Banjul, Gambia

Mar. 29, 2023

The Gambia is a country in western Africa situated on the Atlantic coast and surrounded by the neighboring country of Senegal. It occupies a long narrow strip of land that surrounds the Gambia River. The land is flat and is dominated by the river, which is navigable throughout the length of the country.

The peculiar shape and size of the country are 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. Periodic talks in the 20th century to unite The Gambia and Senegal led to the short-lived Senegambia confederation (1982–89).

The Gambia is Africa’s smallest non-island country. It is also one of Africa’s most densely populated countries. A few towns are located upriver, but most Gambians live in rural villages. The major ethnic groups are similar to those in Senegal and consist of the majority Malinke and also include Wolof, Fulani (Fulbe), Diola (Jola), and Soninke peoples. The Gambian economy is heavily dependent on peanut production and export.

The country is known for the beaches along its small Atlantic coastline and for being home to Jufureh (Juffure), the reputed ancestral village of Kunta Kinte, the main character in Alex Haley’s well-known novel Roots. The capital, Banjul (called Bathurst until 1973), is situated where the Gambia River flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

The Gambia has a wet-and-dry tropical climate characterized by an intense rainy season occurring generally between June and October and by a longer dry season. Near the coast the rainy season lasts longer, and the rainfall is heavier, diminishing eastward. At Yundum the average annual rainfall is about 50 inches and the mean monthly temperature tends to be in the upper 70s F, while at Basse Santa Su, about 270 miles inland, the comparable figures are about 40 inches and the low 80s F. The relative humidity is high but drops from December to April, when the dry northeastern wind known as the harmattan is dominant.

English is the official language, but the most frequently spoken languages are generally of the Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo family. Mandinka and Wolof constitute the main languages of the country, and other languages spoken include Pulaar (Fulbe), Serer, Diola, and Soninke. Some Muslim clerics are literate in Arabic.

The population is overwhelmingly Muslim. There are a small number of Christians—predominantly Roman Catholic—and some adherents of traditional beliefs.

Peanuts are the most valuable agricultural commodity. Land is cleared by the slash-and-burn technique, but farmers practice conservation. Most land is held in common by the villagers. There is a sharp division of labor, with men involved in planting, cultivating, and harvesting cash crops while women cultivate subsistence crops such as cassava (manioc), yams, eggplant, tomatoes, rice, and lentils. There are citrus orchards in the western area near Banjul.

Banjul, (until 1973) Bathurst, is the capital, and Atlantic port of The Gambia, on St. Mary’s Island, near the mouth of the Gambia River. It is the country’s largest city. It was founded in 1816, when the British Colonial Office ordered Captain Alexander Grant to establish a military post on the river to suppress the slave trade and to serve as a trade outlet for merchants ejected from Senegal, which had been restored to France. Grant chose Banjul Island (given up by the chief of Kombo) as the site, which he renamed St. Mary’s. He named the new settlement for Henry Bathurst, 3rd Earl Bathurst, then colonial secretary. It became the capital of the British colony and protectorate of Gambia and after 1947 was governed by a town council. With The Gambia’s independence in 1965, the town was granted city status and became the national capital. The name was changed to Banjul in 1973.

The population of Banjul is about 758,000.

Banjul is The Gambia’s commercial and transportation center. It has several peanut plants and oil mills; peanuts, peanut oil and meal, and palm kernels are exported. Tourism is of increasing importance, alleviating some of the urban unemployment problem and encouraging handicraft (wood carvings, filigree jewelry, hand-dyed cloth) industries. A regular steamer service operates to Basse Santa Su, 242 miles upstream. The Gambia’s international airport is at Yundum, 18 miles southwest.

Established around 1830 to protect British settlements from the king of Barra, Fort Louvel is attractive site to visit in Banjul. It was built after the British and Barra fought a tough war even in which Barra won the first battle. Then the British retreated and sought reinforcement from Sierra Leone. But the British thought the people of Barra would cross into Banjul and launch fresh attacks on them. So the fort was meant to serve as a defense for the British and it was named after Lieutenant Louvel, who was a commander of the British forces at the time.

Built during the British colonial era from 1913 to 1916, the Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, or simply Cathedral of Banjul, is located at the junction of Hagan and Picton streets. The Catholic church has since been an important temple and headquarters of the Diocese of Banjul. Pope John Paul II was reported to have visited the temple in 1992 while on his way through Senegal, Gambia and Guinea. Its magnificent high rise, coupled with its strategic location serves as a hotspot for visitors, who normally take pictures of the building located in the inner city.

This magnificent edifice situated at the entrance of the city of Banjul is one of the hallmarks to celebrate the military takeover in The Gambia in 1994. Built in 1996, Arch 22 is one of the tallest buildings in Banjul, measuring 118 feet tall. Towering over Independence Drive, the main entrance into capital city of Banjul, the structure has a small museum on the upper floor. On the top floor visitors can get a perfect panoramic view of the inner city of Banjul.

The Gambia National Museum is the country’s home to historical documents and displays concerning the rich cultural history of The Gambia. Situated in the heart of Banjul, it was opened in 1985, 15 years after the Friends of the National Museum Association was established. Its primary goal is the collection and preservation of artifacts, documenting the material culture of The Gambia. It also serves as a center to educate both visitors to the country and residents who may not be familiar with The Gambian history.

Situated on the mouth of The Gambia River, the Sea Port of Banjul is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Over the years, this port serves as an important hub in the sub-region, especially in offering world class cargo handling services. Created in 1972 by The Gambia Ports Authority Act, the sea port today is used for loading and offloading the cargo for container ships, tankers, and other ocean-going cargo vessels. It also provides a maritime base for the Gambian National Navy because of its ideal position at the mouth of the river.

The nation’s educational center, Banjul has the Gambia High School, two Roman Catholic secondary schools, a Muslim high school, a vocational school, and a public library. Associated with the city’s Royal Victoria Hospital are the Gambia School of Nursing, a mental hospital, a tuberculosis sanatorium, and a home for the infirm.

Almost half of the city’s population is Wolof, but the Aku (descendants of freed slaves), Malinke (Mandingo), Mauritanian, and Lebanese communities are significant minorities. Banjul has a mosque and Anglican, Catholic, and Methodist churches.

Next port: Dakar, Senegal.