Ramadan, Islam’s holiest month, began on June 6, and ends on July 5. Prior to its beginning, however, the president of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, and his police force announced a new ordinance that would ban all music, dancing, and drumming during the holiday. Here are 12 things to know about the new order and its implications in the Gambia.
Sources: AlJazeera.com, AfricaNews.com, IQ-Mag.net, FreeMuse.org, MusicinAfrica.net, SaharaReporters.com, TheGuardian.com, JollofNews.com, IBTimes.co.uk
When Jammeh made the announcement that his people’s destiny “was in the hands of the almighty Allah,” he assured citizens that the rights of the Christian minority would not be compromised. This includes restrictions on dress codes, among others.
Source: TheTimes.co.uk
Following Jammeh’s announcement in December, a leaked government memo said female civil servants must wear headscarves at work. After the memo was leaked, Jammeh backtracked.
Declaring the Commonwealth a relic of neo-colonialism, Jammeh pulled the Gambia out of the collection of 54 nations of mostly former British colonies without warning in October 2013. Jammeh didn’t give a reason.
In a police statement, the new ordinance announced, “As the Muslim community observes the holy month of Ramadan, the office of the Inspector General of Police informs the public that all the ceremonies and festivities involving singing, music and dancing are banned day and night.”
Source: AfricaNews.com
The police have warned those who break the new law will be subject to arrest. In their statement, they forewarned Gambian citizens to “desist from such acts, otherwise they will be eventually apprehended and face the full force of the law without compromise.”
Source: IQ-Mag.net
As of mid-June, police said nobody was arrested. They said citizens respect the ban. Meanwhile, they are asking citizens to tattle-tail on violators, and report them to the police.
Music, dancing, and drumming were declared “morally obscene” in the police statement that announced the ordinance, referring to them as activities that “Allah frowns on during the Holy Month.”
Source: IQ-Mag.net
The state-owned Daily Observer newspaper praised the government’s new order. After the announcement, an article was released said “the ban should be seen through the lens of guiding Muslims to the respectable, honorable path during a month that Allah dishes infinite blessings to the compliable faithful.”
Source: IQ-Mag.net
Unconfirmed rumors persist that police have entered churches to stop drumming and other types of music during services. Police insist Christians may worship freely. They have, however, been asked to “desist from activities that will be deliberately provocative or disturbing to the peace.”
Source: IBTimes.co.uk
Jammeh’s announcement came just as the Musicians Union of Ghana issued a statement against profane lyrics by Ghanaian artists. Nigeria banned “indecent” songs from public broadcast. Kenya made a controversial decision to ban a music video deemed “gay” by critics.
Jammeh has ruled the Gambia since seizing power in a coup in 1994, and the next presidential election is scheduled for December. Jammeh is a candidate. Previous elections have been marred by corruption and vote rigging.
Halifa Sallah, leader of the opposition People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), has started talking to other opposition leaders to unite. With a free and fair election unlikely, opposition leaders are determined to come up with a proposal to take on Jammeh in the contest.