ONYMA Elect New President Hon. Famod Konneh, New York City
ONYMA Members Celebrating the Moment

On Sunday November 1, 2009 the members of the Organization of New York Mandingo Association (ONYMA), in an emergency session elected new set of leaders to steer the affairs of the association until general election is held. The members unanimously voted Famod Konneh, as the President of association and Laye Sirleaf as Vice President respectively. Other officials elected were, Mohammed Jabateh as General Secretary, Ahmed Kenneh as Treasurer and Losine Jabateh as Financial secretary. At the sport level, Mollesallah Dolley and Tourle Morle were elected as the Coach and the Assistant coach of ONYMA’s soccer team respectively. An interim board was also constituted to help manage the affairs of the association until general election is held.

On his part, Mr. Famod Konneh thanked the members for the unanimous vote of confidence reposed in him by the members. He promised to work assiduously to keep the spirit alive and the mission fulfilled. He cautioned the members to be constantly reminded about the historical reality that led to the establishment of ONYMA. He warned members to be wary of detractors under the disguised as members, who primary motive is to divide the community and keep it in the state of chaos. He accentuated the need for peace and unity amongst the members, that peace and unity is fundamental to the existence of this young institution. In ONYMA, he said “We hope to encourage a healthy dialogue that will stimulate, excite, nourish, and fulfill our people and transform our community. We will encourage divergence of views that are critical of our views or that might seem irrational to us”. This is the principle on which ONYMA hopes to build and sustain a vibrant community on.

Brief history of ONYMA

The Organization of New York Mandingo (ONYMA), formerly known as the New York Soccer team was established in December 2007 in New York by some progressive youth. The primary goal of ONYMA is to promote unity amongst the Liberian Mandingo Community of New York and to network with other local organizations through peace and social development. The youth, realizing the division that has plagued the Liberian Mandingo Community in New York, decided to take on a new course in reuniting the community. Political division and power greed had torn the community apart and held its members hostage. In response to this situation, some progressive youth of New York established a renewed vision for peace through sports and social development, which ultimately led to the formation of ONYMA.

Since its establishment in 2007, ONYMA has undertaken many important social, economic and educational projects for its community. The association has consistently organized events in an attempt to unite the community and restore a sense of pride and joy to its people. It has experienced tremendous growth and support through its membership commitments, community participation and peacemaking initiatives. In June of 2009, ONYMA in collaboration with New York State Assembly woman Vanessa Gibson of district 77 of the Bronx Co-sponsored an Immigration Fraud Forum conducted for the largely Mandingoes immigrant speaking community in the Bronx.

The program was part of New York State Attorney General Cuomo’s statewide Immigrant awareness initiatives and ONYMA ways of empowering its community through education and social development. It can also be recalled that in August of this year, ONYMA hosted an elaborate beach party, with over 200 people in attendance. Guests and visitors within the United States and beyond graced the occasion, which by all accounts has been considered by many as a ‘memorable event’. ONYMA has been seen by many as a beacon of hope for the Mandingo community in New York. The success of these two events for many is a manifestation of that belief, and ONYMA hopes to preserve it by uniting all Mandingo of New York under one broad based principle.