Updated
May 15, 2005
The "Smiling Coast of Africa" The Gambia is a combination of many peoples and tribes - living in harmony - A model for the World
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Sir D K Jawara, from a 1Dalasi Bank Note
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The Gambia has been inhabited for thousands of years. Hanno from Carthage first described the river in 480BC, The Romans were also known to explore the region and in a map by Ptolemy the river Gambia's course into the interior is quite accurately shown.
Its tribal history is a fascinating flux of migrating people who eventually formed the Ghana Empire, which gave way as Islam spread throughout the region. Islam became a link between the otherwise Tribal territories of the Mandingoes, Wollofs and Fulas.
Inter Tribal raiding and slave trading with the Arab world existed before the mass exploitation of slavery by the Europeans. During the slave trade period about 10 million slaves were bought or captured from the West African area and shipped abroad.
The Portuguese, who introduced groundnut cultivation in The Gambia were fought by the French and British for control of the slave trade and later the British fought them both to stop the trade. In 1826 Fort Bullen, was built on the Northern bank of the Gambia river opposite the British post of Bathhurst now Banjul to control the entrance of the river estuary, and until 1965 Gambia was run as a crown colony by the British.
In 1965 Gambia was granted independence and in 1970 adopted a republican constitution under the leadership of Sir Dawda Jawara, who was elected President. An unsuccessful coup attempt in 1981 was followed by a successful and peaceful military coup in 1994 when the leadership was taken by Yayah Jemma an army Captain. He was elected Head of State in 1996.
The West disapproved and applied a campaign to stop tourism in an attempt to economically cripple the country. The reduction in tourist numbers caused terrible hardship to the population, but the new government has not only survived but with the aid from other Islamic countries has embarked on an ambitious programme of rebuilding the infra structure of the countries roads, schools and hospitals. (I think it is time we ceased this policy and once again supported this former commonwealth colony - politics politics!!)
Free elections are due again in 2001** but, whatever happens the nature of the ordinary Gambian people is so happy and peaceful that internal disruption seems unthinkable. That said the political forces inside and outside the country will be jostling for power as the elections approach. Much as they are in the UK as the general election looms large next year.
There are critics of this site, who feel that the site is politically superficial, let those who are interested in the politics of power look elsewhere, this site is for people wanting to visit The Gambia and for those ordinary Gambians whose main concerns are the ordinary economics of life, providing for themselves and their families - not the luxuries of politics.
