It is a sad reality that tribalism is still prevalent in our society in the present day; this is something that cannot be disputed. Many people in the Gambia continue to suffer the scars and wounds that are caused by tribalism, which is a reality in the country. This evening, Mr. Edi Jallow made a statement on AG Radio in which he said that we should learn from the Manding empire, which was in existence from 1226 to 1670 and was ruled by Sundiata Keita from 1214 until 1255. The way that this empire was constructed makes it impossible for tribalism to exist within its borders.
For the purpose of resolving the issue, it is imperative that our children be taught in nursery school that they are Gambians before they are taught about our tribes. On the other hand, there are a number of political pundits who argue that the issue is not tribalism but rather nepotism, while some argue that poverty is the main contributory factor. If the country’s great resources are distributed in a fair manner, then tribalism will ultimately be eliminated. Whatever the circumstances may be, our politicians may be able to aid by creating legislation that outlaws tribalism and requires that we interact honestly with one another in order to alleviate the dread of tribalism that many of us suffer.
