Roberts, Gabriel J. (1929- )

Gabriel J. Roberts was born in 1926 in Bathurst (Banjul). He studied in Great Britain where he obtained a Masters’ Degree and a Post-graduate Diploma in Education. A renowned educationist, he rose to the position of Director of Education. From 1995 to 1997 and from 2000 to date he occupied and is still occupying very important positions among which we can cite the presidency of the Independent Electoral Commission (I.E.C.).
Gambian Drama was introduced to an Anglophone audience thanks to Gabriel J. Roberts. He was awarded a Literary Prize by the BBC for his play entitled The Trial of Busumbala which was aired for the great joy of listeners. Mr Roberts is also a poet and a novelist.

The Trial of Busumbala is a piece of drama written in 1971. We are in 1962, Maxwell Armitage, principal of Armitage School and a Member of the House of Representatives, is suing Marafan Busumbala for the theft of his radio set. The investigation will soon show that the plaintiff’s hands are far from clean. This piece of drama is a satyr also shows campus life. This is precisely what the play is all about: a principal either abusing his privilege as principal and turns on his radio very loud with no care for the welfare of the neighbouring teachers, or blindly selfish. Marafan Busumbala’s theft is justified as the court will rule out that it was done in the interest of the general public.

The Goosieganderan Myth, written in 1988 is a novel of 163 pages. The novel takes up the theme of his play A Coup is Planned written in 1971 and rewritten always as a play and entitlede The Senegambian Myth. The union between The Gambia and Senegal is transposed to two imaginary countries known as Goosie, depicting the Gambia, under the leadership of Lady Sabrina, and Gandera depicting Senegal headed by Dynamic. The two are united by the deep love they have for each other at a personal level. Politically, however, their relationship will be complicated especially with the army trying to convince Dynamic that Goosie is a small country that does not deserve to be an independent state but a part of Gandera. The army will take advantage of the amorous relationship between the two Heads of State to discreetly invade Goosie. For, according to Major General Kaba, a close ally and trusted friend of Lady Sabrina, the Ganderan army has claimed that the politicians have failed to take into account the military heads of the two countries.

Mr Roberts also published two other books whose review will soon be online!