Cherished Memories of Africa — Page 281
263 I was also told to go to Conakary because I could speeak Fulani and French. Moreover, I had Gambian nationality that entitled me to travel to African countries without visa. According to the programme we were to meet in Conakary and Ameer of Sierra Leone was supposed to organise everything in Guinea Conakary. I set out from the Gambia and arrived at Conakary airport. I came out of the airport and looked around but did not see any familiar face. Anyway I took my luggage and stood aside hoping to see someone who would kindly take me somewhere to stay. I waited for quite a while without any luck. It was a small airport and planes landed there occasionally. Besides me there were a few workers and some taxi drivers. I enquired if there was any hotel nearby. I learnt that a seminar of foreign ministers of Islamic countries all over the world was being held in Conakry those days and many hotels had been booked for them. Moreover, an international trade fair was also going in Conakry for which the traders, industrialists and associated personnel had occupied the remaining hotels. Therefore, finding hotal accommodation was almost impossible. One taxi driver told me that he knew of an hotel where a room might be available. I reached that hotel with him. It was a mediocre hotel but the charges were more than good hotels because of the prevailing situation. I thought that I would have a cup of tea first and then assess the situation before making any decision. I placed the order for tea and while I waited for it, for some reason I opend my bag and saw a small diary in it. In the diary I found telephone number of