Gambians caught in secret video scandal
By Suntou Touray
This is not a message for the faint hearted. Our country Gambia is small but has passionate historical past. The Gambia many will say has strong cultural and moral values entrenched in her inhabitants. Human beings are equal in the eyes of God. No single human is better than the other, either by virtue of race, colour, tribe, culture, country or any other basis for that matter.
As a nation, Gambians like reminding other nationals that we are a tolerant, spiritual and kind hearted people. Our open door policy in absorbing different cultures made us such that, what we tend to value most are slipping away from the tips of our fingers.
You may be wondering what on earth this blabber talking about.
Well intelligent folks, the Gambia is said to be a secular state, with a secular constitution and civil society. But culturally, we are a religious nation. This is manifested in both our private and communal behaviours. The negative action of one Gambian can easily tarnish the reputation or image of the nation we all love and cherish.
This is no sermon folks. I am not a religious scholar to preach either. I am a fellow Gambian educated in the same schools like the many out there who are more qualified and better articulate to convey this sad and abhorrent message. What is the message?
It has come to the attention of some people that some Gambians have been caught up over a sex scandal in U.K. The parties involved are women. Their involvement relates to a Nigerian man who used to live in Gambia . This man is said to have married a Gambian woman. The man is well respected by the People of the town he married the young lady from. After living in the Gambia for sometime, the Nigerian man immigrated to England. He arranged for his wife to join him in the U.K.
What was not known is that the man has a secret life. His friendliness and outwardly respectful behaviour was to mask his promiscuous life. The man is said have bedded string of Gambian women whilst still married with his Gambian wife. Going to bed with Gambian women may not sound like crime per say. Those women have personal liberty to sleep with whoever they so desired. What is of concern regards the fact that this man secretly filmed all his targets and held the copies in his house. Some of the women involved are married women who are today fighting to save their respective marriages.
The pornographic video is said to be uploaded on the Internet and some are even suggesting that, the films might be the man’s normal business for living. His friends and acquaintance are saying the man stopped working for long time thus arousing suspicion that he sells or uploads the films of innocent women on the net to gain money.
You may wonder how much this becomes your business or mine. Good to question though. As a Gambian Muslim, it is a religious duty and a nationalistic duty for us to do our best in promoting and preserving the good name of our country. On my part, the intention here is to caution fellow Gambians that we are from noble people and good backgrounds. The freedom modern societies avail us shouldn’t be a license to waste our lives and along the way tarnish our collective images. This case is said to be under police investigation as there were some young girls involved in the scandal. What is it that makes a married Gambian woman abandon her marital house for fooling around with another married Nigerian man? Our society is seriously in need of repairs. This shameful act is not limited to women alone. Men are also into questionable acts as well. What happens to the Wollof doctrine of ‘self-respect’, the Fulla philosopher of ‘shame’, the Mandinka principle of ‘shunning disgrace’, the sarahuleh conduct of ‘hard work and upholding religious ethics’? What has gone wrong with all those golden Gambian values?
Each and every one of us has in us an in-built ‘fitrah’ (in born faculty of reason.) This confers in us the ability to distinguish what is morally right and what is wrong. Having sexual intercourse with a Nigerian man may not be seen by some as crime. However when the man films you unaware and then sell it is illegal and morally bankrupt that is something to worry about. For the sake of our faith we are miles better to control our behaviours and watch what we do. Life is too short to waste.
At this crucial time, the matter is bigger than being judgemental of each other. The underlying reason for this act might be many folds. The man could have induced these women with money or other material seduction. Sadly the outcome of this moral corrupt behaviour is separation of married couples and incurring on the parties involves untold shame and guilt. The wider ramification here is not about the nationality of the man. He could have been a Gambian or Senegalese for that matter. The saga has exposed the failing of some parents who never utter a word of advice to siblings in Europe or America . All that some parents ever enquire about is when will they receive their allowance in monetary benefits.
The culprit who film is conquest is said to also film other non-Gambian women he had intercourse with. Some concerns Gambians are said to have watch the video in a police station to subside the rumour of some innocent women suspected of being part of the collection.
I hope that our moral ethics and religious faith lead the way for us wherever we are. May God guide our actions. Amen
7 comments:
Mr editor allow space to respond briefly to the sweeping comments by Bunama against my person. I found it hard to swallow the fact that, Bunama didn’t even read the comments put forward sufficiently and clearly. Bunama has rashly commented about the subject without proper analysis and rational judgement.
When comical Ali, Saddam Hussain’s information minister was addressing the world media as to the strength of the Iraqi Republican guards, he continue to repeat that, ‘I paraphrase’ “we are fighting the enemy, our forces are driving them away, Bagdad is defended adequately”. The minister was just deceiving himself. He knows Iraq has fallen and the entire top military officer have disserted their positions, the enemy were at the gate, the party is over. The logic here is, we can talk moral all we like, but our society is degenerating, that evident for all concern to see. Whether here or back in the Gambia.
I am absolutely comfortable with the style the incidence was reported, I divorced the people from the topic and made it possible for people to pick the issues without identifying the parties involved. Bumana couldn’t go much further in his response without naming a certain person living in Bristol. Where Bunama did got the idea that, the place I was referring to is Bristol and not Cardiff? The piece only stated some Gambians in the U.K, which includes Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales. It is Bunama who has now focused the readership attention on Bristol and England not me.
It is easy to take brief with somebody whose style of writing one dislikes, but the facts presented shouldn’t blind us to real issues. These rumour are in many places, and yet I avoided telling the readers where it happens, all I did was made Gambians aware that, ‘our moral values are of fundamental significance which requires upholding’. Is that a crime Bunama?
You may close your eyes to the breakdown of the moral fabric in our society, but the fact remains, our societies are in disarray and needs repairing. Truth is painful, especially if the teller is disliked for whatever reason. This matter is more than mere false patriotism to our communities, let’s fact the facts now and halt the demise of our ethical values.
As we exchange ideas, young Gambian boys and girls are sitting chatting to people unknown them in the World Wide Web, what are the social impacts of such of behaviours Bunama? The U.K a country with huge wealth is barely able to cope with the degradation in their society, yet they have the resources to tackle the failing, but unable to do so at the same time. Are you watching and reading about the clear inherent dilemmas brother bumana?
There are more people out there who have seen the video, It is for you to go out again and satisfy your curiosity, just because you didn’t see it doesn’t make true or untrue. Tell me, which person or place did i mention that boiled your blood? Certainly, you haven’t an idea who I communicate with and how I came to know about the matter. If that is what irritates you, get over it.
If you mention anybody’s name online trying to buttress your false statements against me, remember, I NEVER MENTION ANY BODY BY NAME OR PLACE OF ORIGIN. I put forward a moral argument which can be applicable to any Gambian where ever he/she may be. If you bring in here another discussion trying to castigate me, then you chose the wrong person. I never told you LT is Lamin, Lang or Lutang. If you cannot pick out from a write-up the central message, then stop reading me, since I intend to comment on social issues regardless of who is offended. The mandinkas who say, “nin ikamalu nyaala, woto kana kunwu busu” (if you are shy of the eyes, then don’t skin an animal’s head). This is a sad case, whether the women involve were married before cohabiting with the said man or after is of little relevance. He betrays them and filmed them unaware; he also filmed more people who he didn’t even have intercourse with. This are facts that have already reached the Gambia, If the topic affect you negatively, then know that, my intention is not to cause offense, but making people vigilant of perverts masquerading among us. If that narrative takes creating characters that I will do.
Gambian honest to themselves has seen the rise in the number of family breakdowns in France, Sweden, England, Spain and many other countries. Are we addressing the underlying causes of these problems? Is anyone collecting surveys and data’s on this important social issues? Figures can help us be alarm at the magnitude of family and social problems shimmering in our communities. Bunama, i don’t know you, neither do you know me, but at least we have manage to express our disagreement publicly without recourse to pocking each other on the face, this are tools of modern society, let’s use the modern mode of communications productively and wisely.
Finally, I am not perfect, neither is anyone I know. But at least, there is suppose to be limitations as what we can and wouldn’t do. That was my message, reminding myself and others. If this cause offense, and result in me being insulted, I will take it all on the chin. Who said writing is easy?
Commenting on the current topic. I would like to stress some points, since you are Gambian I would like to say that, you have to look into your society and how you live in the Gambia. Many people I know have been very loose in their ways, when it comes to betraying their families, men and women respectfuly. Gambian men often leave their wives for many years trying to build a home for themselves in The Gambia, leaving the women very lonely and depressed. Thus, leaving ways for shaitan to come in between families. The same goes for the men who are abroad and marry or date women and ruin lives because of lack of self control. I think having lived and married a Gambian I know too well about what I'm saying. Women who seem innocent and men who are always at the masjid, portray a cover which seems very trusting.
The problem is more than heartache but AIDS is a reality. A big one. The husband who's wives think is being honest or wife who thinks the same. Leaving a lot of innocent partie at risk of losing their lives.
It is good that these women were caught on tape and the cover has been blown over such so called innocence. The deserve all the shame they are getting and continue to get, when even their children end up watching these disgraceful acts. For the innocent wives who were taped only God will pay them back and my prayers go to them.
Thanks for the comments. very good observations.
YOU ARE A TRIBALIST WHAT HAS BEING A NIGERIAN GOT TO DO WITH THE IMMORAL ACTS OF THE LOSE WOMEN WHO ABANDONED THEIR HOMES FOR MATERIAL GAIN
Thanks mr Annonymous. Be brave and show yourself. Whatever you accused me of, God is my witness that, I am free of it. However, just because you cannot handle someone who is confident of himself, doesn't mean I should lose a wink over a foolish accusations. Thanks
Read ur email Touray before the wrath of fire of God consume you.
Defamation of character is not part of free speech. Wisdom should be sought before matters of rumours are published in the media. What you do not realise at that time was this will come back and bite you. 2009 you published rumours. How foolish. How stupid. Now people in Nigeria knew exactly who you are, your name and photograph. Addresses here and back home. How could you ? What evidence did you see according to Bunama before going on the net? I pity you. Spiritual events shall never stop happening to you henceforth. However , forgives is of the Lord. As you have been advised read your email and make your wrong right before the thunder of Aramaka consume you and your entire household. Idiot!!!!
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