Info Gambia English

A wide variety of ethnic groups live in The Gambia with a minimum of intertribal friction, each preserving its own language and traditions. The Mandinka tribe is the largest, followed by the Fula, Wolof, Jola, and Serahule. The approximately 3,500 non-African residents include Europeans and families of Lebanese origin (roughly 0.23% of the total population).

Muslims constitute more than 90% of the population. Christians of different denominations account for most of the remainder. Gambians officially observe the holidays of both religions.

More than 63% of Gambians live in rural villages (1993 census), although more and more young people come to the capital in search of work and education. Provisional figures from the 2003 census show that the gap between the urban and rural populations is narrowing as more areas are declared urban. While urban migration, development projects, and modernization are bringing more Gambians into contact with Western habits and values, the traditional emphasis on the extended family, as well as indigenous forms of dress and celebration, remain integral parts of everyday life.

"Lawyers are reluctant to take on human rights cases for fear of reprisals and families of victims are afraid to speak out," a recent Amnesty report said. "The media, for the most part, censors itself in the face of arrests, fines, threats and physical attacks on those accused of criticising the government. All public protests have ceased.

Before the 1994 coup d'état, The Gambia was one of the oldest existing multi-party democracies in Africa. It had conducted freely contested elections every five years since independence. The People's Progressive Party (PPP), headed by former president Jawara, had dominated Gambian politics for nearly 30 years. After spearheading the movement toward complete independence from Britain, the PPP was voted into power and was never seriously challenged by any opposition party. The last elections under the PPP regime were held in April 1992.

Following the coup in July 1994, politicians from deposed President Jawara's People's Progressive Party (PPP) and other senior government officials were banned from participating in politics until July 2001. A presidential election took place in September 1996, in which retired Col. Yahya Jammeh won 56% of the vote. The legislative elections held in January 1997 were dominated by the APRC, which captured 33 out of 45 seats.

In July 2001, the ban on Jawara-era political parties and politicians was lifted. Four registered opposition parties participated in the October 18, 2001, presidential election, which the incumbent, President Yahya Jammeh, won with almost 53% of the votes. The APRC maintained its strong majority in the National Assembly in legislative elections held in January 2002, particularly after the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) boycotted the legislative elections.

Jammeh won the 2006 election handily after the opposition coalition, the National Alliance for Democracy and Development, splintered earlier in the year. The voting was generally regarded as free and fair, though events from the run-up raised criticism from some. A journalist from the state television station assigned to the chief opposition candidate, Ousainou Darboe, was arrested. Additionally, Jammeh said, "I will develop the areas that vote for me, but if you don't vote for me, don't expect anything".

On the 21 and 22 March 2006, amid tensions preceding the 2006 presidential elections, an alleged planned military coup was uncovered. President Yahya Jammeh was forced to return from a trip to Mauritania, many suspected army officials were arrested, and prominent army officials, including the army chief of staff, fled the country.

There are claims circulating that this whole event was fabricated by the President incumbent for his own purposes; however, the veracity of these claims is not known, as no corroborating evidence has yet been brought forward.

The 1970 constitution, which divided the government into independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches, was suspended after the 1994 military coup. As part of the transition process, the AFPRC established the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) through decree in March 1995. In accordance with the timetable for the transition to a democratically elected government, the commission drafted a new constitution for The Gambia, which was approved by referendum in August 1996. The constitution provides for a strong presidential government, a unicameral legislature, an independent judiciary, and the protection of human rights.

 40% (about 3.2 million people) of Senegal's population speak Wolof as their mother tongue. Another 40% have it as a second language. In the region between Dakar and Saint-Louis, and also to the west and southwest of Kaolack, the majority of the population speak Wolof. In Casamance and west of Senegal, Wolof is used together with the diol and Mandinga. The official language of Senegal is French. 

In The Gambia about 15% of the population (about 200'000 people) has the Wolof mother tongue, but this language has a much greater influence on his importance to the capital, Banjul, on 50% of the population used as their first language. In Serrekunda, the largest city of Gambia, there are only a few people from Wolof ethnic group, but the language is spoken by about 90% of the population. Increasingly, young people of another ethnicity is used as a first language. 

The Wolof is gaining greater influence in The Gambia, in part because of its association with Mbalax music and popular culture of Senegal. In Banjul and Serrekunda, Wolof has achieved the status of lingua franca and is spoken more than the Mandinga, in the provinces, however, remains the Mandinga language. The official language of Gambia is English. Other languages, such as Mandinga (spoken by 40% of the population), the Wolof (15%) and Fula (15%) also have official status, although not used in education. 

In Mauritania, about 7% (approximately 185'000 persons) of the population speak Wolof. In this country, the language used in the southern coastal regions. The official language of Mauritania, Arabic, French is used as a lingua franca. 

The alphabet is Wolof recent, being invented in 1960 by Faye Asano, president of the Movement of African Language teachers. It has strong influences from Arabic, as the alphabet was used, together with the roman before Faye Asano. Taken from the Arabic writing direction (from right) and two of the 25 characters of the Wolof, and no initial start.

 The Gambian people are known for their excellent music and their dancing. Although Gambia is the smallest country in the continent of Africa, its culture is the product of many influences. The outline of national borders, a narrow strip on either side of the river Gambia, a body of water that has played a vital part in the destiny of the nation and is known locally simply as "The River". No natural barriers, The Gambia has become the home of most ethnic groups that are present throughout West Africa, particularly Senegal. The Europeans also a preeminent place in the history of the nation, because the River Gambia is navigable depth on the continent, a geographical feature that has made this area one of the most profitable trade in slaves from the 15th to 17th centuries. (He also strategic to the arrest of the trade once it was banned in the 19th century.) Part of the story was popularized in the book Alex Haley and television series "Roots," which was in Gambia. Although much of Haley's representation of the past have been discredited in some sectors, the government of Gambia has embraced the opportunity to serve as a cultural center of the African Diaspora and others who seek to better understand the rich heritage of African people.

Article 25 of the Constitution protects the rights of citizens to practice any religion that they choose. The government also did not establish a state religion. Islam is the predominant religion, practiced by approximately 90 percent of the country's population. The majority of the Muslims present in the Gambia adhere to Sunni laws and traditions. Virtually all commercial life in the Gambia comes to a standstill in major Muslim holidays, including Eid al-Atha and Eid ul-Fitr. Most Muslims in the Gambia follow the Maliki school of jurisprudence.

The Christian community represents about 8 percent of the population. Residing in the western and the southern parts of the Gambia, most of the Christian community identify themselves as Roman Catholic. However, there are smaller Christian groups present, such as Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses and small evangelical denominations. Due to immigration from South Asia, there is a presence of Buddhists and followers of the Baha'i Faith. The remaining 2 percent of the population adheres to indigenous beliefs. There are some atheists present in the Gambia.

Gambia is formed by a narrow strip of land 330 km long and an average width of 35 to 40 km which forms an enclave within Senegal. Low and swampy west and slightly undulating to the east, across the country is part of the lower basin of the River Gambia, which runs from east to west. The climate is warm with high temperatures all year (average of 22 º C in January and July of 27 º C) and low thermal oscillation (2-3 º C). Rainfall is abundant on the coast (more than 1200mm per year) and decreases inland. Gambia is a republic in West Africa, completely surrounded by Senegal in the west than in the estuary of the River Gambia touches the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Banjul.

Gambia is a small and narrow (less 48 km long) with the border based on the River Gambia. This border was defined in 1889 under an agreement between the UK and France. It is almost an enclave within Senegal, and is the smallest country of continental Africa.



The former British colony, declared independence on February 18, 1965 as a monarchy within the Commonwealth. This was a republic in 1970 and between 1982 and 1989 formed a confederation with Senegal, which was called Senegambia. Administratively, the territory is organized into 5 divisions and one city, Banjul. Njaba Kunda village is situated on the North Bank Division.