Gambian poet and author Sulayman Jeng has announced the publication of two more books – The Unknown President and My Best Friend’s Daughter.
The Unknown President is a compelling political novel examining dictatorship, democratic change, leadership, loyalty, corruption, justice and the responsibilities of public service while My Best Friend’s Daughter tells the story of two lifelong friends, Saloum Colley and Sulayman Jarju, whose extraordinary bond is tested when an unexpected romance develops between Sulayman and Saloum’s adult daughter, Kodou.
The Unknown President
Sanku Jaiteh is an ordinary teacher and football organiser from Basse, in The Gambia’s Upper River Region, whose modest life takes an extraordinary turn when he unexpectedly becomes the presidential candidate of an opposition party struggling against a long-entrenched dictatorship.
With no political wealth, powerful connections or desire for public office, Sanku is initially dismissed as an inexperienced outsider. However, his humility, sincerity and close relationship with ordinary citizens gradually transform an unlikely candidacy into a nationwide political movement.
Against a backdrop of political repression, electoral manipulation, intimidation and a divided opposition, Sanku’s journey from obscurity to the presidency becomes a story of courage, perseverance and the determination of ordinary people to reclaim their country.
Yet his greatest challenges begin after assuming office. Confronted with corruption, institutional weaknesses, political betrayal and difficult questions of justice and accountability, Sanku discovers that governing a nation requires more than good intentions. His principles are tested as the demands of public office increasingly collide with personal relationships, family obligations and political realities.
Through Sanku Jaiteh’s remarkable journey, Sulayman Jeng explores the moral complexities of political power and the enduring struggle between personal ambition and national responsibility.
Above all, the novel raises a fundamental question: Can a leader remain faithful to his principles when confronted with the temptations and responsibilities of power?
My Best Friend’s Daughter
Having grown up together in The Gambia, studied in England and established successful businesses, Saloum Colley and Sulayman Jarju consider themselves brothers. Their friendship has endured decades of personal triumphs, family tragedies and changing circumstances.
When Kodou returns home from London, her father places her under Sulayman’s mentorship. What begins as a professional relationship gradually develops into an intimate emotional connection, despite their considerable age difference and the longstanding friendship between their families.
Their relationship provokes opposition, rumours and difficult questions about loyalty, parental authority, social expectations and the right of adults to determine their own futures. As tensions intensify, Saloum must confront the possibility of losing both his closest friend and his daughter’s confidence.
Set in contemporary The Gambia, Sulayman Jeng’s novel explores love, friendship, family honour, generational differences and the competing demands of tradition and personal freedom. Beyond its central romance, the story examines marriage, forgiveness, family reconciliation and the responsibilities that accompany difficult personal choices.
My Best Friend’s Daughter is a contemporary African novel about the complexities of human relationships and the enduring struggle to reconcile individual happiness with family and societal expectations.
