By Mathew K Jallow The term Founding Father conjures up images of the American Revolution, and applying it to Sir Dawda K. Jawara, has always felt like a stretch to me. Yet, the realism and enigma of Sir Dawda is articulated in the pioneering spirit with which he so ably led Gambia into the age [...]
By Mathew K Jallow Even in its abomination and insidiousness, despotism under Yahya Jammeh’s ruthless regime offered glimmers of hope for change and renewal. The gloom and joylessness presented a unique break from an ugly past, but also an opportunity to rebuild a nation with the aspiration of its people. But, along the way, a [...]
By Mathew K Jallow Beyond their simple and ordinary definitions, ideas and concepts of government are intellectually profound and mentally challenging for the simple-minded to comprehend. This congenital inability to grasp the most basic theories of government and nuances of governing, belie the leadership crisis that fittingly conferred on Africa its marquee incarnation as the [...]
By Mathew K Jallow . It’s the thousand pound gorilla in the room. And it isn’t new. It’s a reality that reflects a counter-intuitive mindset exacerbated by deference to a culture of utter incompetence. Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC), is an enigma and a paradox; puzzling to its members, and its operations morbidly [...]
By Mathew K Jallow . It was a bit of a mystery that rattled residents of this quiet coastal community. The once idyllic lagoon, Bolong Fengyo, on the outskirt of Gunjur, 35 miles south of the capital city, Banjul, had turned into a river of blood. And on its banks, plant and wildlife; birds, fish, [...]
By Mathew K Jallow The unsurprising avalanche of criticisms and acrimony surrounding the Coalition’s scorecard, isn’t a departure from the norm; it is the new norm. The concept of a 100-days arbitrary deadline is remiss of reality, and ignores the social and political complexities that besmirch all illusions of substantial development achievement, in such short [...]
Thursday, February 16, 2017, 2:45pm By Shamane Mills If County Board Approves, Private Funds Would Supplement Initial 75K From Taxpayers Dane County is proposing a plan to help immigrants find legal assistance and social services. Executive Joe Parisi says his proposal is designed to help people gain citizenship in a part of the state that relies on [...]
By Mathew K Jallow There are many cities around the US, but very few have the political characteristics of the City of Madison, as a bastion of radical thinking. The city’s progressive tradition dates back decades, and as the center of government of the state of Wisconsin, Madison is still largely defined by its progressive [...]
The Wisconsin Association of Black Men will host a two-day symposium, the 6th Annual Black Men’s Initiative, at Grainger Hall on the UW-Madison campus Feb. 24 and 25. It will delve into issues facing black men with the intention of informing, educating and seeking solutions. “We really want people to walk away with a broad [...]
By Mathew K Jallow The statistics are striking, but far from shocking. For the two decades in which I have observed race relations in Wisconsin, I never ceased to be amazed by the falsity with which the state is perceived as a bastion of liberalism. To many outsiders, Wisconsin may appear progressive; a place where life for [...]
