Questions about Gambia from GINUE

We want to learn about Gambia through the below questions.

 

 

1. Why do Gambian eat Kabaa with red powder like chili sauce?

https://youtu.be/VUbT7-ou2AM?si=rYEU4WaC_ttiqBSc&t=4298

 

2. Who plays the role of Kankurang?

https://youtu.be/VUbT7-ou2AM?si=rYEU4WaC_ttiqBSc&t=4732

 

3.Is Gris-gris a basic thing for the people of Gambia?

https://youtu.be/VUbT7-ou2AM?si=rYEU4WaC_ttiqBSc&t=4339

GINUE(Gyeongin National University of Education) is the largest National University of Education in Korea.

https://www.ginue.ac.kr/eng/Main.do

Most GINUE students are supposed to teach primary school students in Gyeonggi and Incheon region around SEOUL. 

We, GINUE students, are very sorry that we lack knowledge and teaching materials about your country... 
 So... we decided to get some help from you to learn about your country. 
 Would you kindly be our teacher? 

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We got the answers from Isatou Bommu on March 30, 2024. 

 1: we put chili sauce in kabaa so to make it nice and spicy to eat and when eating that, it's definitely delicious and nice........ 
 2: In the Gambia we have a special trib that can be kankurang that is the mandinkas and the are the largest ethnic group in the Gambia...they are the only ethnic that tie kankurang.......And kankurangs are tie to someone that possess super natural powers...mostly they are tie, when there is initiative ceremony so to protect the children from witch craft and evils....... 
 3: Gambians use gris-gris to protect themselves from evil and evil spirit and also from bad luck 

Here are the answers from Jainaba Ceesay on March 30, 2024.

(He introduced himself here...

https://saebeomi.blogspot.com/2024/03/jj-friends-jainaba-ceesay-from-gambia.html

--> We will appreciate your help and support your dream by leaving "thanks" comments!!! )

We put chilli sauce in the kaaba to make it more spicy. One cannot eat kaaba without a chilli sauce or sugar because it will make your mouth sticky.( from sada sowe)

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The below explanations and photos come from Abdoulie Jallow. Thank you. 

Masquerade were introduced into the Gambia's cultures by the Portuguese in the 15th and 16th centuries. Masquerades are displayed during ceremonies. It was the Akus who brought along mask and masquerades like the "fairy","Agugu",hunting ","Gesseh"of the wollof,"kankurang "of the mandinkgo,and the "kumpo"of the jolas,were all introduced.masquerades were made out of materials like(sack,camel foot,bark of "fara"tree),Grasses,leaves,horns of animals, clothes,dowry shells,threads,papers, etc.        

    

  The mandingo masquerades called "Fanbondi"comes out only at night during circumcision rites to drive away evil spirits.kumpo masquerades is from the word "Ekumpa"in Jonathan.                    The "mamapara"masquerade is originated from Guinea Conakry from the susu tribe.                         "Mamoo"is the mother of all mandingo"kanqurangs"                    "kumpo"of the jolas is belief to be a male.

"Hunting"of the Akus is also belief to be a male while "fairy"is a female 

Important of masquerade  masquerades protect initiates from witches, 

Some masquerades fore-tells about the feature coming events. 

They are responsible for inflicting punishment of whitches.

Note :All the masquerades can be use for entertainment except the "danbondi"of the mandingo tribe.

(Abdoulie Jallow from the Gambia)

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 1.Kabba is a local food which is very sour and due to this we use the chilli sauce or sugar to make it more spicy or sweet 
2.The kankurang is a traditional masquerade of the mandinka tribe which is sometimes for fun and sometimes to Protect the initiates as it was believed by our forefathers that it protects the initiates from evil.Behind these mask are men who are brave enough .  
3. The Giri giri is a traditional tool which is believed to be use for protection but actually not used by all Gambians as it is against the Islamic practice because it is considered as shirk(associating God with idols) Gambia is the activest country in our educatationl program. We believe that they would be great JJ ambassadors. 

 Cheer! JJ friends from Gambia~~~
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