RE: POVERTY REQUIEM - THE GAMBIA

2007-09-17T08:45:00.001-07:00

Before I begin my update to you fellows, I first want to thank sincerely Mr. Alhagi Kebbeh, the GCAP boss and representative of OxfamNovib in the Gambia for nominating me and making my trip to Amsterdam successful. Many thanks also to the OxfamNovib staff (Irheen, Heida, Kareen, Helmine) who were there day in day out to see that we all had an enjoyable stay in Amsterdam. To the big guys (Madam Silvia and Maestro Peter) words are not enough to express appreciation and to say thank you, but God knows the best and May He grant your heart desires and make your this dream of alleviating poverty from the surface of this earth a success.

Six days in Amsterdam was indeed short but you would all agree with me that we have achieve a lot. For us not to achieve the dreams of Madam Silvia and Maestro Peter would tantamount to sabotage of a world dream to come true. I guess we are all equip with words, wisdom and knowledge to start this journey, and by God's grace if we are to meet again, let it be a time to do a post mortem of the event in our different countries and I also hope all would record a success.

Having said that, I hope you guys are not disappointed in me, because I am sure some of you were expecting to read how the Gambian preparation is going on, (Irheen are you) anyway now is the time for you to know how things are. Well the past weeks have been meetings upon meetings with my Executive Committee and a kind of task force committee who are responsible for the organisation of this important event. After series of meetings, we have now finalise a program of event for the day (17th Ocober 2007) which also includes a drama in English depicting poverty and the way to eradicate it. List of invited guests and speakers have been finalise as well and amongst them is the Vice President of our Republic, Speaker of the National Assembly, Secretaries of State, the GCAP boss in the Gambia and the GCAP Co-ordinator for West Africa among other dignatories. All these important figures are expected to attend and give a speech on this important occasion. The event will be celebrated at Alliance Franco-Gambienne, situated 17 kilometres from our station. The media houses and the national TV are all invited for full coverage of the event. As at now I am only waiting for Mr. Kebbeh (the GCAP boss) who is away in Ghana to help finalise the logistic in terms of finance. (Paying for the venue and buying of refreshments among other things)

As for your area which I am sure you are eager to hear (the poverty requiem songs), we are in high gear. As you already know, my choir is just about 45 adult choristers so I have also invited another junior choir from the Serrekunda area which is about 15 kilometres from where I stationed. This choir consist of about 65 young boys and girls as choristers totalling 110 choristers which I believe is pretty good to perform the poverty requiem.

We have already started the practice and we started with Born to Suffer, it was really nice and melodious and for the first day we managed to cover up to page 8 which to me was pretty good taking into consideration that they are a practice choir, they can't read the scores so I had to do everything from explaining the concept of the Poverty Requiem to teaching them the movements so you can imagine. Would you believe it guys if I tell you that I am doing these rehearsals now without percussionist, believe me guys and is working pretty well. Maybe I will try it later with our local drums but if it didn't work, I would end up singing it just like that, to me its ok because you would then be able to hear the accords well. By the way, as explained to Peter in Amsterdam, because of the late start I am only going to do two of the songs on the 17th October and they are Born to Suffer and Hope, and for the other three I have already included them in my program for our annual concerts which is in November'07. For now the choristers are really happy and exited that they have been involve in the fight against poverty at national level, this being the first time. Thanks again to Madam Silvia, Maestro Peter and the OxfamNovib.

Poverty Requiem Mr. Moris Robert Ndow

RE: POVERTY REQUIEM - THE GAMBIA