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“Man is the remedy of man”
Mamadou Cissokho recently published a book of some 300 pages under the title “God is not a peasant”. It is a unique contribution to the history of the farmers’ movement in Senegal as well as in West Africa in general. It tells the story of the creation and the action of ROPPA, the Network of West African Farmers and Agricultural Producers.
 The initial chapters speak of a deepening dissatisfaction and of a long quest (1974 and 1975).
“How can people tolerate living a life like this: to work, to earn a little something, to waste it and to run up a debt - over and over again?” Mamadou and his friend Mor spent endless hours pondering this question. One evening Mamadou said to his friend Mor, who was also his landlord: “We have only known each other for a short time, but you have taken me into your house and we have shared everything. You have insisted that I stay with you, because you want us to do something together about the queries you have, you and your friend Ibou. Tonight you must tell me what you expect from me.” With a slight smile Mor Gueye replied: “I have made you stay here because I want to try and achieve something that will change our lives for the better. I know there is a potential here, but Ibou and I cannot mobilise this potential alone. I had the impression that together with you we could make a start. I have faith in you and I have had it since the instant we met.” From that moment a small group was formed to pursue these ideas and prepare united action. OUR CREDO Together we must act, in order to succeed That is our name and that is our belief.
It has sprung from the facts of life that we have observed We know that at our birth
We brought nothing We were capable of nothing
We possessed nothing We knew nothing
We found our parents And parents of others
And other humans Who welcomed us, brought us up and educated us
And we know now that in order to survive We need water
Clothing and food And that we have other needs, Which cannot be met by us individually
Therefore it is our duty To bring to fruition all the good that we have inherited
And fight against all evil That could make us stray from this credo
Because Man is the remedy of man. |
 For the three men this was the starting point of a great adventure, which would lead Mamadou Cissokho to the foundation of ROPPA in 2000 and more recently to the creation of the Pan-African farmers’ and producers’ forum. (Plateforme panafricaine des paysans et des producteurs d’Afrique). All this is now the content of a book published jointly by GRAD and PRESENCE AFRICAINE. GRAD has also published a shorter version of the story in two easy-to-read booklets: 1. “PEUT-ETRE, INCH ALLAH “ (Perhaps, Inch Allah) 2. “NOUS SOMMES NOTRE REMEDE” (We are our own remedy) | 
