Thursday, August 12, 2010
A Major Tourism Boom Awaits Gambia
The tiny nation of The Gambia—a popular holiday resort for Western tourists, would soon witnessed a dramatic transformation on its tourism industry policies, with the view of restoring tourists and investors confidence, President Yahya Jammeh has declared.
Mr. Jammeh believes that tourism is an important sector in the nation’s economy, which accounts for the greater percentage of Gambia’s Gross Domestic Product—known as (GDP). Mr. Jammeh opined that such an important sector needs to be given the attention it deserved in the interest fulfilling the nation’s economic agenda—which is to transform the mini West African state into an economic power in the region.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
The Gambia National Museum
The Gambia National Museum has as its primary goal the collection and preservation of artifacts documenting the material culture of The Gambia, for use as tourist attractions and as important aids to introducing the value of the heritage into information programmes for the local population and in the country's school syllabus.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES
Lectures on the permanent collection and on major changing exhibitions with audio-visual back-up facilities.
(Reservations for school/group tours must be made at least one week in advance of the visiting date).
- Art classes, craft workshops and demonstrations for
children and adults conducted by working artists. (In preparation).
- National travelling exhibitions supported by lecture series and audio-visual back-up facilities. (In preparation)
Lectures on the permanent collection and on major changing exhibitions with audio-visual back-up facilities.
(Reservations for school/group tours must be made at least one week in advance of the visiting date).
- Art classes, craft workshops and demonstrations for
children and adults conducted by working artists. (In preparation).
- National travelling exhibitions supported by lecture series and audio-visual back-up facilities. (In preparation)
OPENING HOURS
9.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Thursday
9.00 am to 5.00 pm Friday to Sunday
9.00 am to 6.00 pm Monday to Thursday
9.00 am to 5.00 pm Friday to Sunday
Gaya Cafe Lounge
Comfortable leather armchairs surrounded by beautiful objects and works of Art, often affectionately referred to as an "Alladins Cave".
A lovely terrace garden where you can sit or stretch on a lounger and watch the world go by.
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
http://www.gayaartcafe.com/
Labels:
gambia art,
Gaya Cafe Menu,
Senegambia,
senegambia restaurants
Friday, April 9, 2010
Mama Africa Art Gallery
The Mama Africa Art Gallery, located in Batokunku Village, Kombo South, is run and coordinated by Isha Fofana, a renowned female Gambian artist, and her husband, Bern Axe.
The art gallery hosted the first ever Women's Museum established in the history of The Gambia's Arts and Culture industry. The million dalasi museum was opened few months ago by Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, the minister of Tourism and Culture, on behalf of the vice president of the Republic of The Gambia and minister of Women's Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy.
The Tourism and Culture minister was accompanied by senior government officials, Momodou Joof, the director of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), among others. In addition, the Women's Museum hosted an International Women Arts Exhibition held from the 8th to the 16th of March 2010. This rare exhibition brought together four top women artists from the Federal Republic of Germany and a total of 22 renowned artists sent in their products for exhibition at the museum.
The Arts and Culture desk officer last week made a short visit to the Mama Africa Art Gallery and was taken on a conducted tour by the proprietor, Isha Fofana, across the length and breadth of the gallery. The most striking aspect of the tour covered the inside view of the Women's Museum, where different artifacts that got there root from centuries of our traditional norms and values could be seen hanging on the walls, hangers displayed on the floor, some products contained in special containers for preservation of the spirit of arts and culture in the country and beyond.
Another interesting site of the gallery is the workshop that is located right at the far end of the compound, where training is offered to children and other potential artists on different skills. Trees and plants of different species could also be seen scattered in the garden. These trees and plants are used for healing numerous ailments. The set up of Mama Africa depicts a pristine natural environment where virtually everything is made out of traditional and natural products such as wood.
The art gallery hosted the first ever Women's Museum established in the history of The Gambia's Arts and Culture industry. The million dalasi museum was opened few months ago by Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, the minister of Tourism and Culture, on behalf of the vice president of the Republic of The Gambia and minister of Women's Affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy.
The Tourism and Culture minister was accompanied by senior government officials, Momodou Joof, the director of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), among others. In addition, the Women's Museum hosted an International Women Arts Exhibition held from the 8th to the 16th of March 2010. This rare exhibition brought together four top women artists from the Federal Republic of Germany and a total of 22 renowned artists sent in their products for exhibition at the museum.
The Arts and Culture desk officer last week made a short visit to the Mama Africa Art Gallery and was taken on a conducted tour by the proprietor, Isha Fofana, across the length and breadth of the gallery. The most striking aspect of the tour covered the inside view of the Women's Museum, where different artifacts that got there root from centuries of our traditional norms and values could be seen hanging on the walls, hangers displayed on the floor, some products contained in special containers for preservation of the spirit of arts and culture in the country and beyond.
Another interesting site of the gallery is the workshop that is located right at the far end of the compound, where training is offered to children and other potential artists on different skills. Trees and plants of different species could also be seen scattered in the garden. These trees and plants are used for healing numerous ailments. The set up of Mama Africa depicts a pristine natural environment where virtually everything is made out of traditional and natural products such as wood.
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
Labels:
africa art,
africa gambia paintings,
gambia art
Friday, April 2, 2010
Anansi The Stories
Once in a before time, Anansi was walking far into the bush. Soon he came to a house with a
very, very, VERY old man sitting inside the mouth of the front door. The old man looked like skin
and dry bones. Anansi gathered up his courage and said.
"Good day sir! I have been walking all morning
and would love to have a cool drink of ice water."
However, the old man said nothing. Anansi, who thought that the old man might have been deaf, walked closer to the seated figure and repeated in a loud voice.
" I said... GOOD MORNING SIR! MAY I HAVE A DRINK OF WATER?”
Nevertheless, the old man said nothing. Anansi scratched his head and said, "Oh, you said to go inside the house and help myself?" The old man still said nothing to Anansi.
Anansi walked past the old man and went into his house and not only helped himself to ice cold water but to as much food as he could eat. When he had finished eating, Anansi went outside to see the old man who was sitting in the same spot by the door. Anansi thanked him for his hospitality and returned home.
The next day Anansi went to the house of the old man and again ate his fill. Still, the old man said nothing to Anansi. On the third day, Anansi the spider brought his eldest daughter to the old man’s house. "Good morning sir,” Anansi greeted. “Since you have been so kind to me I have brought my beautiful daughter who wants to be a cook. I will give her to you as your wife," said Anansi. Then he turned to his daughter. "Here is a wedding ring. Now go into the house and fix your father a nice plate of food." The old man still said nothing.
The next day Anansi got up early. He headed for the old man's house. The old man had not moved and was still sitting by his door. Anansi said his good morning and entered the house. He called for his daughter but she did not answer. He knew that she liked Hide-and-Seek so he looked in every closet. He then checked under the bed.
Although he knew that it was a dangerous hiding place, he looked into the icebox, but he could not find her. Anansi searched all over the house but he was not able to find his daughter. He thought of one place that he had not looked."I know where she is. She is hiding in the oven! " He said as he opened the door to the stove's oven. Anansi jumped back. For in the oven lay his daughter's wedding ring. Anansi rushed outside the house and grabbed the old man by the collar.“Where is my daughter?" he shouted.
Finally, the old man spoke in a deep raspy voice. “Do… you …know… who… I… am?” He said slowly, chewing on every word that escaped his throat. “Yes.” Anansi said. “You are my son-in-law.” "Hah! Your son-in-law!” The old man rasped. “My name is Death and you came looking for me. I did not invite you into my house. To add insult to injury, you brought me your ugly daughter... so I ate her. Now I am going to have you for lunch," Brother Death said as he grabbed Anansi by the shirt.
Anansi tore the buttons from his shirt, slipped out of it and ran for his life. He ran as fast as he could in the belief that he could easily outdistance an old man like Brother Death. However, wherever Anansi turned, Death was right behind him. Finally, out of desperation, Anansi lunged for a tree limb and climbed as high as he could. To his surprise, Brother Death did not follow Anansi up the tree. Death could not climb!
Brother Death picked up a rock, an old shoe, anything that he could find, and threw them at Anansi. They all missed. Death could not throw either. He soon ran out of things to throw. Therefore, he ran around under the tree in search of any missile. Once when he took his eyes off Anansi, the frightened spider jumped off the tree and bolted for his home. As he neared his house Anansi shouted out to his wife. "Aso! Grab the children and climb up into the ceiling! Death is after me!" "What did you say, Anansi?" His wife asked.
" I SAID... GRAB THE CHILDREN AND CLIMB UP TO THE CEILING!" Anansi cried. “You said do what with the potato peelings?” His wife asked. “I said… Oh, Never mind!” Anansi cried in frustration. He quickly rushed into his house, grabbed his wife and children, and climbed up into the ceiling with them. “Grab hold of a wooden beam and hold on tight!” He shouted.
As Brother Death rushed in the door, Anansi and his family were safely clinging to a beam in the ceiling. Brother Death calmly picked up a burlap bag, pulled up a chair, sat down under the dangling spider family and crossed his legs.
Half an hour passed and Anansi's youngest son said to his father. "Oh, Puppa, my hands are hurting me. I can't hold on any longer." "Hold on son, for if you fall Death is going to get you," Anansi said to his child. However, the boy could not hold on any longer. Therefore, he fell.
Death caught the boy and opened the burlap bag. "It is your father I want… not you.” Then he placed the child into the burlap bag.
Soon, another of Anansi's daughters cried out to her father. "Puppa, please…my hands are tired. I am going to fall". "Fall and Death is going to get you!" Anansi answered. His daughter fell and Death placed her in the burlap bag with her brother. "I don't want you. I want your father,” said Death. Soon Anansi's other daughter and son fell. So did his wife, Aso. Finally, Anansi's own hands became tired. First, the left hand froze and lost its grip. However, Anansi held on tight with only his right hand. He exercised the frozen left hand in the hope of using it to relieve the right hand. Anansi’s mind began to race.
"Brother Death.” He called. “I am so fat from eating all your food that if I fall I will just splatter into pieces. There will not be enough of me left to put in that bag. You will only have enough meat to make spider-burgers. However, if you go into the kitchen you will find a barrel of flour. Get the barrel and set it under me so that the flour will cushion the fall. I won’t splatter. I will just be battered.” “Mmmhh…” Death exhaled, rubbed his chin and smiled, showing all his 37-and-a-half teeth. “Kentucky Fried Spider for dinner, heh? Or, maybe I can make delicious, spicy Jerk Spider from Anansi and his family!”
Anansi figured that the flour barrel was so heavy that it would take four men to lift it. This would give him time to escape. As Brother Death went into the kitchen Anansi was about to let go and drop from the ceiling. However, in a flash Death was back under Anansi with the flour barrel. Anansi had underestimated Brother Death’s strength. As Brother Death wobbled the barrel from side to side, he bent over the barrel to make sure that it was exactly under Anansi. The cunning spider dropped on top of the old man’s head, dunking his face into the flour. The flour bath
temporarily blinded Death.
Anansi jumped off Death’s head, released his family and they ran for their lives. Death has never caught Anansi the Spider. That is why there are AnansiStories to this day. When you see spider webs on the ceiling it belongs to Anansi. He is still trying to get away from Death..
* Author's note: This story illustrates how Anansi, like his father Nyame the Great Sky God, also overcame death. In Nyame's case he had created both life and death and was overcome by the latter's venom. Where Nyame survived death by using an antidote, his son, Anansi, used his web to accomplish the same feat.
very, very, VERY old man sitting inside the mouth of the front door. The old man looked like skin
and dry bones. Anansi gathered up his courage and said.
"Good day sir! I have been walking all morning
and would love to have a cool drink of ice water."
However, the old man said nothing. Anansi, who thought that the old man might have been deaf, walked closer to the seated figure and repeated in a loud voice.
" I said... GOOD MORNING SIR! MAY I HAVE A DRINK OF WATER?”
Nevertheless, the old man said nothing. Anansi scratched his head and said, "Oh, you said to go inside the house and help myself?" The old man still said nothing to Anansi.
Anansi walked past the old man and went into his house and not only helped himself to ice cold water but to as much food as he could eat. When he had finished eating, Anansi went outside to see the old man who was sitting in the same spot by the door. Anansi thanked him for his hospitality and returned home.
The next day Anansi went to the house of the old man and again ate his fill. Still, the old man said nothing to Anansi. On the third day, Anansi the spider brought his eldest daughter to the old man’s house. "Good morning sir,” Anansi greeted. “Since you have been so kind to me I have brought my beautiful daughter who wants to be a cook. I will give her to you as your wife," said Anansi. Then he turned to his daughter. "Here is a wedding ring. Now go into the house and fix your father a nice plate of food." The old man still said nothing.
The next day Anansi got up early. He headed for the old man's house. The old man had not moved and was still sitting by his door. Anansi said his good morning and entered the house. He called for his daughter but she did not answer. He knew that she liked Hide-and-Seek so he looked in every closet. He then checked under the bed.
Although he knew that it was a dangerous hiding place, he looked into the icebox, but he could not find her. Anansi searched all over the house but he was not able to find his daughter. He thought of one place that he had not looked."I know where she is. She is hiding in the oven! " He said as he opened the door to the stove's oven. Anansi jumped back. For in the oven lay his daughter's wedding ring. Anansi rushed outside the house and grabbed the old man by the collar.“Where is my daughter?" he shouted.
Finally, the old man spoke in a deep raspy voice. “Do… you …know… who… I… am?” He said slowly, chewing on every word that escaped his throat. “Yes.” Anansi said. “You are my son-in-law.” "Hah! Your son-in-law!” The old man rasped. “My name is Death and you came looking for me. I did not invite you into my house. To add insult to injury, you brought me your ugly daughter... so I ate her. Now I am going to have you for lunch," Brother Death said as he grabbed Anansi by the shirt.
Anansi tore the buttons from his shirt, slipped out of it and ran for his life. He ran as fast as he could in the belief that he could easily outdistance an old man like Brother Death. However, wherever Anansi turned, Death was right behind him. Finally, out of desperation, Anansi lunged for a tree limb and climbed as high as he could. To his surprise, Brother Death did not follow Anansi up the tree. Death could not climb!
Brother Death picked up a rock, an old shoe, anything that he could find, and threw them at Anansi. They all missed. Death could not throw either. He soon ran out of things to throw. Therefore, he ran around under the tree in search of any missile. Once when he took his eyes off Anansi, the frightened spider jumped off the tree and bolted for his home. As he neared his house Anansi shouted out to his wife. "Aso! Grab the children and climb up into the ceiling! Death is after me!" "What did you say, Anansi?" His wife asked.
" I SAID... GRAB THE CHILDREN AND CLIMB UP TO THE CEILING!" Anansi cried. “You said do what with the potato peelings?” His wife asked. “I said… Oh, Never mind!” Anansi cried in frustration. He quickly rushed into his house, grabbed his wife and children, and climbed up into the ceiling with them. “Grab hold of a wooden beam and hold on tight!” He shouted.
As Brother Death rushed in the door, Anansi and his family were safely clinging to a beam in the ceiling. Brother Death calmly picked up a burlap bag, pulled up a chair, sat down under the dangling spider family and crossed his legs.
Half an hour passed and Anansi's youngest son said to his father. "Oh, Puppa, my hands are hurting me. I can't hold on any longer." "Hold on son, for if you fall Death is going to get you," Anansi said to his child. However, the boy could not hold on any longer. Therefore, he fell.
Death caught the boy and opened the burlap bag. "It is your father I want… not you.” Then he placed the child into the burlap bag.
Soon, another of Anansi's daughters cried out to her father. "Puppa, please…my hands are tired. I am going to fall". "Fall and Death is going to get you!" Anansi answered. His daughter fell and Death placed her in the burlap bag with her brother. "I don't want you. I want your father,” said Death. Soon Anansi's other daughter and son fell. So did his wife, Aso. Finally, Anansi's own hands became tired. First, the left hand froze and lost its grip. However, Anansi held on tight with only his right hand. He exercised the frozen left hand in the hope of using it to relieve the right hand. Anansi’s mind began to race.
"Brother Death.” He called. “I am so fat from eating all your food that if I fall I will just splatter into pieces. There will not be enough of me left to put in that bag. You will only have enough meat to make spider-burgers. However, if you go into the kitchen you will find a barrel of flour. Get the barrel and set it under me so that the flour will cushion the fall. I won’t splatter. I will just be battered.” “Mmmhh…” Death exhaled, rubbed his chin and smiled, showing all his 37-and-a-half teeth. “Kentucky Fried Spider for dinner, heh? Or, maybe I can make delicious, spicy Jerk Spider from Anansi and his family!”
Anansi figured that the flour barrel was so heavy that it would take four men to lift it. This would give him time to escape. As Brother Death went into the kitchen Anansi was about to let go and drop from the ceiling. However, in a flash Death was back under Anansi with the flour barrel. Anansi had underestimated Brother Death’s strength. As Brother Death wobbled the barrel from side to side, he bent over the barrel to make sure that it was exactly under Anansi. The cunning spider dropped on top of the old man’s head, dunking his face into the flour. The flour bath
temporarily blinded Death.
Anansi jumped off Death’s head, released his family and they ran for their lives. Death has never caught Anansi the Spider. That is why there are AnansiStories to this day. When you see spider webs on the ceiling it belongs to Anansi. He is still trying to get away from Death..
* Author's note: This story illustrates how Anansi, like his father Nyame the Great Sky God, also overcame death. In Nyame's case he had created both life and death and was overcome by the latter's venom. Where Nyame survived death by using an antidote, his son, Anansi, used his web to accomplish the same feat.
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
Labels:
Art,
Cafe,
Eat Out,
Fine Dinning,
Gambia,
Restaurants,
Senegambia
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Original Poetry Series
Simplicity
Life should be so simple, simplicity is the key
We are busy, busy like bees, busy to have, busy to get instead of busy to be.
What about becoming, more than you were by being less. What about to be.
They say we live within a web, woven by us, webs of lies, webs of ilussions, of thoughts and dreams, of feelings and fears.
Who is the other? The other is us, in a different way connected by nature.
Nature is life and life is simplicity
Ekow
March 2010
We are busy, busy like bees, busy to have, busy to get instead of busy to be.
What about becoming, more than you were by being less. What about to be.
They say we live within a web, woven by us, webs of lies, webs of ilussions, of thoughts and dreams, of feelings and fears.
Who is the other? The other is us, in a different way connected by nature.
Nature is life and life is simplicity
Ekow
March 2010
Labels:
africa gambia poetry
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Proverbs Africa
What is bad luck for one man is good luck for another.
When you are rich, you are hated; when you are poor, you are despised.
Wood already touched by fire is not hard to set alight.
A child who is to be successful is not reared exclusively on a bed of down.
A knife does not know who is its master.
A woman is like a blanket: If you cover yourself with it, it bothers you; if you throw it aside you will feel the cold.
He who is guilty has much to say.
If there were no elephant in the jungle, the buffalo would be a great animal.
If things are getting easier, maybe you're headed downhill
It is the wife who knows her husband
Marriage is like a groundnut: you have to crack them to see what is inside.
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
http://www.gayaartcafe.com/
When you are rich, you are hated; when you are poor, you are despised.
Wood already touched by fire is not hard to set alight.
A child who is to be successful is not reared exclusively on a bed of down.
A knife does not know who is its master.
A woman is like a blanket: If you cover yourself with it, it bothers you; if you throw it aside you will feel the cold.
He who is guilty has much to say.
If there were no elephant in the jungle, the buffalo would be a great animal.
If things are getting easier, maybe you're headed downhill
It is the wife who knows her husband
Marriage is like a groundnut: you have to crack them to see what is inside.
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
http://www.gayaartcafe.com/
Labels:
Art,
Cafe,
Eat Out,
Fine Dinning,
Gambia,
Restaurants,
Senegambia
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The Garifuna
Gaya Art Cafe strives to offer a global perspective when it comes to showcasing art with an African influence. This is part of our Global Art Africa Series.
In the year 1635 two Spanish ships carrying Nigerian slaves shipwrecked on the island of St. Vincent. At first, the Spanish, Nigerians and Kalipuna fought one another but eventually learned to get along and intermarried, thus creating the Black Caribs.
At that time, St. Vincent was a British colony and the Caribs tried to establish independent control of the island. The French supported the Caribs and there were many battles between the Caribs and the British. The greatest battle took place in 1795 and both sides suffered great losses. In 1796 the Caribs and the French surrendered to the British.
The British now had a problem. The Caribs were free men with black skin and St. Vincent was populated by slave-owning Europeans. The idea of a group of free black men living among them on the island was unacceptable so the British decided to deport the Caribs. The British hunted down and rounded up the Caribs, killing hundreds in the process and destroying their homes and culture. The remaining 4,300 Caribs were shipped to Balliceaux where half of them died of yellow fever.
In 1797 the surviving Caribs were shipped to Roatan Island off the coast of Honduras. Along the way, the Spanish captured one of the British ships which was taken to Trujillo where the captured Caribs did well. Later, the Spanish captured Roatan Island from the British. The Spanish rounded up 1,700 Caribs on the island and brought them to Trujillo where laborers were much needed. The Spanish were not good farmers and Trujillo suffered accordingly. On the other hand, the Caribs were very skillful at farming so they went to work and did very well in Trujillo. Some of the Caribs were conscripted into the Spanish army where they served with distinction.
In the year 1635 two Spanish ships carrying Nigerian slaves shipwrecked on the island of St. Vincent. At first, the Spanish, Nigerians and Kalipuna fought one another but eventually learned to get along and intermarried, thus creating the Black Caribs.
At that time, St. Vincent was a British colony and the Caribs tried to establish independent control of the island. The French supported the Caribs and there were many battles between the Caribs and the British. The greatest battle took place in 1795 and both sides suffered great losses. In 1796 the Caribs and the French surrendered to the British.
The British now had a problem. The Caribs were free men with black skin and St. Vincent was populated by slave-owning Europeans. The idea of a group of free black men living among them on the island was unacceptable so the British decided to deport the Caribs. The British hunted down and rounded up the Caribs, killing hundreds in the process and destroying their homes and culture. The remaining 4,300 Caribs were shipped to Balliceaux where half of them died of yellow fever.
In 1797 the surviving Caribs were shipped to Roatan Island off the coast of Honduras. Along the way, the Spanish captured one of the British ships which was taken to Trujillo where the captured Caribs did well. Later, the Spanish captured Roatan Island from the British. The Spanish rounded up 1,700 Caribs on the island and brought them to Trujillo where laborers were much needed. The Spanish were not good farmers and Trujillo suffered accordingly. On the other hand, the Caribs were very skillful at farming so they went to work and did very well in Trujillo. Some of the Caribs were conscripted into the Spanish army where they served with distinction.
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
http://www.gayaartcafe.com/
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Anansi Folktales
Anansi and the Yam Hills
Once in a before time, there lived an old woman who had magical powers. Her name was 5. She was also so evil that some people called her a witch. 5 hated her name. No one knows why her parents named her the number 5. When she was a child, other children would make fun of her name. Sometimes when she was within earshot, they would look out the corner of their eyes and giggle as they said. Give me 5!"
They would slap their hands with a quick handshake and burst out laughing. This taunting always made 5 angry.When she grew up, 5 decided to put an end to the name-calling. So, she created a weird spell. "Anyone who says '5' will drop dead,” she said. Then she changed her mind. “From this day on, anyone who says ‘5’ will disappear,"
This spell immediately caused a problem in the country. No one could say that number again
without disappearing. Children could no longer recite their five times tables. People had to drop
the word 'five' from their vocabulary. In 5’s village, the unlucky number was no longer 13.
Once a customer asked a merchant, “How much is that blue T-shirt?” “That shirt is 5 doh... ” Suddenly there was a loud “SWOOSH!” before the merchant could finish
his sentence. He disappeared right in front of the dumbfounded customer's eyes!
A crafty spider named Anansi lived in 5's village. He had heard about the witch’s spell. Times
were very hard. Anansi was not a farmer and he had no food at all to eat. His wife and children
were starving. Since Anansi was small, and not a very good worker, he could only rely on his
brain to get whatever he needed to survive. He said to himself. "Things are tough, boy! I must make this witch's spell work for me".
Anansi went to the road that led to the village's marketplace. He chose a spot on the side of the
road where everyone on the way to market would have to pass. There, near a large Guangu
tree, he decided to pile up five mounds of the rich brown soil. These mounds he called "yam
hills". In the top of each yam hill, he planted an African yellow yam. Then he drove a stake next
to the yam on which its vine could grow. Anansi carefully watered the yams until each one began
to sprout.
Anansi made a web-like a hammock in the Guangu tree and patiently waited for someone to
come by. Early one morning, after each yam shoot had poked its head out of a mound, Anansi
sat down next to his yam hills. Soon, Brother Dog came by on his way to the market. Dog
balanced a bankra basket of sweet-smelling fruits on his head as he walked down the road.
"Good morning Brother Dog," said Anansi in a sugary voice. "I know that you are busy, and I feel
so stupid. I am not an educated man like you. Would you help me to count how many yam hills
that I have planted here?" Anansi asked. "You should have gone to school to learn how to count!" Brother Dog said grumpily as he walked away from Anansi towards the market.
Anansi climbed up into the Guangu tree and waited.the next person to come by was Brother Bull. He carried a large basket of fruits on his head. "Good day Bro' Bull." Anansi said in a sad voice. "Could you just spare me one minute?"
Anansi begged. "What can I do for you, Anansi?" Bro' Bull asked. " I was a *yikki and sickly child. So, my parents did not send me to school. I never learned my ABC's. I planted all these yamhills... Can you help me to count them?" Anansi said. "But, of course Anansi"
Bro' Bull replied. "You have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...." As he said that number, Brother Bull disappeared into thin air. The basket of sweet ripe fruits that he had been carrying on his head, fell to the ground. Anansi snatched up basket of fruits and rushed home to eat them all.
For a long time, Anansi did very well tricking some passersby into counting his yam hills. He
grew fat from all the baskets of food he had gathered. He had tricked Brothers Turtle, Owl,
Mongoose, Hare, Peenie-Wallie the firefly, and even the tough Bro' Scorpion.
Mrs. Guinea fowl was a nice young mother of newly hatched children. She could not say 'no' to
anyone. She and her husband shared the chore of selling their produce in the village. That day
it was her turn to go to the marketplace. She loaded up her hand basket and headed for the
market. As she got closer to the yam hills Anansi was nowhere in sight. Just as she was about to
pass yam hill number 4, Anansi the spider lowered himself down from his perch in the Guangu
tree. He called out in his sugary voice.
"Good morning Mrs. Guinea Fowl. Could you help me with a problem?"
"Of course Anansi". The polite Mrs. Guinea Fowl said.
"I have these yam hills here, and I don't know how to count ... would you help me... ? Pleeezz."
Anansi begged. Mrs. Guinea Fowl, who had seen Anansi trick Bro' Scorpian, walked over
to the last yam hill and climbed up on top of it. She said. “You have 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... 4 ... and the one I am standing on". "What! What are you doing? That is not the way you count!" Anansi shouted angrily. "What do you mean, Anansi?" Mrs. Guinea Fowl said. "I don't know of any number
called 'the one I'm standing on'.
Start again!” Anansi ordered. Mrs. Guinea Fowl began again. "You have 1, 2, 3, 4 ... and the
one I am standing on". "That is not what you are supposed to say!" Anansi
shouted even more angrily. "Well ... If you are so smart... What am I supposed to say?" Mrs. Guinea Fowl asked. Anansi shouted, "You are supposed to say 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... Oops…” Suddenly, Anansi disappeared, leaving Mrs. Guinea Fowl with all the loot that he had gotten from tricking his victims.
The moral of this story is: "Greedy choke puppy" (or, "A greedy puppy will soon choke").
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
http://www.gayaartcafe.com/
Once in a before time, there lived an old woman who had magical powers. Her name was 5. She was also so evil that some people called her a witch. 5 hated her name. No one knows why her parents named her the number 5. When she was a child, other children would make fun of her name. Sometimes when she was within earshot, they would look out the corner of their eyes and giggle as they said. Give me 5!"
They would slap their hands with a quick handshake and burst out laughing. This taunting always made 5 angry.When she grew up, 5 decided to put an end to the name-calling. So, she created a weird spell. "Anyone who says '5' will drop dead,” she said. Then she changed her mind. “From this day on, anyone who says ‘5’ will disappear,"
This spell immediately caused a problem in the country. No one could say that number again
without disappearing. Children could no longer recite their five times tables. People had to drop
the word 'five' from their vocabulary. In 5’s village, the unlucky number was no longer 13.
Once a customer asked a merchant, “How much is that blue T-shirt?” “That shirt is 5 doh... ” Suddenly there was a loud “SWOOSH!” before the merchant could finish
his sentence. He disappeared right in front of the dumbfounded customer's eyes!
A crafty spider named Anansi lived in 5's village. He had heard about the witch’s spell. Times
were very hard. Anansi was not a farmer and he had no food at all to eat. His wife and children
were starving. Since Anansi was small, and not a very good worker, he could only rely on his
brain to get whatever he needed to survive. He said to himself. "Things are tough, boy! I must make this witch's spell work for me".
Anansi went to the road that led to the village's marketplace. He chose a spot on the side of the
road where everyone on the way to market would have to pass. There, near a large Guangu
tree, he decided to pile up five mounds of the rich brown soil. These mounds he called "yam
hills". In the top of each yam hill, he planted an African yellow yam. Then he drove a stake next
to the yam on which its vine could grow. Anansi carefully watered the yams until each one began
to sprout.
Anansi made a web-like a hammock in the Guangu tree and patiently waited for someone to
come by. Early one morning, after each yam shoot had poked its head out of a mound, Anansi
sat down next to his yam hills. Soon, Brother Dog came by on his way to the market. Dog
balanced a bankra basket of sweet-smelling fruits on his head as he walked down the road.
"Good morning Brother Dog," said Anansi in a sugary voice. "I know that you are busy, and I feel
so stupid. I am not an educated man like you. Would you help me to count how many yam hills
that I have planted here?" Anansi asked. "You should have gone to school to learn how to count!" Brother Dog said grumpily as he walked away from Anansi towards the market.
Anansi climbed up into the Guangu tree and waited.the next person to come by was Brother Bull. He carried a large basket of fruits on his head. "Good day Bro' Bull." Anansi said in a sad voice. "Could you just spare me one minute?"
Anansi begged. "What can I do for you, Anansi?" Bro' Bull asked. " I was a *yikki and sickly child. So, my parents did not send me to school. I never learned my ABC's. I planted all these yamhills... Can you help me to count them?" Anansi said. "But, of course Anansi"
Bro' Bull replied. "You have 1, 2, 3, 4, 5...." As he said that number, Brother Bull disappeared into thin air. The basket of sweet ripe fruits that he had been carrying on his head, fell to the ground. Anansi snatched up basket of fruits and rushed home to eat them all.
For a long time, Anansi did very well tricking some passersby into counting his yam hills. He
grew fat from all the baskets of food he had gathered. He had tricked Brothers Turtle, Owl,
Mongoose, Hare, Peenie-Wallie the firefly, and even the tough Bro' Scorpion.
Mrs. Guinea fowl was a nice young mother of newly hatched children. She could not say 'no' to
anyone. She and her husband shared the chore of selling their produce in the village. That day
it was her turn to go to the marketplace. She loaded up her hand basket and headed for the
market. As she got closer to the yam hills Anansi was nowhere in sight. Just as she was about to
pass yam hill number 4, Anansi the spider lowered himself down from his perch in the Guangu
tree. He called out in his sugary voice.
"Good morning Mrs. Guinea Fowl. Could you help me with a problem?"
"Of course Anansi". The polite Mrs. Guinea Fowl said.
"I have these yam hills here, and I don't know how to count ... would you help me... ? Pleeezz."
Anansi begged. Mrs. Guinea Fowl, who had seen Anansi trick Bro' Scorpian, walked over
to the last yam hill and climbed up on top of it. She said. “You have 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... 4 ... and the one I am standing on". "What! What are you doing? That is not the way you count!" Anansi shouted angrily. "What do you mean, Anansi?" Mrs. Guinea Fowl said. "I don't know of any number
called 'the one I'm standing on'.
Start again!” Anansi ordered. Mrs. Guinea Fowl began again. "You have 1, 2, 3, 4 ... and the
one I am standing on". "That is not what you are supposed to say!" Anansi
shouted even more angrily. "Well ... If you are so smart... What am I supposed to say?" Mrs. Guinea Fowl asked. Anansi shouted, "You are supposed to say 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... Oops…” Suddenly, Anansi disappeared, leaving Mrs. Guinea Fowl with all the loot that he had gotten from tricking his victims.
The moral of this story is: "Greedy choke puppy" (or, "A greedy puppy will soon choke").
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
http://www.gayaartcafe.com/
Labels:
Art,
Cafe,
Eat Out,
Fine Dinning,
Gambia,
Restaurants,
Senegambia
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Garifuna Dance
Gaya Art Cafe strives to offer a global perspective when it comes to showcasing art with an African influence. This is part of our Global Art Africa Series.
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
http://www.gayaartcafe.com/
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
http://www.gayaartcafe.com/
Sunday, January 24, 2010
African Proverbs Samples
If the dog is not at home, he barks not.
A proud heart can survive a general failure because such a failure does not prick its pride.
Do not look where you fell, but where you slipped.
If you don't stand for something, you will fall for something
It takes a whole village to raise a child
By the time the fool has learned the game, the players have dispersed
Hunger is felt by a slave and hunger is felt by a king
One cannot both feast and become rich
One falsehood spoils a thousand truths
The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
http://www.gayaartcafe.com/
Labels:
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Restaurants,
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Saturday, January 9, 2010
Haitian art
Gaya Art Cafe strives to offer a global perspective when it comes to showcasing art with an African influence. This is part of our Global Art Africa Series.
No other country has a school of self-taught painters and sculptors reigned supreme, renewing itself year after year. Not even in Africa have black artists created so many unforgettable images to haunt and revivify the tired iconography of the West. How to explain the paradox that an art of joy originated and sustains itself in the poorest nation of the Western Hemisphere ?
A blend of African and French cultures, inspired by both the Vodou and Christian religions, Haitian life has a unique quality, timeless yet electric. Close to nature, close to his family, close to his gods, the Haitian farmer still leads a life little influenced by the fashions and the inventions of the twentieth century.
Some of Haiti's greatest artists, Hector Hyppolite, Andre Pierre, and Lafortune Felix were first houngans (vodou priests). All of the Saint-Soleil artists, first hailed by André Malraux in 1977, say they are in constant contact with the loas (African Spirits), as was their progenitor, Robert St. Brice. As André Malraux remarked in regard to this school, it is impossible to determine where it came from or to whom it speaks.
Dieuseul Paul, was one of the original members of the Saint Soleil movement which gained international recognition in 1975 when the French cultural icon Andre Malraux visited the community. It is said that Malraux was seated in a chair on a grassy knoll while the artists of Saint Soleil ascended the slope, encircling him, each holding a piece of their art. M. Malraux was blown away by the scene and immortalized the movement by featuring Saint Soleil prominently in his last book, L´Intemporel.
Saint Soleil was located in the mountains above LaBoule, at Soisson-La- Montagne. It provided the means and encouragement for not only painters, but also poets, writers, craftspeople, singers, dancers, sculptors and musicians. A community of peasant artists that was organized by the Haitian artist Tiga, and Maude Robart, a writer and painter herself.
The Saint Soleil School uses linear patterning and symbolism reflecting practices of Vodou.
Vodou, which, while it does have its darker moments, seeks support and security from the spirit guides, The works portray figures crucial to the practice of Vodou. Many of the Saint-Soleil paintings share attributes of medieval manuscripts, particularly in repetitive linear patterning filling every available space, known as horror vacui, recalling the Book of Kells and also evokes the Coptic Christian icons of North Africa.
Saint Soleil disbanded after only a few years but five of the artists, Prosper Pierre-Louis, Levoy Exil, Denis Smith, Paul Dieuseul and Louisiane St. Fleurant reorganized into the group Cinq Soleils. In cooperation with several French Cultural institutions, they opened a spacious and secure atelier in Soissons on September 23, 1989.
The simplicity of everyday life, transformed into poetry by Philome Obin and the Cap-Haitian school, gives to each Haitian a sense of place in this world just as the Vodou religion assures him a place in the cosmos. Ongoing life that neglects neither the body nor the spirit … that is the joy of Haitian art.
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
http://www.gayaartcafe.com/
Monday, January 4, 2010
Anansi The Spider
The most famous past time of the Ancient Ghanaian’s was storytelling or listing to stories and Anansi the Spider is a very popular folk story told all throughout Western Africa. It originated during Ancient Ghanaian times and it was told all throughout Ancient Ghana. It is about a spider who buys the right to all folk stories that were originally told by the Sky God. The Sky God gave him three things to bring to that nobody else would even attempt because of the high risks.
Anansi was a very clever spider though. His first task was to get Mmoboro the hornets. His second task was to get Onini, the great python. His final task was to get Osebo, the leopard. Using his cunning Anansi completed these task and gained the reserved to all folk stories. Back then the people who told Anansi stories and all other stories were known as Riots.
The Spider-Man
He once enjoyed his life as a man. Nyame (N'-ya-mae), his father, changed his mischievous son into a spider. As a spider-man, Anansi continued his pranks. Through his actions we learn how to
behave.
PROFILE
Given Name: Kweku Anansi
Father: Nyame, the Great Sky God
Mother: Asase Ya, Earth goddess / Goddess of Fertility
Alias(es): Ananse, from the Twi language for spider. AKA: Anansi / Annancy / Annansay /
Annancey / Anancyi / Anawnsy / Hanansi / Hanaansi / Compe Anansi / John Anansi / Nansi /
Nance / Nancy / Mr. Nancy / Brother Anansi / Bro' Anancy / Bra' Nancy / Bre-Nancy / Aunt Nancy
/ Miss Nancy / Anansi-Tori / Ti Malice / Uncle Bouki / The Spider / Spider-man
Gender: Male
Race: Mixed (50% negroid, 50% supernatural)
Ethnicity: Akan
Specie: Deity-homo-arachnid
Date of Birth: Unknown (around the time when animals and humans spoke to each other).
Day of Birth: Wednesday
Height: Little. Weight: Light.
Address(es): Kumasi, Ghana / Kingston and the counties of Jamaica and other Caribbean
territories / The Sea Islands and South Carolina (Gullah), USA / The island of Haiti / Paramaribo
and other districts within Suriname, South America / Garifuna Communities, Belize, Central
America.
Country of Origin: Asanti, Ghana
Profession: Trickster
M.O. (Modus Operandi): Trickery; Quick-change-artist; Uses his brains; Hustler; Outsmarts
persons larger than himself; Known to travel with immigrants; Often gets in trouble for
a misdemeanor.
Main Enemy: Osebo the Leopard, A.K.A: "Bre'r Tiger", "Bra Tiger", "Bro Tiger", Tiger
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
http://www.gayaartcafe.com/
Anansi was a very clever spider though. His first task was to get Mmoboro the hornets. His second task was to get Onini, the great python. His final task was to get Osebo, the leopard. Using his cunning Anansi completed these task and gained the reserved to all folk stories. Back then the people who told Anansi stories and all other stories were known as Riots.
The Spider-Man
He once enjoyed his life as a man. Nyame (N'-ya-mae), his father, changed his mischievous son into a spider. As a spider-man, Anansi continued his pranks. Through his actions we learn how to
behave.
PROFILE
Given Name: Kweku Anansi
Father: Nyame, the Great Sky God
Mother: Asase Ya, Earth goddess / Goddess of Fertility
Alias(es): Ananse, from the Twi language for spider. AKA: Anansi / Annancy / Annansay /
Annancey / Anancyi / Anawnsy / Hanansi / Hanaansi / Compe Anansi / John Anansi / Nansi /
Nance / Nancy / Mr. Nancy / Brother Anansi / Bro' Anancy / Bra' Nancy / Bre-Nancy / Aunt Nancy
/ Miss Nancy / Anansi-Tori / Ti Malice / Uncle Bouki / The Spider / Spider-man
Gender: Male
Race: Mixed (50% negroid, 50% supernatural)
Ethnicity: Akan
Specie: Deity-homo-arachnid
Date of Birth: Unknown (around the time when animals and humans spoke to each other).
Day of Birth: Wednesday
Height: Little. Weight: Light.
Address(es): Kumasi, Ghana / Kingston and the counties of Jamaica and other Caribbean
territories / The Sea Islands and South Carolina (Gullah), USA / The island of Haiti / Paramaribo
and other districts within Suriname, South America / Garifuna Communities, Belize, Central
America.
Country of Origin: Asanti, Ghana
Profession: Trickster
M.O. (Modus Operandi): Trickery; Quick-change-artist; Uses his brains; Hustler; Outsmarts
persons larger than himself; Known to travel with immigrants; Often gets in trouble for
a misdemeanor.
Main Enemy: Osebo the Leopard, A.K.A: "Bre'r Tiger", "Bra Tiger", "Bro Tiger", Tiger
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!
Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
http://www.gayaartcafe.com/
Labels:
Art,
Cafe,
Eat Out,
Fine Dinning,
Gambia,
Restaurants,
Senegambia
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