Nigel the Imam

For those of you not familiar with the Muslim religion an, Imam is the leader of a mosque - an Islamic preacher or minister.

Over the last few days I have been supporting some of the board members of Aid for Orphans and the Disabled (AFOD) to increase the organisation's profile by visiting some of the villages where they have been supporting orphaned and disabled children. But before I went I had to dress like a cultural gentleman!

Lamin Fofanah's family kindly gave me a fantastic traditional outfit made form a brilliantly floral patterned material. It was very comfortable to wear, but I did feel I was out of doors in my pyjamas!

When some the young members of AFOD saw me they immediately said I looked like an Imam. Some of you reading this post will appreciate irony of this!

The first group of people I met were some of women leaders of a community. We sat in a circle in the shade of a mango tree - the women sitting on a range of home-made wooded benches, plastic patio furniture and dining room chairs and I was given the place of honour sitting on a very comfortable armchair brought for me especially from someone's home. No doubt that when you see the pictures, I can expect comments about King Farouk or Idi Amin. I have to admit that when I saw them I felt I should have been given a fly whisk made from an elephant's tail or suchlike!

On a serious note however, it appears that Gambian communities are far more matriarchal than I expected, with the men, very contemplative and devoted to their faith.

At another community the meeting took place at the home of the Alkolos - the local community leader, an inherited role, and the couple I met certainly reminded of many of the old councillors we know and love so much at home.

Protocol demands that notices from outside the community should be given to the to Alkolos to disseminate his people. It reminded me very much of a certain community in South Wales, were I felt I wasn't allowed onto certain wards withou asking for the permission from the local councillor first.

After the AFOD members had brought the people up to date, the Alkolos formally welcomed me and when questions were opened from the floor - the poor old boy was harrassed for not telling the others, especially the women what was going on!

The third community I visited was very different, the majority of people were very young, in the teens or early twenties, and desperately wanted help to improve quality of life. I could have sat with them for hours sharing pearls of wisdom, discussing possible solutions to community issues and ways of achieving them. It was totally brilliant!