Hyphenated identities...

Why can't we for God's sake stop designating our artistically gifted people with hyphenated identities, like: Gambian-Kouthia, Gambian-Adiouza, Gambian-Lamarana Diallo, or Gambian-whatever? To be honest, I am not xenophobic, but I hate the idea of playing second fiddle to everything and everyone from overseas. It makes it feel like we cannot be unlike anything else. I am not saying be original, because I am familiar with art, and I know originality is easier said than done, but be authentic. 

I know someone is dying to ask why I accepted to be called Gambian-Air Jordan, but that’s a different thing. Michael Jordan to the game of basketball is like Revelation 1:11 of the King James Bible. lol

On a serious note, I was told that Youssou N'Dour and co started their musical career here in The Gambia. But their band was called Étoile de Dakar not Senegalese-IFANG BONDI or the Senegalese-Super Eagles, and I don’t think that’s a show of ingratitude. They perhaps decided on that name to create their own identity, and probably because Ifang Bondi that schooled them means "create/be yourself" in Mandinka. 

So if you ask me, if our stars are doing it right, we as fans must learn to appreciate them just the way they are, and set them free from debasement, and maybe someday and very soon, stars from overseas will desire quite as much to be affiliated with ours just as we desire to be theirs.