Long journey leads to happy memories

The following article is part of INSP’s Changing the Narrative series. It has been written as the result of the new journalism training academy, established in 2025 by INSP to provide people with direct experience of homelessness and poverty the opportunity to learn about journalism and the media, and to enhance their storytelling and written abilities. The training academy has two ambitions: to challenge media and public misconceptions about homelessness; and to tackle the lack of representation and diversity in newsrooms.

My journey started on a Thursday, early morning. I got the bus at Buchanan Street station in Glasgow and the journey to get to Bristol lasted 11 hours. When I arrived, it was already late and dark, as these days it gets dark early. I received a warm welcome from friends and relatives, whom I had not seen for years. Some elders decided to have dinner, and afterwards I had a shower and did my normal prayers before going to bed. The journey was long, and I was very tired from sitting for all those hours.

Every year, the Gambian Bristol community organise a Gamou (a Muslim gathering) to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad Salalahu Alaihe Walsalam. I was fortunate enough to be one of the people who attended the occasion. The ceremony started on Friday with a Hotatabu Juma, which started right after the Fati prayers. This is where we all gathered together and pray and seek forgiveness from Allah, followed by praises of the Prophet and encouragement to follow his good deeds. This lasted for about four hours.

When we finish the gathering, we women started preparing for the big night, which was the following day. This is a day or night of celebrating, with food and drinks. Different local meals are always prepared and some of the people within the organisation do the preparation and cooking, while others do the decorating and handling of bottles.

I was on the cooking side, and I was assigned to make the snacks and do preparation for the big meal. I was making spring rolls and fish pie, enough needed to serve about 200 people for the gathering.

On Friday night, I started my snack preparation by cleaning and seasoning the chicken and cutting all the necessary ingredients into pieces. I then let it all cool down before I started wrapping it into the spring rolls. It took me a while before I finished wrapping it all, then placed it in containers and froze it all for the following night.

I went to bed late and woke up early in the morning to help with the preparation. We started by rinsing, cleaning and blending the ingredients needed for the meals. I was on the grill where they were preparing and cooking the main dishes for the night. It was busy because lots of guests were coming from all over to attend the occasion.

The main dish I was helping with is called Benachin in our local language. Others were doing the grilled chicken and lamb and other meal preparation. I took out my snacks to defrost and let them separate before I started frying them for the occasion. I then had to prepare myself and get dressed for the Gamou. I wore a very nice and elegant outfit, matching it with coordinated shoes and bag.

Reaching the Gamou hall, it was full of people, including well-known scholars from the Gambia and Senegal. The chief preacher’s name is related to my grandparents! I mentioned my name as I’m therefore also related to him. I felt very honoured and proud to be part of a family who are well recognised in the Gambia.

The whole ceremony lasted for about four hours. I met a lot of people whom I had not seen for many years. The occasion helped me to reunite with old friends and some family members. This brought back great memories of the heart, which I was so pleased to remember.

I was so proud and happy that I was given the opportunity to attend. The journey was long and hard, but it was worth it; I appreciated it. If I have the opportunity to attend again next year, I will do so.