Books:
Ethnic Groups of the Senegambia
Region:
This book deals with deals with the major ethnic groups
of the Senegambia Region namely:- The Mandinka, Wolof,
Fula, Jola , Serahuli, Tukulor and Serere. The book
tackles the issues of origins, migration, settlements,
state formation, intra and inter state relationships.
It also addresses the European subjugation of these
peoples.
Development of Local Industries
in the Senegambia Region: From the Pre-Colonial
to the Present Colonial Period
European presence and trade in the Senegambia Region
commenced in the 1440s. The British and the French eventually
colonised the entire region and this in turned led to
economic domination. They brought in their manufactured
goods. As a result, the local manufacturing industry
experienced serious declines in their fortunes. Today
products such as salt, leather, pottery and soap are
no longer produced locally as before and are available
only in small quantities.
The author has painstakingly researched, and written
this book, which deals with the technology (how the
products were made), historical, social, economic and
cultural importance of the commodities to the people
of the Senegambia Region. Thus she not only explains
how products such as soap, salt, cloth were produced
but also their use and importance to the people of the
region.
Leaders of the Senegambia Region:
Reactions to European Infiltration
19th - 20th Century
This book deals with the background to European presence
in the Senegambia Region. It also examines European
activities during the era of the partitioning of the
region and how the rulers such as Musa Molloh, Foday
Kabba Dumbuya, and Lat Jor Jobe, resisted them. Colonial
rule and its problems are also examined. Students, scholars
and researchers will find the book helpful in understanding
the policies and politics of the region in the 19 th
and 20th centuries.
Trade in the Senegambia Region:
From the 12th to the Early 20th Century
This book deals with the local and trans-continental
trading activities in the Senegambia Region. In this
exposition, Patience Sonko-Godwin depicts trade as an
agent of change and transposition of cultures from one
state to another and from one continent to another.
She delves into aspects of the Trans-Atlantic Slave
Trade during which time millions of people from the
Senegambia Region (Senegal, The Gambia and the environs)
were forcefully transported to Europe, the Americas,
and the Caribbean. Although they were subjected to dehumanising
treatment in captivity, they maintained much of their
cultures and traditions while adopting new ones.
Social and Political Structures
in the Pre-Colonial Period:
Patience Sonko-Godwin discusses the social and political
structures of the major ethnic groups in the Senegambia
Region and attempts to present a synthetic approach
to the study of their organisations in the pre-colonial
period.
Biography:
Patience Sonko-Godwin
is a renowned Gambian writer who has produced much work
in the history, culture and traditions of the people
of the Senegambia Region. She received her first degree
in history and English at Fourah Bay College, the University
of Sierra Leone, West Africa and her master’s degree
at the University of California, Santa Barbara, California,
U S A. She taught history and English at St Helena Secondary
School, Freetown, Sierra Leone, and returned to her
native Gambia to teach mainly history at Nusrat Senior
Secondary School in Bundung and later at Hermann Gmeiner
Senior Secondary School, Bakoteh, both at the Greater
Banjul area. She taught for fourteen years in Nusrat
Senior Secondary School where she rose to the position
of Acting Vice-Principal.
Sonko-Godwin later joined the National Council for Arts
and Culture as the Principal Cultural Officer of the
Research and Documentation Division. She retired from
this position and is now fully engaged in research and
writing on the history of the Senegambia Region. She
also delivers lectures to students, scholars, and various
social groups at home and abroad. A resource person
of high calibre, she treats issues of history, education,
culture, tradition and religion with great expertise,
in various seminars and workshops at home. Her consultancy
work includes ‘Poverty Alleviation Programme’ Phase
I, funded by TANGO 1992, ‘Feasibility Study on the Slave
Route’ project in The Gambia, funded by UNESCO (1999)
, ‘Trade Gateway Project for The Gambia’, funded by
the World Bank and carried out by ECOLAS, a consultancy
company in Belgium.(1999), Islam Ak Jamano (2003), an
exhibition on Islam in The Gambia, funded by, the National
Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM) and National Centre for
Arts and Culture (NCAC) and the 'Environment Impact
Assessment- Sub projects Construction/Reconstruction
of Roads and Drains in the Kanifing Municipality and
the City of Banjul', (2004).
She is a member of international organisations such
as Mande Studies Association and Soroptimist International
of Banjul (SIB), which was chartered in 1987 by the
Soroptimist of Great Britain and Ireland. She is also
the Vice President of the Gambia Library Information
Service Association (GAMLISA) and a board member of
the Gambia Women's Finance Association (GAWFA). In recognition
of her help to the youth in her community she was given
the ‘Woman in the Community’ award in 1996, by Soroptimist
International of Banjul. This was even before she became
a member in 1998.
She was a founder member of the Independent Newspaper
which was established in 1999, but ceased to be part
on this establishment only after four months owing to
desire to concentrate on her research and writing. She
has accumulated a wealth of information on the history,
culture and tradition of the people of the Senegambia
Region.
Sonko-Godwin continues to help the youths in her community.
She also continues her research in and outside The Gambia
and to produce works on the history, culture and traditions
of the peoples of the Senegambia Region. Her books have
the uniqueness of having the combined history of the
Republics of Senegal, The Gambia and to a lesser extent
of some other states in West Africa, for example, Guinea-Bissau,
Mali and Sierra Leone and Europe, as they impinged on
the historical developments of the Senegambia Region.
As of today, Sunrise Publishers has successfully produced
five books but plans to include works of other Gambian
authors who find it difficult to publish their works
Sunrise Publishers was founded on 17 July, 1987 to help
meet the demand for books on the history, culture and
traditions of the peoples of the Senegambia Region because
Mrs Patience Sonko-Godwin, the author of the books,
found it very difficult to publish her books in The
Gambia. This was because there were no publishing houses
in the country. The creation of this company was timely
as others have also taken up the publication of works
of Gambian and non Gambian authors.
|
