litfest in Bakau last month.”

A Gambia Professor, Ba Banutu Gomez, leaves the US and returns to Gambia, but…: “What gets under my skin though is the tendency of African intellectuals returning home and all of a sudden converting to the religion of sycophancy to fit in the system.”

Ginny publishes a statement by the Gambia United Democratic Party (New York Branch) regarding celebration of the 1994 coup d'etat: “Gambian People, the international Community and all Democratic and Human Rights Organizations worldwide are here by call upon to condemn in the strongest terms the (APRC) Government for celebrating the July 22 1994 Coup D’etat, the day some junior corrupt soldiers led by Yahya Jammeh decided to challenge the legitimate position of the Gambian people, and overthrew the democratically elected civilian Government of Sir Dawda Jawara.”