Banjul is the capital of the Gambia and the second largest city in the Republic of the Gambia with a population of about 40,000 people, but with surrounding areas the population can reach more than 300,000. The city is in an island called as it is allocated at the mouth of the River Gambia in the Atlantic Ocean. The erosion factors reduced its size significantly. Banjul was known as Bathos during the period of European colonialism. The British renamed it Saint Mary. In 1973, the name of the city was changed to Banjul. The island connects to land to in the west and the rest of Banjul through bridges. There are also ships connecting Banjul to other cities beyond the river.

British colonialism discovered the city of Banjul in 1816 and took it as a strategic trading site and a base for the suppression and trafficking of slaves.

The city of Banjul has a relatively moderate and warm temperature throughout the year. It is mostly wet and tropical dry weather starting from September to June while the remains half in the remaining four months in the year.

However, during these four months the city witnesses heavy rains. The month of August is more predictable heavy rains than the rest of the months with a density of 500 mm. The temperature is fairly stable in the dry season, fairly cool to the arrival of the wet season.

Geographic Information:

Google Maps

https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Gambia

The Gambia is a small country whose name derives from the River Gambia, the month that runs from west to east over about 300 miles.

The country Bordered with the Republic of Senegal from all sides, except from the western side that remains on the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1965, and a short union between the Gambia and Senegal was called "Senegambia" between 1982 and 1989. In 1991, the two countries signed a treaty of cooperation and friendship between them after the failure of the two countries to continue the Union.

The Republic of the Gambia is one of the smallest countries on the African continent, with an area of 11,300 square kilometers.

The country’s beautiful beaches makes it a tourist destination in the region and has world-class nature reserves that have the best birds on the continent. It is not surprising that the Gambia is very popular for the winter tourism. Groups of visiting tourists come from Europe to find the Scenic scenery in the west.

There are cruises for tourists along the Gambia River to see chimpanzees or hippopotamus and you can visit James Island and follow the history of the slave trade in the Gambia.

The Gambia is one of the Islamic countries where Muslims constitute more than 90% of the total population. Islam entered the country in the fourteenth century AD, because the Arab merchants and Berbers who came from Northwest Africa through the Sahara to market their goods were originally Muslims. They were able to spread the Islamic religion among the Gambians.

Economy and Investment:

The Gambia's economy depends mostly on the cultivation and exportation of peanuts, in the form of grain, oil or feed for livestock. Forestry and fisheries are among the most important sub-sectors that provide employment opportunities for the majority of the population.

There is also a small-scale activity in the field of manufacturing, which includes the processing of peanuts, fish and leather, as well as other activities such as tourism and oil extraction.

Recent years have witnessed investments in the field of poultry. Among the manufacturing goods that contribute to economic activity include shoes, cement, metal and plastic products.

Main exports: peanuts and its products, fish, cotton yarns and palm oil.

Main imports: foodstuffs, commodities, raw materials, machinery.

The Gambia has huge investment opportunities in agriculture, tourism, fishing, air and sea transport.

The Gambian Community:

The Gambia is a Muslim country that Islam entered since the time of Caliph Omar ibn al-Khattab - may Allah be pleased with him- through the Arab traders who were active in North Africa.

The population of the country is about one million seven hundred thousand people according to the results of the census in 2014. Muslims make up about 95% of the population of the country.

The Gambia has major six ethnic groups: the Mandinka, the Fula, the Wolof, the Jola, the Saranhuli and the Serer. Most of them are Muslim tribes and are mainly engaged in agriculture. Along with the indigenous, there are Arab communities from Mauritania and Lebanon that are active in trade. The Gambia State recognizes religious tolerance, which is not the case in many places.

The Islamic education in the Gambia was in the traditional form where students sit in a circle and in the center is the teacher who writes the lesson on the wood boards. This system began to change with the introduction of Arab schools throughout the country that have been established by the graduates from the Arabic Islamic universities.

The Gambian society is a conservative where citizens believe in their customs, traditions and Islamic heritage. The father has a hierarchical role in running family affairs and is respected by all members of the family.

 

 

Culture and Heritage:

The Gambian people are characterized by traditional music and dance, and each tribe has its own characteristics and traditions. Since the Gambia is one of the smallest countries on the African continent, its culture is the result of many different influences. Its borders are drawn around a narrow strip on the banks of the River Gambia, a river that has played a major role in the history and destiny of the country.  It is known locally as the "river" and without natural boundaries. The Gambia has become home to most of the West African ethnic groups, especially those who have descended from Senegal.

The Europeans played a central role in the history of the Gambia due to the availability of the river suitable for navigation to the heart of Africa, which made the region one of the most profitable sites in the slave trade between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries. It was also a strategic area to prevent the slave trade after it was abolished in the 19th century. The history of the Gambia spread throughout the world through the roots novel by American author Alex Haley which was later used as television series.

People and Politics:

The Republic of the Gambia is characterized as a peaceful, tolerant, and open society.

More than 90% embrace Islam, and the overwhelming majority of them follow the Sunni faith and adopt the Maliki doctrine in jurisprudence, transactions, contracts, etc. The Gambia, until the coup d'état in 1994, was one of the oldest multi-party democracies in Africa. People’s Progressive Party headed by former President Dawda Jawara was at the helm of the Gambian politics for about 30 years.

After the leadership of the movement towards total independence from Britain, the People's Progressive Party was elected to power, and there was no real rival party against it, until its last election held in April 1992.

Throughout this period, the people have not been inclined towards politics or passion for politics, but by their tolerance and love for peace and security. Therefore, all political processes, including presidential and parliamentary elections, had taken place in an atmosphere of brotherhood.