Dear Reader (s),
Apologies for not replying to your messages and e-mails on time. I am not very social media- friendly, and mostly use emails as my means of communications. Also, I am not Whatsapp- friendly and not on Messenger. I have today finished my (devoir du 1er semestre).
Strangely, ever since I started teaching English in college and high school and learning French, it takes me ten times as long to do every other task.
God has done me well. 2018 has been tough for me. Yes it has, I experienced the worst pain ever. My worst fear happened. It is well. I still give God thanks. Thank you my wonderful reader (s) like you, lovers, my family and friends for your support always. Nearly two years ago, when injuries and an imbalanced and unjust persecution threatened to end my career, I remember thinking - “I either coach myself, or I fail God and people with my gift of the pen.” I believed that if I could recapture my best, I could get back to where I belonged.
Luckily for me, before I was sent to exile by Ex- Gambian president, Yahya AJJ Jammeh, for my film entitled; Babili-Mansa--which shows amongst others how Jammeh captured power in a bloody coup in 1994; I did something positive in life that is paying me now.
Before I left The Gambia in 2016, on June 24-26, 2014, I participated in a Writer's Workshop organised by the African Studies Association of the UK ( ASAUK), in collaborations with the King's College and The University of The Gambia ( UTG) at the Brikama Digital Campus, The Gambia; which was funded by the British Academy. The purpose of the workshop was to provide mentoring to emerging West African scholars who were about to complete their doctorate/PhD to develop their work further with a view to publication.
I was in high school by then- and was actually the youngest at the Workshop. I felt very lucky to work with the scholars and editors from the USA and the UK, only to have my work later accepted for publication in USA in 2016. While in a painful exile and had suffered pain, inhuman threats, indignity, frustrations, trauma, lost of love ones, a breakup with my fiancée, and when my enemies thought I failed; my courage and determination, coupled with my God-given talent, granted me the good news about my book being published in USA in March 2016.
Given the lack of educational infrastructure and opportunities attendant to early studies in The Gambia, I am an accomplished writer TODAY. I was very impressed both with my work which I had submitted – a play entitled ( The Throne of the Ghost) , and also – equally as importantly in terms of my future educational attainment – with the way in which I responded to the constructive criticism which was given to me by my editors and editors of Africa. Following our meeting at Brikama with the editors of Africa; I went away to work on my text, which was subsequently accepted for publication by Malthouse Publishers in Lagos, Nigeria – one of the more prestigious and serious publishers in West Africa, which I think is testament to my literary skills, ambition, and capacity for intellectual work.
In terms of my undergraduate education, knowing my poor family background and where I actually come from, this commitment follows clearly from my existing training I had received from ECOWAS, a certificate in collective management of copyright and intellectual property, and a post-secondary certificate in librarianship from The Gambia National Library Service Authority (GNLSA). I have also already worked as a teacher-librarian and playwright in The Gambia, but it is clear that for me really to develop and excel intellectually and professionally (as I am capable of doing), I require further study possibilities. As the oldest of eight children from one of the world’s poorer countries, moreover, I certainly meet any criterion for financial need where to apply for a scholarship.
My own background as a young scholar in West African studies makes me quite courageous to survive anywhere in the world. Having worked with the major intellectual and academic institutions in The Gambia, I am well aware of both the need and opportunities available for training there. In order to grow and develop its full potential as a postcolonial nation, The Gambia needs dedicated, trained, and ambitious intellectuals who have the potential to become the builders of our nation. I am an original writer, and I have absolutely no doubt that I would make the very best of every opportunity I have in life.
In sum, my experience for overcoming my worst of moments in life, both in The Gambia, and subsequently on my work as it went to publication, is that I am a talented writer, a hard worker, and someone with serious intellectual potential. I am a very determined young man with ambition and purpose, and I hope very much that reader (s) like you have always considered me very carefully.
I dare to dream about success even in the absence of helpers. Is ALL ABOUT my life, like WHAT I've been through to get here: I had to make with all I've been through. This is my life I can't pretend to, I'll never let gossip and misfortunate ruin what I can do. I got many doubters and pretenders-
but I already made it this far, I can't lose. My struggle is something I really went through.
Things I encountered in life were meant to be. As long as I’ve served God from my wisdom, served my country and helped my family, I’ve worked to help others see our common humanity & find common ground. That’s the same approach I’ll take to representing our great country, The Gambia anywhere I live in this world.To get to the Moon, Mars and beyond: we’re going to need a bigger boat. Sometimes, to get to where you supposed to be- you must encounter challenges such as mine. It's my worst time of the year because December 2016 and 2017 had been my years of sorrow. I still thank God for some absolutely awesome people who have helped me out alot and I appreciate you all more than you will ever know.
I’m grateful for every single painful experience that I’ve had in my life. They’ve all led to this very moment of me being so in love with who I am & everything that I embody. Loving the good experiences is easy, but loving the negative ones takes strength & for that I’m a force.
I can't remember what day it is half the time, but I can remember the last time I ever spoke to my love ones before they died. It was 3 years ago this week. Sometimes, I want to go back in time to when common sense was fairly common. Sometimes, I feel like being silent in a world that is talkative, but sometimes, I just look back and be thankful to God.
Over the festive period, please could everyone grab a complimentary copy of my critically acclaimed book available for a limited time only. Search for The Throne of The Ghost by Modou Lamin Age-Almusaf Sowe (ISBN9789789497133) to snag your complimentary copies.
Kindly click on the link below to watch a positive version of the trailer video of my film that sent me to exile:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SozU9B93Czc
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Kindly visit my mobile-friendly author website on this link :
http://www.modoulaminagealmusafsowe. doodlekit.com/home
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