Land and People

The Gambia, in West Africa, is one of the smallest countries in the World. Enclosed on the north, east, and south by Senegal, it extends 300 km inland from the Atlantic Ocean on both sides of the Gambia River, its main natural resource (see top picture). Most of its 1.5 million people live in urban areas and small rural villages: 90 percent are Muslims, of Wolof and Mandinka ethnic origin.

History

The region had an iron-working culture by the 8th century AD, perhaps centred near the Sacred Stone Circle at Kuntaua. Later peoples paid tribute to the Mali Empire. Portuguese colonisation began 1455 and was supplanted in the 17th century by the English and French. The area became a British protectorate in 1894, but the The Gambia became independent in 1965, and Gambians voted to form a republic in 1970. In 1994 Captain Yayeh Jammeh led a military coup and declared himself president. In 1996 Jammeh was victorious in a controversial presidential election: he is still the leader of the the Republic of The Gambia, as well as the chief of the African Commision of Human Rights which has its headquarters in Banjul.

The spirit of the Gambian Republic is well expressed in the words of former leader D.K. Jawara (February, 1977)

"THE BANJUL DECLARATION"

"It is a sobering reflection that in a relatively short period of our history most of our larger wildlife species have disappeared together with much of the original forest cover. The survival of the wildlife still remaining with us and the setting aside of protected natural habitats for them is the concern of all of us. It would be tragic if this priceless natural heritage, the product of millions of years of evolution, should be further endangered or lost for want of proper concern. This concern is a duty we owe to ourselves, to our great African heritage and to the world. Thus I solemnly declare that my Government pledges its untiring efforts to conserve for now and posterity as wide a spectrum as possible of our remaining fauna and flora."