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Discover THE GAMBIA: 10 INTERESTING FACTS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS WEST AFRICAN COUNTRY
The Gambia, officially known as The Republic of Gambia, is a country located in West Africa. The country is situated on both sides of the lower reaches of the Gambia River, which flows through the center of the country and empties itself into the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia has an area of 11,300 km². Banjul is the Gambian capital and is the country’s largest metropolitan area.
In this video, you will discover 10 interesting facts about The Gambia.
The Gambia is a strip of land 25 to 50 kilometers (15 to 30 miles) wide on either side of the Gambia River and extends almost 480 kilometers (300 miles) into the interior. It is entirely surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia is incredibly narrow measuring less than 30 miles at its widest. Although small, the country is densely populated with about 2.3 million people.
About 1300 square kilometers of Gambia’s area is covered by water. It is the smallest country on Africa’s mainland. The peculiar shape and size of this country is the result of territorial compromises made during the 19th Century by Great Britain, which controlled the lower Gambia River and France, which ruled the neighboring colony of Senegal.
The Gambia’s capital city is Banjul. Gambia’s economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and tourism. The country is heavily dependent on foreign aid. Its main natural resources are fish, clay, titanium, silica sand, zircon and tin. Its main exports are peanuts, fish, cashew nuts, vegetables, sesame and mangoes. The Gambian Dalasi is the official currency of the Gambia.
So, where did the name ‘Gambia’ come from? One belief is that the name is based on the translation of the Portuguese word ‘Cambio’ meaning trade or exchange which is a common activity along the river. Gambia is also derived from the Mandinka term ‘Kambra or Kambaa’ meaning Gambia River or from the Sacred Serer Gamba-a special type of calabash beaten when a Serer elder dies. What is however definite is that the country was named after the River Gambia. It is the main geographical feature in a country where there are no significant mountains or lakes.
For a long time the official name of the country was ‘Gambia’. A letter found in the country’s main archive, written by Prime Minister Sir Dawda K Jawara in 1963, March and addressed to the Special Committee reveals a directive on the country’s name at the United Nations. It stated that in order to distinguish Gambia from a country which was becoming newly independent called Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), the definite article ‘the’ needed to be added to its name. That development was also expected to help because for many years mail bound for Gambia was mistakenly sent to Zambia. Since then, ‘The Gambia’ became embraced officially.
In December 2015, the then president Yahya Jammeh declared the Gambia to be an Islamic Republic. Jammeh said that the move was designed to distance the country from its colonial past, no dress code was going to be imposed though and citizens of other faiths would be allowed to practice freely.
The Gambia is one of the safest and friendliest places to visit and explore. The tourism sector is an important aspect of Gambia’s economy and it creates the most number of job opportunities for the country’s youth. The Gambia prides itself on its natural landscape, ethnic diversity, amazing local cuisine and religious tolerance. Its riverside villages, hotels, spas and amazing wonders all attract visitors. The Gambia also boasts of historical buildings, archeological sites and monuments some of which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage.
Aside from its welcoming people, the nickname-The Smiling Coast was also inspired by the country’s location on the map of Africa. The Gambia cuts through the middle of Senegal and its position appears like that of a smile on the map, greeting those who make their way up River Gambia.
The Gambia is characterized by a rich linguistic tapestry reflecting its cultural diversity. English serves as the official language, inherited from its colonial history under British rule. However, it's not the most widely spoken language among the Gambian people.
The majority of the population communicates in indigenous languages, the most prominent being Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Jola, and Serer. Mandinka is the most prevalent, spoken by a significant portion of the population, particularly in the central and western regions. Wolof is widely used in urban areas, while Fula is spoken predominantly by the Fula ethnic group. Jola and Serer are native to the southern region.
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Published Nov 3, 2023
