I was born and raised in Gambia, West Africa, a predominantly Muslim population, a former British colony, and a place rich in culture. Gambia is a place where the people are warm, the Atlantic coast is constantly smiling and the laughter of children always fills the air. There, no one is sheltered from the realities of life, regardless of social status. People of all faiths live in harmony. The weather is tropical and the beaches are sandy. Gambia is where memories of My Triple Heritage are peacefully resting and available at a moment’s notice, for when I feel the need to reminisce.
In Gambia, Islam is woven into the fabric of the indigenous culture and the Western influence is the stitch that holds it together. With the mixture of Western ideas, Islam and the indigenous culture, you now have a contemporary society that is complex, sophisticated and vibrant. This mixture describes a social and historical reality, but also explains the Gambian experience. It is the blend of Islam, Western ideas and indigenous culture that constitutes My Triple Heritage.
In my little over two decades of navigating the Western waters, I’ve been asked reasonable, unreasonable and flat-out stupid questions about Gambia and Africa in general. I’ve been mistaken as the son of an African dictator, one of the children in the Save the Children Foundation videos and a refugee. I’m none of the above. Others have attempted to take me for a fool, with no success. People sometimes see Africa and Africans in certain limited, pre-conditioned ways. For most, it is unconscious.
Westerners can be accommodating, not out of courtesy, but out of sympathy. They see you as a poor soul who was unlucky enough to be an African. Most have their pre-conceived notions of what an African should look and act like, based on a Discovery Channel documentary or images of Africa they’ve seen, which are generally of war, poverty and hunger. They have already categorized you. There is a big box labeled Africa, and they expect you to fit in it. Well, not I. I’m not the next African you know or Gambian for that matter. Granted, there are dictators in some African countries that are committed to bad governance which could lead to a societal decay, but the people are strong, resilient and resourceful.
It is amazing to me that there is still a lack of understanding of Africa and Africans, even though Africa has been and is still abundantly present in Western life. Africa built the West, from the labor to the raw materials. Africa is engraved in Western popular music, and heavily influences modern art. Africa has given shape to everything we understand to be “Modern” and “Urban”. Yet, with this very sense of familiarities, some Westerners still view Africa to be as distant as the furthest galaxy. Contemporary Africa is rich in culture, diverse, vibrant and unique.
There is a romantic view about Africa among many. Some are captured by Africa and either visited or hope to visit some day, because it’s their life long dream. They are fascinated by the people and the richness of culture. Others see it as a dark place and will do everything in their power to avoid going there. As for the rest, well, they are just clueless. They think Africa is a country or a state. Their view of Africa is based on nothing but ignorance. It is informed by the latest news on TV or latest celebrity baby adoption.
The Triple Heritage I’ve been blessed with has enriched my life in ways beyond measure, and allowed me to see life from three different perspectives. I’m able to draw strength and wisdom from all three when the need arises, to maintain a good balance. My Triple Heritage has also saved me from being myopic. I feel honored and privileged to be African, and thankful for all my experiences. In my endless efforts to be green, I’ve been recycling my values and passing them on to my two girls. I don’t claim to be an intellectual, but I am not a fool either.
As we all continue to sail through the rough waters of life: respect, understanding, acceptance and appreciation are the only instruments we need. With them, no wave is too tall. We are one people, one world and there is only one God. Let’s live and learn, and learn to live.
