Thanks for your input, Ngadi.  I stand corrected that Dr. Easmon retired.
 
A classic example however, as to how inter-generational cooperation could have been very useful whereby his VISION would have continued on even after his retirement.  And by a S/Leonean most likely, which is mainly the issue here.
 
But whilst at it, do you know anything about Dr. Easmon's work around Bunce Island and why the project "retired" with him?
 
Regards,
 
Amadu Massally

 
On 4/3/07, Ngadi Kponou <ngadi.kponou@yale.edu> wrote:

Dr. Easmon didn't just stop; he retired.  Big difference.

2.       It will take some 10- to 20-odd years for any S/Leonean today to get up to speed on this subject that Opala has dedicated much of his adult life to and why re-invent the wheel this late in the game?   S/Leoneans should have seen the gem in Bunce Island years ago (or if they did should have acted upon it…   done the work, in other words) – like Dr. Easmon, a SL, did to some extent; but stopped!

At 01:28 PM 3/31/2007, you wrote:

Greetings Foday:  I have embedded comments (in blue) within the body of your email below.  You did not think you were going to get off easy, I hope (smile).

 

Respect!

On 3/29/07, Foday Morris <fodaym@gmail.com > wrote:

Hello Amadu,

You salient ideas are well noted as regards to our self-help project of our slavery related historical sites in Salone.  The link you posted along with your response was also helpful as I have never been to Bunce Island .  I have asked our brother Obai to help with the digital pictures and I remain positive he will follow through shortly. 

When we receive the pictures, we would get a better understanding of what needs to be done in addition to physical visiting the site.  Please note that we would ask for help from the National Association of Black Engineers, Anthroplogists and Archaeologist here in the US,  SL and others of African descent to provide volunteer their advice and expertise.   Surfice it to say we will  look for help any and everywhere..

While "we will look for help…" it is important to note that world-renowned Anthropologists/Archaeologists, Joe Opala and Chris Decorse (who chairs the department of Anthropology at Syracuse (Maxwell) University) went with a team to survey the preservation possibilities in May of 2006.   They are non-blacks!  You will be happy to know though that I have been urging our own Melbourne Garber to continue their dialogue (that we created last year at our event in DC) with Joe Opala and he can tell you that Opala is very interested in working with him.   In fact Opala gladly told me the other day that he heard from Melbourne recently...  Melbourne Garber is black (LOL).

These should made sacred.  We would  prefer BLACK engineers and other experts to help.  Nothing against our White brothers and sisters especially the good man Joe Opala etc; we just want make this a PURE African project, so we may atone with our departed brothers and sisters whom we allowed to be taken away into slavery, murdered, abused, tortured and up till today racially discriminated against. We would prefer NO White person participate in the actual work as we don't want to agitate the ghosts still residing in that place

Hmm, interesting!  It is a thought, but I am not sure it makes sense at this point and I will quickly point out why I don't think so.

1.       I am not sure there is a relatively more knowledgeable person on Bunce Island than Joe Opala – a working Encyclopedia on the subject matter.  Had it not been for all the work this guy has done for decades, you and I will probably not be having this Bunce Island exchange right now… probably not! Stay tuned for his book coming out soon on Bunce Island.

2.       It will take some 10- to 20-odd years for any S/Leonean today to get up to speed on this subject that Opala has dedicated much of his adult life to and why re-invent the wheel this late in the game?   S/Leoneans should have seen the gem in Bunce Island years ago (or if they did should have acted upon it…   done the work, in other words) – like Dr. Easmon, a SL, did to some extent; but stopped!

3.       I do not subscribe too much to the BLACK thing to our detriment.   In spite of the fact I am familiar with the theory of Melanin and Diop's writings on the subject, and therefore a proud African... that does not preclude me from working with genuine people – be they white, pink, gold, or even FRITAMBOs.   For me if it makes sense to work with others if they have S/Leone's best interest at heart.  That is my yardstick... I have done so in the past and will continue to do so - within reason.  Especially when I know there are WHITES out there who have S/L's best interest today than even some S/Leoneans.  Yes?

However, if this is your preferred route then do not let me stop you, but I hope that I have made myself clear re: who and what I will work with and some of the reasoning behind my thoughts.  

Amadu,  I believe strongly that this is a spiritual calling, out ancestors are calling us to tell the world their story.  I have never felt so passionate or serious about anything in my life.  I pray that the govt of Salone, the City council etc would give us the green light to do the work.  With Obai's help and everyones support  we would get this done so we may reduce the ancestral curse and bad luck on our beloved nation .

I also believe this is a Divine calling because I just stumbled into this thing with a force that I cannot explain myself.   But it happened on a beach on Hilton Head Island , from where I saw SL on the other side – a mirage over the Atlantic!  The rest has been (or will be) history.  I think if you really believe that the spirits are calling you Foday, then you have definitely arrived at least with this type of work.  It has to come form the heart and soul!

Join us again this November for Heritage Days on St. Helena Island.  Akindele Decker will soon inform you on this!

Stay tuned and keep the ideas flowing as always...

The best of regards to you bro..

Foday...

PS:  I stumbled into this King Jimmy video on  Google's Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sThCLJGpqOU

 

On 3/29/07, Foday Morris <fodaym@gmail.com > wrote:

Hello Amadu,

You salient ideas are well noted as regards to our self-help project of our slavery related historical sites in Salone.  The link you posted along with your response was also helpful as I have never been to Bunce Island.  I have asked our brother Obai to help with the digital pictures and I remain positive he will follow through shortly. 

When we receive the pictures, we would get a better understanding of what needs to be done in addition to physical visiting the site.  Please note that we would ask for help from the National Association of Black Engineers, Anthroplogists and Archaeologist here in the US,  SL and others of African descent to provide volunteer their advice and expertise.   Surfice it to say we will  look for help any and everywhere..

These should made sacred.  We would  prefer BLACK engineers and other experts to help.  Nothing against our White brothers and sisters especially the good man Joe Opala etc; we just want make this a PURE African project, so we may atone with our departed brothers and sisters whom we allowed to be taken away into slavery, murdered, abused, tortured and up till today racially discriminated against. We would prefer NO White person participate in the actual work as we don't want to agitate the ghosts still residing in that place

Amadu,  I believe strongly that this is a spiritual calling, out ancestors are calling us to tell the world their story.  I have never felt so passionate or serious about anything in my life.  I pray that the govt of Salone, the City council etc would give us the green light to do the work.  With Obai's help and everyones support  we would get this done so we may reduce the ancestral curse and bad luck on our beloved nation .

Stay tuned and keep the ideas flowing as always...

The best of regards to you bro..

Foday...

PS:  I stumbled into this King Jimmy video on  Google's Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sThCLJGpqOU

On 3/28/07, Amadu Massally <amadu.massally@gmail.com > wrote:

Morris Foday Ceesay the Sierra Leone-Gullah Heritage Association welcomes your energy (as has been displayed in your numerous postings and comments on slave-related stories lately) into our cause of connecting Sierra Leone to its even wider Diaspora that includes African-Americans, Caribbeans, West Indians, etc. 

 

Bunce Island is the only such place in the world today and it is important that S/Leoneans support the preservation of this unique and mystical castle and its surrounding buildings.  It is important because there is no such other place like it in the world.  It is also important that we preserve (not re-build) this historic site otherwise we would lose its uniqueness and competitive advantage.  What I mean by this is that other islands being visited as tourist sites today (Goree in Senegal and Elcamina in Ghana, e.g.) were rebuilt.  Bunce Island has been left largely untouched and this fact lends itself to a greater selling point and attraction than the others that have been rebuilt - think about it!

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/07/africa_bunce_island/html/1.stm

Regards,

Amadu Massally

--

"There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not."

~ Robert F. Kennedy

--

"There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not."

~ Robert F. Kennedy

--
"There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not."

~ Robert F. Kennedy