I am Gambian

Poem by Dr. Sulayman Njie 

I am Gambian

I come from the Kambi Bolong, the smiling coast

I am Pa Small, the clarion call

I am Sandeng, the rallying cry

I am Louis Thomasi, I am the Red, White, Blue, Green

I am Gambian

I am “Ya Boye”, I birthed, toiled, nurtured this land

I grew the “barra mano” and fed the land

I am the oyster-farmer of Saro

I am Mrs. N’Dow, the educator

I am Sanneh-Bojang, the trailblazer

I am Nabaneh, the bearer of the torch

I am Gambian

I am Lenrie, the teller of stories

I am Landing Kintehba, the singer of hosannas

I am Sonia, I waltz the Kora

I am OBoy and Gambian Child, I am hip

I am Gambian

I am the palm-wine tapper of Kunkujang Mariama

I am Kembujeh, the Soninke-Marabout wars

I am the Sankandi Skirmish

I am Burufut Sanimentereng and Tujereng Fantatintin, I beckon the dead and summon the living

I am the rock at Hella Kunda

I am buried at the ruins of Wassu and Tripolitania

I am Gambian

I am Aku,

I am Bambara,

I am Fula,

I am Jola,

I am Karoninka,

I am Mandinka,

I am Manjago,

I am Mankagne,

I am Serahule,

I am Serer,

I am Wolof,

I am the descendent of Lebanese, Moroccans, Mauritanians

From many lands I come,

I am Gambian

Sulayman Njie

Dallas, Texas

3.19.21

Inspired by Judith Durham and the Seekers.