By Yunus S Saliu
The Children of A Storyteller and Traditional Tools and Work in Gambia books written by N’Denian Kebba Landing Sonko was Thursday launched.
The launch of the two books took place at the National Centre for Arts and Culture, Banjul and witnessed by book lovers and school children who had come as far from Lower River Region.
The first book titled The Children of A Storyteller is a 74-page book for school children featuring sixteen folktale stories about Gambian culture while the second book, Traditional Tools and Work in Gambia is a forty pages comprise of twelve stories.
Reviewing the first book, Modou Lamin Age-Almusaf Sowe noted that the book is written under the genre of short stories, which can also be classified as historical fiction due to the author’s literary prowess in literary fiction and storytelling.
Further to that, he disclosed that the language is domestically simple for readers plus distinct settings with page per story, containing delightful mix of friendly, informative text and colorful illustrations.
The book would equip children with the requisite tools to live up to expectations, as gripping and empathetic stories in the book will draw pupils into engaging imaginatively with what life would have been like for families living during this time of traditional Gambian society, where storytelling was as lively as social media.
However, “the author, Kebba Landing Sonko, has put together a list of stories told by Gambia Majulla Sanneh commonly known as Dada who was very renowned in Pakalinding village during the olden days,” he disclosed.
The second book depicts the Gambian old diverse culture, instruments, tools, dresses and practices and it has really shown how rich and solid the Gambian culture is and has paid dividend to the country work force.
Alhasan Njie, reviewer of the second book disclosed that the book is a well researched book which the author has visited all necessary people and places to make the book a success and unique one for the readers.
“With the in-depth research and remarkable evidences compiled on the subject matter, Traditional Tools and Work in Gambia, the author has clearly illustrated that Gambian people where never a shortage of technology and source of producing goods and services they needed,” the book reviewer stated.
He affirmed that the book is a useful material for teaching and learning under indigenous industry in senior schools history syllabus.
The chief launcher of the book, Fatou Njie, Headmistress of Pakalinding Lower Basic School where the author, Kebba Landing Sonko grew up some 50 years ago expressed delights to be associated with the launching of latest works of the writer.
She said the books have sent very sensitive messages to the younger generation about the need to improve upon the country’s dying traditional practices, saying “communities like Pakalinding is long since known for Barawulo – a traditional cultural display of knives and cutlasses on the body without sustain any injuries because of the protection from the jujus.”
She thanked and expressed gratitude to all those who had contributed to the success of the works and launching of the book.
Hassoum Ceesay, Director General of NCAC also an author urged everyone to have the two books in their book shelve because they are both valuable and important.
Ebrima Jammeh, Landing Sonko among others commented on the books and the author while students of Pakalinding Lower Basic School in turns read some collective poems at the event.