By: Yunus S Saliu
In carrying out further research on Gambian history, the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) with the funding from the University of Hamburg (HZSK) and its Department of African Languages (ALSES), Friday July 12th, disbursed bursaries worth D190, 000.00 (one hundred and ninety thousand dalasi) to two Gambian scholars- Alieu Jallow and Sanna Saidykhan to enable them embark on a research in various topics on Gambian history. The disbursement of the bursaries took place at the NCAC office, Banjul.
The two scholars Alieu Jallow was awarded the bursary to research on ‘A venerable scholar, Cherno Baba Jallow and the expansion of the Tijaniyya Clericalism/Darra at Kerr Cherno Baba village,’ North Bank Region while Sanna Saidykhan will make research on ‘The Power of Karengak: Ecology and Society among the Jola of Foni,’ West Coast Region, The Gambia.
The bursaries are part of the ongoing support the University of Hamburg is giving to the NCAC to digitize the oral archives of the NCAC at Fajara.
The two scholars are required to use the funds to research on their topics using the Oral Archives in Fajara and field work. It is hoped that materials collected from their researches will be deposited at the Oral Archives of the NCAC.
According to the office of the National Centre for Arts and Culture, large number of applications was received for the bursaries, and all applications were carefully screened by a set up committee who made final selection of the two proposals from the two scholars, Alieu Jallow and Sanna Saidykhan as worthy of support.
The Oral Archives of the NCAC was created in the 1940s by Bakari Sidibe, and it comprises over 7000 tapes on various aspects of Gambian history and folklore.
The duo thanked National Centre for Arts and Culture and as well the University of Hamburg for the opportunity given to them to further research on Gambian history.
The University of Hamburg, since 2017 partnered with NCAC to digitize the Oral Archives to ease access to the research public and to increase preservation of the unique records which form a valuable part of Gambia’s national heritage.