Some Historical Background on the Loos Islands
Although there seems to be a relative dearth of written material on the Loos Islands, there are some major nuggets of profound interest to expand upon. The significant records that do exist tell the ancient story of the islands being a favored location where pirates from England, Portugal, Spain and France found this haven close to the north-south shipping lanes from where they could pounce on unwary merchant vessels loaded with treasure. It is said that Robert Louis Stephenson's book "Treasure Island" was prompted by this fact and was based on the Loos Islands. Overlay on this the fact that rumors of hidden treasure have shrouded the Loos Islands for centuries, and that the islands are surrounded by the hulks of sunken vessels both ancient and modern. All of this was happening while the native people occupying the islands considered them sacred and the place of rites and secret ceremonies in the hills and caves of the islands.
The name "Iles de loos" derives from a Portuguese expression denoting islands of idols and fetishes. It is said that when they landed on these islands, the Portuguese discovered idols, masks and horns hidden under the huge cotton trees and in caves. Mr. Philippe Maddy, a professor and historian from the Loos Islands and Conakry writes "These islands were formerly the sacred forest of the Baga and Susu tribes living on the west coast of Guinea. These Baga and Susu used to perform their rituals and rites with sacrifices of fruit, animals and probably humans to their god (s) in the island sacred forests." The Portuguese also left remnants from their explorers that can still be found at Fotoba where engraved stones at the seaside still show inscriptions such as "Viva la constitution de 1848".
In 1818 the Loos Islands were sold to England by a treaty signed between the Baga chief of Kaporo village and Governor C. McCarthy of Sierra Leone as "a reward to expatriates from the West Indies". The islands and many coastal areas including Conakry stayed under English rule until 1904 when the French were given rights of occupation. The almost one hundred years of English occupation saw many things take place that are still part of the history and culture. The English set up garrisons on Roome Island, and at Fotoba on Tamara Island to protect their merchants and ships. The provision of the garrisons also brought a seasonal migration of Sierra Leonean fishermen to harvest ocean catches around the islands, a tradition that still exists. Then in 1855 missionaries landed from the West Indies, and the first Christian church was built in 1862, shepherded by a Barbadian Anglican priest. All these influences are still seen in the many English names carried by the islanders, and the healthy infusion of English words in the prevailing Susu language.
That the islands were part of the infamous page of slave trade history is undisputed. Remnants can be found on both Roome and Tamara islands that date back to before the British abolished slave trade in 1813. This validation and detail is part of the work of Mr. Maddy. According to him and other historians, the island of Roome was used as a locale to pack slaves into vessels bound for the Americas.
The Loos Islands were transferred to France by the United Kingdom on April 8, 1904. This transfer is documented in a fascinating copy of the Treaty Series No. 5 in the hands of Mr. Maddy. This document is titled Convention between The United Kingdom and France respecting Newfoundland, and West and Central Africa. Article VI states "The group known as the Iles de Los, and situated opposite Konakry, is ceded by His Britannic Majesty to France." The islands went through a major culture shock as under the new French masters no English was allowed to be used in schools or administration, church schools were closed, archives seized, and the prison at Fotoba was built to incarcerate dissidents. The fascinating exchange for Britain to hold Newfoundland and 'fair trade' in Central Africa, while France kept St. Pierre and Miquelon, and absorbed coastal Guinea set boundaries and effected the lives of Baga and Susus for the next hundred years.
If the local history of the indigenous people is added to the push and pull of foreigners and colonial powers, a patchwork of incredible historical complexity emerges. The tribal migrations and the developments of the Baga and Susu people, the history of the islands as sacred sites, the verbal history of priests or sacred healing sites that exist intact to this day, and the sociological roots of equanimity and village harmony provide an archive and laboratory of human cultural evolution.
REPORT BY THE LYCEUM GROUP/LE GROUPE LYCEUM
Fredericton, New Brunswick and Conakry, Guinea
Background:
After nine months of planning, in September 2003 a committee was formed to initiate the “Twinning” of Grand Manan Island in New Brunswick with the Loos Islands in Guinea, Africa. The purpose of the twinning project was to enable advantaged people in Canada to reach out and help the poverty-ridden residents of the Loos Islands and try to make a difference in their lives by extending a helping hand.
The Grand Manan/Loos Islands Twinning Program was launched with the endorsement of the Village Council of Grand Manan and the Rotary Club of Grand Manan Island. Meetings were held with the two organizations, church groups, community gatherings, associations, and interested persons. The process was accelerated by the active participation of Mr. Paul Cosulich (a former Grand Manan resident now living in British Columbia) who donated the means for he and Ken Keirstead of Fredericton and Grand Manan to travel to the Loos Islands in November of that year to assess needs and gain approval of the Loos Islanders.
Over the last two years the following Committee steered the course of the humble beginning to link the two jurisdictions and find ways and means to provide meaningful help:
· Dr. Kenneth E. Keirstead, Chairman
· Mr. Andrew Daggett
· Mr. Kirk Cheney
· Rev. Kirk Perry
· Mrs. Kaye Small
Financial contributions were channeled through the Rotary Club of Grand Manan Island and transferred directly to projects on the Loos Islands. These funds were used primarily to pay school fees for children to attend primary school. In addition, used clothing, school supplies, and hospital beds were donated.
The project soon gathered momentum as it caught the attention of interested people and donors from mainland Canada. In 2005, the unique Twinning Project was submitted to “World Challenge” sponsored by BBC to highlight and celebrate projects to help alleviate poverty in developing countries. Although not a winning project, the “Twinning” concept developed was given honorable mention.
Although numerous efforts were undertaken, the idea of a reciprocal committee in Guinea could not be implemented. This was due to a lack of Guinean infrastructure for communications, lack of adequate funding, and a lack of human resources.
In spite of this, the program advanced. Today the Loos Islanders are aware of benefactors from far-away Grand Manan and New Brunswick. Schools are filled with vibrant children jammed sometimes up to 100 in a classroom. Health and sanitation have been improved, and most importantly, a sense of hope permeates the communities there. Together we have made a difference!
Without the preliminary initiative of the Grand Manan Twinning Committee, the Village Council of Grand Manan Island, and the Rotary Club of Grand Manan Island, this novel project could not have advanced. Heartfelt thanks are extended by this “Newsletter” to each person and organization that helped to make this happen. May God bless you for this!
Over the past year, Ken Keirstead has made numerous presentations on the Loos Island Project to groups all over Atlantic Canada resulting in buy-in and expressions of interest from many of them. Many professionals and individuals have also started to volunteer their time and resources to play a role in Africa. Ken has also become a fixture on the Loos Islands. This culminated in April 2006 by his election to a new Community Development Organization (CDO) on the Loos Islands. The CDO is a locally owned initiative driven by volunteer islanders who have seen the potential and wish to be empowered in decisions affecting their future.
About Guinea and the Loos Islands:
Although rich in natural resources (bauxite, gold and diamonds), Guinea is one of the poorest countries in Africa. Inhabited by nearly ten million people, life is a constant struggle for them with incomes hovering about one dollar per day per person. There is no social safety net, most live without health care, electricity or running water. Women and children are most particularly disadvantaged. Although a resourceful and homogenous people, they are plagued by inadequate nutrition, financial inflation, and a virtual absence of employment opportunities. Ninety percent of the population are marginalized, trapped under an autocratic government presided over by General Lansana Conté, an ailing dictator. It is widely felt that signs point to moderation by the government, and progress is being made for more transparency and inclusiveness. If this happens, this largely peaceful mass of humanity and their country stand to become one of the developing gems of Africa – an African success story.
The Loos Islands are an archipelago situated about seven kilometers off the Atlantic coast of Conakry – the capital city of Guinea – itself once an island. Three of the islands, Kassa, Room, and Tamara are inhabited by about 8,000 persons (unofficial census), although the government census accounts for only about 2,000 inhabitants. The islands fall under the jurisdiction of Kaloum – a suburb of the city of Conakry – and are classified as “rural.” Few, if any, of the city services extend to the islands. There is no electricity, no human infrastructure services, no secondary schools, and crumbling health care “clinics.” The island of Tamara is the most remote. It offers a unique ecosystem – still isolated and undeveloped. Adjacent to Tamara is a small island that is internationally protected as a breeding place for a rare species of sea turtle. Pristine beaches and breathtaking vistas of promontories and coves are attractive to tourists, but tourists are scarce. Crossing to the islands is by small wooden boats that ply the dangerous tropical waters subject to sudden storms and torrential rains. Life preservers and basic safety equipment are virtually nonexistent. Kassa and Room both offer reasonable “hotels”, while a small motel has recently been built on the island of Tamara (no running water or lights).
To some, islands have a mystical quality, and the Loos Islands must be near the top of the list. They are situated adjacent to the north-south shipping lanes, and have been fabled from antiquity. Pirate ships from Portugal, Holland, France and England plied the waters and used the shelter of the islands as a haven for their nefarious acts. It is rumored that Robert Louis Stephenson’s “Treasure Island” was inspired by the Loos Islands The islands were also active during the era of slave trade with traces that remain to this day. On Tamara the old slaving station was turned into a penitentiary by the French. Two distinct cultures vied for the souls of the islanders – Christian and Muslim. At Fotoba, on the island of Tamara, a mission was opened by the Church of England (Anglican) before French occupation, and a robust membership still worships there, many with familiar English names. It is also where a Muslim holy man, the Waliou de Gomba, was incarcerated by the French insurrection, and it is said that he was tortured and executed there. His history, and that of his descendents is a fascinating part of Guinean history.
A very comprehensive website has recently been sourced that hosts excellent information on Guinea in English. http://www.winne.com/guinea2/bf04.html
About The Lyceum Group:
The Lyceum Group was founded by Dr. Kenneth E. Keirstead in 2001 as a collective of professionals with an interest in empowering Africans toward self- sufficiency and sustainability. Over the last five years The Lyceum Group has attracted about 25 “associates,” graduate and post-graduate students, volunteers, and advocates – many of them Diaspora Africans, and persons with commitment or keen interest in Africa. Because most of its work is focused in West Africa, the group is now known as Le Groupe Lyceum. It is a West Africa based organization that maintains deep roots in New Brunswick. The mission of Le Groupe Lyceum is Sustainable Human Resource Development in Africa.
“Lyceum” is a word that originates from Greek history. The Greek scholar Aristotle taught his students in the Garden of Lyceum. The focus of the original school was medicine, philosophy, and religion. Most would recognize that the French word “lycée” is derived from the same. (“school” in French). Le Groupe Lyceum focuses on health care and medicine, biological science, education at all levels, and social sciences. It is a non-partisan collective with deep roots in rural development.
A new website for Le Groupe Lyceum will be completed and active in late November, 2006 with the domain address www.grouplyceum.com. It will be segmented into four sections: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Biological Sciences, Education, and Biodiversity Conferences and Events. The Loos Island program will be featured both under CSR and Education.
A Synopsis of the Project to Date:
· In each of the last two years, 30 “Poverty Children” have been selected from the island of Tamara, and through donations to the Rotary Club of Grand Manan Island of Cdn$100 per child, they have been able to go to primary school. These gifts of $100 have come mostly from Grand Manan residents, and friends of the project on the mainland of Canada.
· Additional donations from the University of New Brunswick allowed over 500 students in the primary schools of Tamara to get help with school books and supplies.
· Used clothing has been transported as excess baggage to the Loos Islands and distributed to needy persons there.
· Hospital equipment (beds and basic instruments) were donated from Grand Manan, the University of New Brunswick, Shoppers Drug Mart, and individual donors for the clinics on Tamara. To the best of our knowledge, these were the only new supplies and medications available during that time.
· Primary students on Tamara were included in a project to pick up plastic waste, old batteries, and non-biodegradable waste on Tamara Island to help clean up the environment. Schools were involved, incorporating these values into their curriculum and coordinating the activities. Plastic garbage bags were taken from Canada for this project, and waste storage locations identified. Students were paid the equivalent of about 15 cents for every bag collected.
· Children’s books and clothing was donated by an advocate in Mont-Royal, Quebec, and shared among the children on the Loos Islands.
· Casual employment has been provided – mostly to island women – by visits of Le Groupe Lyceum staff while working on a biological research project in the village of Boom.
· Numerous meetings and visits were conducted to all three inhabited islands to expose what was being done on Tamara, and ascertain specific local needs, although most problems are endemic to each location.
· In April 2006, the first inter-village meeting was held to explore better ways and means of providing help, and making it totally inclusive of the local people. The historic day saw 20 notables and representatives work together to form an inclusive community development organization. This CDO will organize its charter in the next few months, hold quarterly meetings, and be the conduit for all aid and development programs on the island. Ken Keirstead and Le Groupe Lyceum’s Guinea manager, Ms. Fatoumata Dabo as committee members – the only non-island members.
Where do we go from here?
1. A workshop was held in June with all CDO members to develop its charter, prepare and agree on by-laws, review past projects, and set up methods to deal with future projects.
2. In June, Ken Keirstead facilitated at a major conference in Conakry dealing with biological issues surrounding shrimp production in West Africa. During the conference, about 50 scientists and professionals visited Tamara as part of the agenda. This conference was organized and held under the legal aegis of OECD in Paris (Organization for Economic Co-operative Development).
3. At least two students from UDECOM (Université pour le Developpement Communautaire) – affiliated with Le Groupe Lyceum – will spend two months on a “practicum” at the Loos Islands this mid-year to study and report on past aid and NGO (Non-Governmental Organizations) activity, and to assess social issues concerning pregnant women and the effects of AIDS.
4. “The Wee Ones” – a formidable trio of three young children from Miramichi in New Brunswick has joined Le Groupe Lyceum to raise and donate money to the project of island development. These three young girls have targeted the abatement of girl slavery and abuse as their mission. Ryley (13), Sydney (11), and Hailey (9) are busy putting together an impressive Advisory Board, speaking to groups in Canada, selling coloring books, and raising money for the cause of disadvantaged girls in Africa.
5. Port Wallis United Church in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia is considering the “adoption” of a deserted women’s sewing center at Fotoba on the island of Tamara with plans to repair the building (new roof and paint), provide furniture and equipment (sewing machines), and train women to sew uniforms and clothing for income generation. About ten years ago, this center provided employment for as many as 20 women.
6. Mrs. Edie Mullen, the Past-President of the Rotary Club of Grand Manan Island, volunteered her resources and skill to spend one month at Fotoba in October, 2006 to work at the sewing center and teach women to sew clothes for sale off-island. She lived in the isolated village during that time – in a house provided by one of the CDO members – Mrs. Juliette Toure Camara.
7. Le Groupe Lyceum co-hosted a scientific conference in October 2006 in Conakry titled The Contribution of African Botanica to Humanity. Registration was over 150, and on the final day of the conference there was an elective day trip to Tamara to view the pristine ecosystem, hike down the spine of the is ` C ,% P=B u_ NULL P=B `@ pref0 @ @