Persecuted Colonial Gambia Chiefs

Year 2024, , 277 - 297, 30.09.2024

Akpojevbe Omasanjuwa

https://doi.org/10.30622/tarr.1497116

Abstract

Through qualitative analysis, the paper examines the soured relationship between Gambian chiefs and their colonial masters against the backdrop of the legal implications of the disciplinary actions the latter meted out to the former. The article commenced with the theme, before addressing the legal concept of due process, which ensures fairness in the dispensation of justice. By disregarding normal standard legal procedures, the provisions of Magna Carter, and legal precedence, the colonial administrators inflicted draconian punishments on chiefs who dared think outside the box. From archival materials, colonial correspondences, and learned journal publications, the paper advanced explanations for the highhandedness of the colonialists, which degenerated into residency restrictions imposed on the chiefs. The absence of separation of administrative powers, caused by an acute shortage of European personnel, resulted in a situation whereby colonial rule in The Gambia amounted to a situation through which rule of man took precedence over the rule of law. The compelling approach resulting from the lack of collaboration among the chiefs and the colonial administrators fomented discord. The case laws cited in the paper indicate that colonialism in The Gambia remained a case of the strong exerting control over the weak, who had no option but to put up with the inevitable consequences of colonial rule. From different learned sources, instances of banishments in history and how the ancient practice was applied to The Gambia received attention with the aim of elucidating how the colonial administrators adopted legal standards which compromised fair play. With primary materials derived from The Gambia National Archive, instances of chiefs who were at loggerheads with the European colonialists was addressed hence, the objective of the paper is to ascertain the causes and nature of the soured relationship. The findings revealed why the local administrators grappled with situations that were at variance with the normal state of affairs in England. This partly account for the seemingly unorthodox tactics adopted while looking into a number of issues. Consequently, the activities of overseas colonial administrators were glossed over by the colonial office and British parliament as Gambians were perceived to be a people in need of civilization. Therefore, replicating the conditions in England in a frontier territory as The Gambıa will be tantamount to an exercise in futility, as they felt that they should be on higher rungs of the civilization ladder before they could comprehend European conditions. Why the situations obtaining in England are not applied hook line and sinker in the frontier territory was demonstrated. The chequered relationships from the perspectives of both parties was analysed leading to the concluding remarks emphasizing the overbearing approach of the colonialists caused by the lack of cooperation resulted in a bone of contention. This caused the standard of justice to depended on the equality of power to compel; and the strong did what they had the power to do while the weak accepted what was inevitable.

Keywords

Colonialism, The Gambia, Banishment, Due Process, Colonial Rule, Residency Restriction Policy

Project Number

None

Zulüm Gören Gambiya Sömürge Şefleri

Abstract

Nitel analiz yoluyla, Gambiyalı şefler ile sömürgeci efendileri arasındaki bozulmuş ilişkiyi, ikincisinin birincisine uyguladığı disiplin cezalarının yasal sonuçları zemininde inceledi. Makale, adaletin dağıtılmasında adaleti sağlayan yasal süreç kavramını ele almadan önce konuyla başlamıştır. Sömürge yöneticileri, normal standart yasal prosedürleri, Magna Carta hükümlerini ve yasal emsalleri göz ardı ederek, kalıpların dışında düşünmeye cesaret eden şeflere acımasız cezalar verdiler. Bu makale, arşiv materyalleri, sömürge yazışmaları ve bilimsel dergi yayınlarından yola çıkarak, sömürgecilerin, şeflere uygulanan ikamet kısıtlamalarına dönüşen zorbalıklarına dair açıklamalar geliştirmiştir. Avrupalı personel eksikliğinden kaynaklanan idari güçler ayrılığının yokluğu, Gambiya'daki sömürge yönetiminin hukukun üstünlüğünden ziyade insan üstünlüğünün ön planda olduğu bir duruma dönüşmesine neden olmuştur. Şefler ve sömürge idarecileri arasındaki işbirliği eksikliğinden kaynaklanan zorlayıcı yaklaşım anlaşmazlıkları körüklemiştir. Çalışmada atıfta bulunulan içtihatlar, Gambiya'daki sömürgeciliğin, sömürge yönetiminin kaçınılmaz sonuçlarına katlanmaktan başka seçeneği olmayan zayıflar üzerinde güçlülerin kontrol uyguladığı bir vaka olarak kaldığını göstermektedir. Çeşitli kaynaklardan elde edilen bilgiler ışığında, tarihteki sürgün örnekleri ve bu eski uygulamanın Gambiya'ya nasıl uygulandığı, sömürge yöneticilerinin adil oyundan ödün veren yasal standartları nasıl benimsediklerini aydınlatmak amacıyla ele alınmıştır. Gambiya Ulusal Arşivi'nden elde edilen birincil materyallerle, Avrupalı sömürgecilerle anlaşmazlığa düşen şeflerin durumları ele alınmış, böylece bozulan ilişkilerin nedenleri ve doğası tespit edilmiştir. Bulgular, yerel yöneticilerin neden İngiltere'deki normal durumla çelişen durumlarla boğuştuğunu ortaya koymuştur. Bu durum, bir dizi meseleyi ele alırken benimsenen alışılmışın dışındaki taktikleri kısmen açıklamaktadır. Sonuç olarak, Gambiyalılar medeniyete muhtaç bir halk olarak algılandığından, denizaşırı sömürge yöneticilerinin faaliyetleri sömürge ofisi ve İngiliz parlamentosu tarafından görmezden gelinmiştir. Dolayısıyla İngiltere'deki koşulları Gambiya gibi bir sınır bölgesinde taklit etmek boşuna bir çaba olacaktı çünkü Avrupa koşullarını anlayabilmeleri için medeniyet merdiveninin daha üst basamaklarında olmaları gerektiğini düşünüyorlardı. Sömürgecilerin zorba yaklaşımı, nihayetinde sömürge tebaasının işbirliği eksikliğini daha da şiddetlendirerek anlaşmazlığa yol açtı.

Keywords

Sömürgecilik, Gambiya, Sürgün, Yasal Süreç, Sömürge Yönetimi, İkamet Kısıtlama Politikası.

Supporting Institution

None

Project Number

None

Thanks

Dear Editor, This article was initially submitted to a journal for publication but later withdrawn as I encountered problems of communication with the handlers due to my inability to understand their writings in English Language. I write to certify that it is not under consideration elsewhere. The article's original title is Residency Restriction on Colonial Gambia Chiefs. (2) I could not locate the copyright form. Kindly send it to me.

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