AU Urged to Put African Languages and Culture at the Heart of Integration

Dr.Lang Fafa Dampha

A new policy call warns that Africa’s unity project will falter unless the African Union embeds the continent’s own languages, cultural values, and indigenous knowledge into governance, education, and development. Experts say that mother-tongue learning, grassroots engagement, and traditional knowledge systems are vital for sustainable growth—key goals under Agenda 2063. From the early days of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU) of today, Africa’s integration drive has too often sidelined its greatest assets—its languages, cultures, and indigenous knowledge systems—in favour of externally imported models of governance and development. While initiatives such as the Inter-African Bureau of Languages and the African Academy of Languages were created to promote African languages as tools of unity, their impact has been hampered by limited institutional commitment and resources. This neglect, rooted in colonial legacies, has left governance, education, and economic planning disconnected from Africa’s diverse identities and priorities. Experts argue that genuine integration demands a fundamental shift: embedding African languages and cultural values at the heart of policy, governance, and education. Mother-tongue instruction, for instance, boosts learning outcomes and civic participation, while cultural industries—such as Nollywood and African music—generate jobs, strengthen identity, and project African creativity globally. Indigenous knowledge, from traditional farming to water conservation, offers proven, sustainable solutions to local challenges. When integrated with modern science and supported by African research institutions, these systems can drive innovation and resilience. Grassroots participation is equally critical. Policies co-designed with communities, in their own languages, ensure local ownership, enhance social cohesion, and align development with lived realities—key goals under the AU’s Agenda 2063. As Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, warned, Africa’s political and economic liberation cannot be complete without cultural revival. For the AU, reclaiming and institutionalising Africa’s languages, cultural values, and indigenous knowledge is not symbolic—it is the cornerstone of a self-determined, sustainable, and united future.

Tragic Infant Death in Wellingara Sparks Renewed Calls to End FGM

By JarraNews Staff Writer

WELLINGARA — The death of a one-month-old baby girl in Wellingara, allegedly linked to complications from Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), has prompted fresh calls for justice and stronger protections for children in The Gambia. In a statement expressing “profound sorrow and indignation,” a community leader and National Assembly Member for Old Yundum condemned the incident, describing it as “a painful reminder of the urgent need to protect our children from harmful practices that rob them of their health, dignity, and future.” The lawmaker emphasized that opposition to FGM does not equate to opposition to religion or culture. “I deeply respect the rich traditions and spiritual values that shape our communities,” the statement read. “However, culture must never be used to justify violence, and faith must never be distorted to permit harm.” FGM has been banned in The Gambia since 2015, and the country is a signatory to several international agreements that obligate it to protect girls from such practices, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and the Maputo Protocol. The legislator urged authorities to conduct a full investigation into the child’s death and to prosecute anyone found responsible. “If it is confirmed that FGM contributed to the death of this one-month-old girl, accountability must be pursued swiftly and with unwavering integrity,” the statement continued. “As both a resident of Wellingara and the elected representative of the people of Old Yundum, I bear a profound moral responsibility to speak on behalf of the voiceless and stand in defense of the most vulnerable among us,” the lawmaker said, adding that the tragedy should serve as “a turning point” in the fight to eradicate FGM. “The loss of this innocent child must not be forgotten,” the statement concluded. “Our nation must renew its unwavering commitment to protecting every child’s right to life, safety, and dignity.”

A Direct Rebuttal to Dr. Lamin Manneh: The Right Meaning of “Militia”

By Yaya Dampha Coordinator NPP Diaspora Sweden

Dr. Manneh, before you dismiss the term “militia” as a dangerous fabrication, it is important to ground this discussion in facts, law, and the plain meaning of words. The term “militia” is not a vague political insult — it has a clear and universally understood meaning: a group of civilians organized to act like an armed or enforcement body outside the official state security apparatus, often self-appointed to enforce laws or protect political interests.

Militias may or may not carry firearms — what defines them is that they operate outside state authority, taking law enforcement into their own hands.

The 2021 Pre-Election Reality Before the 2021 presidential election, the United Democratic Party (UDP), through its senior official Ebrima Dibba, formed and led a squad of young men and women touring the country. These groups visited communities with the stated purpose of stopping certain individuals from registering as voters — people the UDP believed were “not Gambians.”

This action was not backed by a court order. It was not sanctioned by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC). It was not conducted by the police, immigration, or any legal body mandated to determine citizenship or voter eligibility. Yet The Gambia’s electoral laws already provide: A clear process to challenge voter eligibility during registration. The establishment of a Revising Court by the IEC to adjudicate disputes over eligibility. By bypassing this legal process and physically intervening in communities to decide who should or should not be registered, these UDP youth squads acted as self-appointed enforcers of the law. That is, by definition, militia behaviour.

Why This Matters Dr. Manneh, the danger here is not in using the word “militia,” but in normalizing political groups taking over functions reserved for state institutions. Whether armed or unarmed, once a political party mobilizes its own force to enforce its own interpretation of the law, it undermines both the constitution and the electoral process. To deny this reality is to rewrite history. Gambians witnessed it. They saw groups moving from village to village in the name of “preventing fraud,” intimidating would-be registrants, and creating a climate of fear. No amount of press conferences or legal threats will erase that collective memory. Conclusion The truth is simple: If a group is organized by a political party, operates outside the law, and enforces political objectives through intimidation — it is a militia. What happened in 2021 under Ebrima Dibba’s leadership meets that definition. Refuting this with rhetoric instead of facts only deepens public mistrust. Gambia’s democracy does not need private enforcement squads, no matter which party they serve. It needs parties that trust the law, not bypass it.

Indigenous Rights and Ethical AI Key to Africa’s Sustainable Future – Dr Dampha

By JarraNews Staff Writer

Banjul, 9 August 2025 The Executive Director of the Pan-African Centre for Cultures and Languages, Dr Lang Fafa Dampha, has urged urgent action to protect Indigenous languages, cultures, and rights, calling them essential to Africa’s and the world’s sustainability. Speaking on the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, themed “Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures”, Dr Dampha described Indigenous communities as “custodians of cultures and languages that carry the keys to sustainable living.” He noted they comprise up to 500 million people globally, occupying 22% of the Earth’s land and representing most of the planet’s 7,000 languages and 5,000 cultures. He warned of growing threats, including land dispossession, economic exclusion, and the erosion of heritage. “Every time a language dies, we lose a way of seeing the world,” he said. On artificial intelligence, Dr Dampha highlighted its potential to revitalise endangered languages and connect Indigenous youth, but cautioned against risks such as misrepresentation, cultural appropriation, and environmental damage from AI infrastructure. The Centre’s strategy rests on three pillars: Cultural and linguistic rights – supporting communities to preserve and pass on their heritage. Data sovereignty and ethical innovation – ensuring control over cultural and linguistic data. Inclusive participation – involving Indigenous peoples in decisions on land, climate, technology, and development. Dr Dampha stressed that traditional knowledge can restore ecosystems, guide sustainable consumption, and strengthen social cohesion. He called for governments and partners to go beyond symbolic gestures by funding initiatives, enforcing protections, and amplifying Indigenous voices. “In defending Indigenous rights, we defend justice; in safeguarding Indigenous languages, we preserve humanity’s wisdom,” he concluded.

Editorial: Stop the Nonsense — Barrow’s Gambia is Not Jammeh’s Gambia

Some voices — many of them loud only because they can now speak without fear — are peddling the absurd notion that President Adama Barrow’s leadership is no different from Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year reign of terror. This is not just wrong; it is shameless, insulting, and a betrayal of truth. Let’s be clear: under Yahya Jammeh, The Gambia was a prison without walls. Fear was the currency of governance. Journalists were abducted, tortured, and sometimes killed. Political opponents vanished into thin air. The courts bent to the will of one man. The press was muzzled, the people silenced. Speaking your mind could cost you your freedom — or your life.

Today, under President Barrow, Gambians live in a country where no one fears expressing an opinion — not in the market, not on the radio, not on Facebook. The judiciary operates independently. Journalists publish freely. The flow of information is open and uncensored. The police are not instruments of political vengeance.

Ironically, many of those now shouting the loudest in criticism — including some in the diaspora who were silent as church mice during Jammeh’s brutality — are only able to do so because this government tolerates and protects their right to speak. They could never have dared utter a fraction of their current criticisms under Jammeh without paying a heavy personal price. The difference between the two eras is not subtle. It is night and day. Jammeh ruled with a fist of iron and the shadow of fear; Barrow presides over a climate of freedom, tolerance, and openness. Under Jammeh: fear ruled, voices were silenced, journalists jailed, opponents disappeared. Speaking your mind could cost your life. Under Barrow: freedom of speech, independent courts, free press, open criticism — even from those who hid in silence during Jammeh’s brutality. If you think they’re the same, try saying today’s criticisms back in 2005 under Jammeh… and imagine how long you’d stay free. Freedom is here. Respect it. Defend it.

Pistol, Live Rounds Seized at Amdalai Border

By JarraNews Staff Writer

Amdalai, The Gambia — Security officers at the Amdalai Border Post have intercepted a Senegalese national carrying a pistol and twelve live rounds during routine screening. The incident occurred on Tuesday, 5th August 2025, when operatives of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG), stopped 49-year-old Papa Dethialao Thiam as he travelled from Cassamance through The Gambia to Dakar, Senegal.

Following the interception, Mr. Thiam was handed over to Amdalai Border Police for further checks. During questioning, he produced a valid Senegalese firearm licence and claimed to be employed by the Senegalese Ministry of Interior. In accordance with existing security cooperation between the Gambia Police Force and the Senegalese National Police, and after consultations with Senegalese authorities, the suspect was transferred to Senegal for further investigation. Police officials have reiterated their commitment to safeguarding national borders and maintaining public safety, urging citizens to remain alert and report any suspicious activities. ---