Aug 16, 2016 the modernday gambia was once part of the mali and songhai empires. His research interest is women s history and his first book gambian women. History of the gambia for more videos, click on the link below. Although this may well be one of the smallest countries in africa. This is the first fulllength account of the modern political history of the gambia, covering the period from the establishment of the british settlement of bathurst on st. Under the constitution that was ratified 1996 and went into effect in 1997, the president, who is the head of state and government, is elected by universal suffrage to a fiveyear term. A collection of electronic books in major languages of west africa. Share discover in a free daily email today s famous history and birthdays enjoy the famous daily. Dr lenrie peters dr lenrie peters was born in 1932 in banjul the gambia. However, the majority of the country s historical inhabitants are made up of eight different tribes. The first written records of the region come from arab traders in the 9th and 10th centuries. History and ethnic relations emergence of the nation. As the french extended their rule over senegal s interior, they sought control over britain s gambia river settlements but failed during negotiations to offer britain acceptable territory in compensation. Subsistence agriculture is a large part of the economy.
The population growth rate and infant mortality rate in the gambia are among the highest in western africa. Apr 29, 2011 his research interest is women s history and his first book gambian women. Facts about gambia s culture, geography, and history. The most significant book concerning the senegambia was sir john gray s history of the gambia published in 1940. Life expectancy is comparable to the regional average but lower than that of the world. Mary s island site of the modern capital, banjul on the estuary of the river gambia in 1816, to the overthrow of the elected government of president sir dawda jawara in an army coup in july 1994. The book is intended to serve as a guide to visitors and students interested in historic monuments and sites of the gambia. It has an area of 10,689 square kilometres 4,127 sq mi with a population of 1,857,181 as of the april 20 census. 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. As the british sailed down the gambia river, they fired cannonballs from their ships and claimed the land and resources that fell within cannon range. Before the arrival of the europeans in the 15th century, the nation s history was preserved in oral traditions. Gray, who was a judge on the supreme court of the gambia at the time, documents the oftenbloody colonial developments in the area and the many vicissitudes of fortune that the area had gone through since the first arrival of white people on its shores. Its coastline is washed by the atlantic ocean and the river gambia flows through the center. Historical dictionary of the gambia, fifth edition 9781442265226.
Roots alex haley s famous novel which explores the history of one of his ancestors, kunta kinte, and how slavery brought him from the gambia to america. Official web sites of gambia, links and information on gambia s art, culture, geography, history, travel and tourism, cities, the capital city, airlines, embassies, tourist boards and newspapers. Gambia s history is not quite as dark as that of neighboring african countries which underwent violent wars, but it did experience the slave trade. Gambia history, language and culture history of gambia. Apr 12, 2010 officially launched on saturday 10th april by former president of sierra leone, alhaji ahmed tejan kabbah at the kairaba beach hotel, the book, entitled kairaba chronicles the life and times of sir dawda, the then leader of the people s progressive party, the party that led the gambia to independence in 1965. Victoria aveyard cassandra clare sarah dessen john. The gambia gained its independence from the uk in 1965. The gambia is the smallest country on mainland africa, with an extent of about 330 km east to west, and less than 50 km north to south. The gambia so many questions name the first name was camera and then i could into history as time goes on because so many europeans visited the gambia fast definitions the iranians departures and the british the last year open to visit the game a they colonizer became a day in heritage gamble from the part of guys that i still sudden buildings. Gambia at various times was part of different west african kingdoms, including. On this occasion, they so successfully demolished the fortifications that at the close of the war it was found impossible to rebuild them. He can rightly be called the pioneer historian in this field of gambia past. It flows across a plateau of miocenepliocene sandstone consisting of compacted sediment composed predominantly of quartz grains formed from about 23.
Dr lenrie peters was born in 1932 in banjul the gambia. A new history book on gambian women news gambia the point. Gambia s case against myanmar at the international court of justice is historic, and not only because it may mark a turning point to protect rohingya. Gray documents the oftenbloody colonial developments in the area since the first arrival of white people on its shores. Check out our country profile, full of essential information about gambia s geography, history, government, economy, population, culture, religion and languages. If that s not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. The major reason for writing the history of the gambia was the need for a more comprehensive treatment which focused upon the modern period. In 1991, the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, although tensions flared up intermittently during the regime of yahya jammeh. Pdf historical dictionary of the gambia researchgate.
For a vessel sailing down the west coast of africa, the mouth of the senegal river offers the first. Historic sites of the gambia an official guide to the monuments and sites of the gambia. Originally published in 1940, this book contains a history of the west coast of africa from the invasion by the portuguese in 1455 until 1938. Although the book was published six months previously. Officially launched on saturday 10th april by former president of sierra leone, alhaji ahmed tejan kabbah at the kairaba beach hotel, the book, entitled kairaba chronicles the life and times of sir dawda, the then leader of the people s progressive party, the party that led the gambia to independence in 1965. Ebron of the anthropology department at stanford university states in her book performing africa. I saw no reliable references pertaining to the serers or any of the other ethnic groups other than saine s own convoluted opinions. History of gambian literary writing gambian writers.
The president appoints the vice president and cabinet members. The population is young, with about twothirds under age 30. Originally published in 1940, this book contains a history of the west coast of africa from the invasion by the portuguese in 1455 until 1938, when the area was under british control. Evidence of human habitation has been found dating back over 5,000 years in the form of pottery fragments and ancient evidence. It contains firsthand account information of some of the alleged murders, tortures, and disappearances that had taken place under the administration of gambia s iron fist dictator president yahya. Africa fiction and nonfiction, the queen s library.
A letter in the gambia s main archive, written by the thenprime minister sir dawda k jawara in march 1963 and addressed to the special committee on the country s name at the united nations, revealed that in order to distinguish gambia from a country which was. A new history book on gambian women news gambia the. Image caption deyda hydara, a critic of strict media laws, was murdered in 2004. Discover gambia sovereignty, history, culture, people and. Other books that focused upon the gambia are either modified travellers accounts or are outdated. Thus a vacuum does exist in our knowledge of the gambia. The gambia s role as a host country to refugees is a.
Besides a brief period following the napoleonic wars, when the island was temporarily occupied by a handful of soldiers as an outpost, james island stopped playing any part in the history of the gambia. Gambia at various times was part of different west african kingdoms, including the kingdoms of foni, kombo, sinesaloum, and fulladou. Right on the westernmost point of africa lies the republic of gambia. Mandinka constitute the largest ethnic group in the gambia. It provides a longer chronology, a more probing introduction, and expanded and additional entries. Further, if you are going to write such a book about other people s history and culture, please provide some reliable and verifiable sources to substantiate your claim. A political history of the gambia, 18161994 on jstor. These are the mandinka, wolof, fula, jola, sarahule, serer, aku and manjango. The book follows kinte s family through several generations.
Culture of gambia history, people, clothing, traditions. The gambia is a nation containing a myriad different peoples from all over the world. Children were long prevented from attending school due to school fees. Roots alex haleys famous novel which explores the history of one of his ancestors, kunta kinte, and how slavery brought him from the gambia to america.
Mbai s book is also a catalogue of murder mysteries, documented cases of gross human rights violations, endemic culture of corruption, and rule of law crisis in a third world country, called the gambia, whose leader yahya jammeh came to power through a military coup as an army lieutenant. The secrets of the fabled but lost african city the ladybird expert series book 25. The first written mention of gambia is in the work of hanno the carthaginian in his writings about his voyage to west africa in 470 b. Infoplease has everything you need to know about gambia. Jul 26, 2017 history of the gambia for more videos, click on the link below. The modernday gambia was once part of the mali and songhai empires.
Its history, ancient, medieval and modern together with its geographical, geological, and ethnographical conditions and a description of the birds, beasts, and fishes found therein. Gambia s forces participate in international peacekeeping missions, like the deployment in ecomog in liberia. Like its two predecessors, this edition looks at the gambia s history from precolonial times to the present. A more indepth history of the gambia at access gambia. The prime minister taking office on independence in 1965 is dawda jawara, who also becomes president of the republic from 1970.
In 1889, the gambia s boundaries were defined, and in 1894 the interior was declared a british protectorate. The portuguese were the first europeans to establish trade with the kingdom of mali and the gambia, but in 1588 they sold the trading rights to britain. This is where gambia came in with the denunciation of the existing african regimes that have brought corruption and political and social ills. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of gambia, the government 2020 information contained here. Jan 31, 2019 the book follows kinte s family through several generations. In the east, narrow valleys are separated by broad interfluves or flattish hills. Newsela the true history of the gambias bizarre origin. It contains firsthand account information of some of the alleged murders, tortures, and disappearances that had taken place under the administration of gambia s iron fist dictator president yahya jammeh. It is a former british colony, forming an enclave within senegal, a former french colony.
Brown also known for a biographical dictionary of musicians and stephen s. The gambia is one of the most densely populated countries in. Documenting historical gambian pictures for people to view and know the history of gambia. History of the gambia history of the gambia senegal and gambia rivers the gambia protectorate independence. Generally speaking, youll find your money goes a long way in the gambia with everyday items like meals, drinks and snacks being very reasonably priced. It is a country that has been largely unknown in western culture, with the exception of alex haley s book roots and subsequent tv series, which highlights gambia s historic significance in the slave trade. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. It s fair to say that the gambia enjoys an idyllic climate with temperatures regularly in the low 30s, virtually no rainfall from november to june and a cooling sea breeze. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in the colonial history of africa. A comprehensive history of gambia from prehistory through the colonial era and down to the present day second republic. It was britain who won, making gambia a british protectorate by the 1820 s. Bamanankan, jula, fula, fulfulde, kriolu, mandinka, moore, pulaar, and wolof. Banjul, city, capital, and atlantic port of the gambia, on st.
History of the jews summary from 750 bc to israelpalestine conflict duration. The area that is today the gambia was once a member of the mali and the kaabu empires. Alex haley popularized this history with the book roots, set in gambia. The gambia books share book recommendations with your. The country was once an important trading port because of the river gambia and many european powers tried to control access. Tracing alex haleys roots in the gambia g adventures. Others journalists have gone missing or have been jailed. The gambia is situated on both sides of the lower reaches of the gambia river, the nation s namesake, which flows through the centre of the gambia and empties into the atlantic ocean. Ancient stone circles, known as the wassu stone circles, are evidence of an early population. From the fifth to eighth century the area that is now the gambia was part of the empire of ghana, ruled by the serahuli. The history of the gambia is much like others in the western africa block, with portuguese landings and gold and slave trades, through to british and french squabbling, colonisation and eventual independence. Jun 11, 2015 gray, who was a judge on the supreme court of the gambia at the time, documents the oftenbloody colonial developments in the area and the many vicissitudes of fortune that the area had gone through since the first arrival of white people on its shores. Books on gambian history published in the gambia gambia dk.
Victoria aveyard cassandra clare sarah dessen john green sarah j. Other operations have been in kosovo, bosnia, eritrea, east timor, and the republic of the congo. The gambia becomes an independent member of the commonwealth in february 1965. Five years later a new constitution, approved in a referendum in april 1970, transforms the nation into a republic. While there is free and compulsory education, the lack of educational facilities and resources make implementing this difficult. Gambians in late december 2014, jammehs resolute grip on power threatened to. The experience of gambian history is wellcaptured in this edition of the historical dictionary of the gambia.
Geographically surrounded by senegal, it formed a shortlived confederation of senegambia between 1982 and 1989. Today, the impact of the bestselling book it has sold more than six million copies and earned haley a pulitzer is still felt in the gambia, and remains a major draw for people interested in exploring the tragic, but important, history of the country. Gambia history, language and culture world travel guide. Ancient stone circles on the banks of the river gambia are evidence of an early population but little is known of it. While the gambia and spain do not share historic, cultural, or trade ties, rural gambians have migrated to spain in large numbers because of its proximity and the availability of jobs in its underground economy this flow slowed following the onset of spain s late 2007 economic crisis. This book will therefore go down the annals of the country s literary history as a seminal work that stand to preserve the valuable history of three great families of senegambia she remarked. It is also one of africa s most densely populated countries. The gambia is one of africa s smallest countries and, unlike many of its west africa neighbours, has enjoyed long spells of stability since independence. Some interesting books published in the gambia on gambian history historic sites of the gambia an official guide to the monuments and sites of the gambia. In 1965, the year gambia got its independence, dr lenrie peters published his first, and gambia s first, novel, the second round. A few towns are located upriver, but most gambians live in rural villages. Chronology of key events in the history of the gambia. In the gambia, mandinka culture and history has seemed by far the most suitable.