Elsa Samateh was 14 in 2001 he lives in Faji Kunda on the outskirts of Serrekunda, he lives next door to May Rooney. May has unofficially adopted Red, Red has adopted May. Red is Elsa Samateh, his relatives live in Salikene on the north bank of the Gambia river.

Red is a mixture of very young and very wise, the wisdom that comes from looking and thinking without the responsibilities of having to be responsible. Red tells the stories, May writes them down.

'Taalingo' means spider, tale or story in Mandinka. A Griot is a historian, a musician, a story teller.

Red is a small Griot, a big dramatist, an innocent, a showman and entertainer, these are just a few of his stories, some are just small observations, others stories with a moral, read for yourselves . . . .

What story shall I tell you next ?

Let me knock my brain
What do you want me to write
Natural stories or negative
My mind is full of stories
Then learn also mix with it
Half learn, half stories

- . - . - . - . - . - . -

'When I dance - I just like day dreaming'

Natural stories are things that have actually happened
Negative are just made up stories.
'Learn' are things other people have told Red, mixing with his own unique ideas.

If you enjoy these stories please make a donation through GTS to Elsa, all the money will be used for his education and towards getting his stories published.

Monkeydancing title created by May
and stories written down by May Rooney
© Elsa Samatah 2001