CESL TODAY

AE2 Projects

Vol. 9, No. 2, February 1996

• Cowboys of the East
  
• Guinea
  
• Guinea Music
  
• Guine-Bissau
  
• Sabah
  
• Mount Kinabalu
  
• Grameen Bank
  
• Total Solar Eclipse Over Kudat Sabah Malaysia
  
• The Wonderful World of Disneyland
  
• The Ghost
  
• Amazing Europe
  
• The Newest Country in the World

• Why Did I Come to America?
  
• What is Happening to American Education?

• Smoking
  
• Comparing American and Japanese Welfare
  
• Should Guns Be Restricted by the Government?

• My Precious Experience in CESL
  
• Relationship Between a Dolphin and Me
  
• The Terrible Trip
  
• My Boyfriend is not Here Anymore
  
• Phone and Letter
  
• Daily Lives

• The Effects of Bad Mass Media
  
• Have You Ever Seen "The Lion King" Before?
  
• TV in the U.S.A.

• Sports
  
• Fighting
  
• Taekwon-Do

• Second Annual Poetry Competition

AROUND THE WORLD

How can you see and meet "Cowboys of the East" in Asia. They live in Kota Belud about 50 miles from Kota Kinabalu, which is the capital city of Sabah in Malaysia. Kota Belud is actually one of Malaysia's most beautiful places and it's also a rich cultural district. With just a short drive from the town into its hinterland you can see Mount Kinabalu, which is the highest mountain in South East Asia ( 4,101 m).

The Bajau, one of the native groups who live in Kota Belud still practice their traditiol life style. The tourists call them "cowboys of the east" because their life style is similar to the western cowboys. The bajau are well known for their skilled horsemanship, rearing ponies, buffalo, and cattle. Most of the Bajau are farmers and hunters. In the past, they had a weapon for self protection called "Bangkakuk" (Tradition gun). Like western cowboys, they use the horse as their main transportion and they are experts in using the "Bangkakuk."

Nowadays, tourists can see the Bajau every Sunday at "tamu" which means "to meet." They ride the horse to the tamu to sell their Buffalo which they call "Kerabau."

If you like to see eastern cowboys, the best place to see them is at Kota Belud during the annual Grand Tamu Besar which is scheduled on Dec 1st of every year. On that day, the Bajaus come out with Bajau traditional dress and display their riding skills.

By Bak

Guinea is located in west Africa. It is bordered by the Republic of Senegal in the north and by Liberia and Sierra Leone in the south. In the east, it is bordered by the Ivory Cost and Mali. In the west, it is bordered by Guinea Bissau and the Atlantic Ocean. Guinea is a beautiful country. It is the west African water tower. Many great west African rivers have their source in Guinea.

The Republic of Guinea has an area of 246,000 square km and a population estimated at 7,269,000 with 28 people per square km in four administrative regions: Fouta Djallon, Guinea Maritime, Haute Guinea, and Guinea Forestiere. In Guinea There are more than 26 languages and the most important are Pular, Soussou, Maninka, Guerze, Kissi, and Toma. The official language in Guinea is French.

In Guinea, there are two principal religions, the Islamic religions, and the Christian religions. Muslims represent 97% of the population and the other 3% are Christians. The Islamic religions are an important value. Therefore, its rules are observed rigorously by the people. At prayer time, people stop working and go to accomplish their duty, especially on Friday for "Juma Prayer."

Guinea is a beautiful country. Many tourists come to Guinea each year to visit famous places. There are very nice beaches. We have some beautiful islands. The tourists can also visit "le voile de la mariee," "le chien qui fume," and so on. Guinean food is very delicious like fooyo fonnie, latthiri, dappa, djabere goba, managuelen, toori, and so on. People practice sports such as basketball, voleyball, handball, athletics, and soccer. The most important sport is soccer.

Finally, I recommend that everybody visit our beautiful Guinea, and I hope that you have a wondelful time.

By Abdoul Latif Diallo

Music is an important artistic element which acts like a cultural vehicle between people in the world. Consequently, music is dynamic and this characteristic allows it to go beyond countries and human generations. Guinea has an interesting heritage culturally, artistically and musically diverse, nationally and sub-regionally known. This success is due to the improvement in the network distribution and trade musical products. However, this music can be classified into two main groups, country music and modern music.

The first group, formed from songs and instruments in different localities, is country music. This musical variation within the country is linked to the geographical and ethnic diversity. In Lower-Guinea we have " Baga" melody which gathered popular singers with local instruments. In Meddle-Guinea we have "Fouta" melody with flutists and singers Peulhs called "Gnamakala." In Upper-Guinea we have "Manding" melody with the famous "Griots" having historic memories and relating the past through their music. The main musical instruments are the tom-tom and the "Balafond." At last, we have Forest -Guinea whose music is called southern melody. Although mosaic group ethnics, their music is similar as they use common instruments such as the "Castagnette" and particular songstyles. All these musical diversities are the base for our modern music.

The second group, modern music, is constituted by orchestras. Guinea has two kinds of orchestras, local and national orchestras. The local orchestras function in each city or town under local authorities. These orchestras usually sing only in local idioms and aid in the musical development of the locality. As for national orchestras, they function with government sponsorship and generally are kept in the capital. A national orchestra has many possibilities like making tapes, going abroad to represent the country, and so on. However, many Guineans live in foreign countries with their own orchestra yet they always help in Guinean music promotion.

Finally, I can say that Guinea has been a great musical country for a long time. Guinean music comes from different localities within the same country. There are two kinds of music which aid the promotion of music inside and outside the country. I think if these musicians are encouraged by the Government and other sponsors, they can do better.

By Paul Lama

Guine-Bissau (Country of Amilcar Cabral) is a very nice country located in west Africa. It is bound by Senegal in the north, by Guine Konacry in the south and east, and by the Atlantic Ocean in the west. It's composed of a piece of contenent and many small islands. It is about 36,645 square kilometers. The population is about one million and is divided into more than twenty ethnical groups. Each ethnical group has its own culture and language which is different from the other groups. I love Guine-Bissau's people because they are friendly and very helpful.

Since the 1580's Guine-Bissau had been occupied by Portugal. In 1956, after many centuries of colonization, a group of Guineans led by Amilcar Cabral decided to create the African Party for Independence of Guine and Cabo Verde (P.A.I.G.C.). In 1959, the war for independence started. On September 24, 1974, PAIGC proclaimed in Boe the independence of Guine-Bissau.

In 1994, after many years of government under the PAIGC's, the Guinean people voted for the first time in a democratic election.

By Bernani

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