{"id":838,"date":"2018-03-30T11:04:41","date_gmt":"2018-03-30T11:04:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/payton.payo-themes.com\/?page_id=838"},"modified":"2023-02-18T11:04:44","modified_gmt":"2023-02-18T11:04:44","slug":"about-the-gambia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/thegambianhonoraryconsulzurich.ch\/?page_id=838","title":{"rendered":"About The Gambia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Gambia<\/strong> is a small West African country, bounded by Senegal, with a narrow Atlantic coastline. It’s known for its diverse ecosystems<\/strong> around the central Gambia River.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>

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The Gambia<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>

A Brief Summary<\/h3>\t\t\t

The Gambia<\/strong>,\u00a0country<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0western Africa<\/a>\u00a0situated on the\u00a0Atlantic<\/a>\u00a0coast and surrounded by the neighbouring country of\u00a0Senegal<\/a>. It occupies a long narrow strip of land that surrounds the\u00a0Gambia River<\/a>. The land is flat and is dominated by the river, which is navigable throughout the length of the country.<\/p>\n

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The\u00a0peculiar<\/a>\u00a0shape and size of the country are the result of territorial compromises made during the 19th century by\u00a0Great Britain<\/a>, which controlled the lower Gambia River, and\u00a0France<\/a>, which ruled the neighbouring colony of Senegal. Periodic talks in the 20th century to unite The Gambia and Senegal led to the short-lived\u00a0Senegambia<\/a>\u00a0confederation (1982\u201389).<\/p>\n

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The Gambia is Africa\u2019s smallest nonisland country. It is also one of Africa\u2019s 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\u00a0Malinke<\/a>\u00a0and also include\u00a0Wolof<\/a>,\u00a0Fulani<\/a>\u00a0(Fulbe), Diola (Jola), and\u00a0Soninke<\/a>\u00a0peoples. The Gambian economy is heavily dependent on peanut (groundnut) production and export.<\/p>\n

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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\u00a0Alex Haley<\/a>\u2019s well-known novel\u00a0Roots<\/em>. The capital,\u00a0<\/span>Banjul<\/a>\u00a0(called Bathurst until 1973), is situated where the Gambia River flows into the\u00a0Atlantic Ocean<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>

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Brochure of The Gambia ( 36 pages)<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Flag of the Gambia<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Coat of Arms of the Gambia<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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The Gambia National Anthem<\/a><\/h3>\n
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Land<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>
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The Gambia is a strip of land 15 to 30 miles (25 to 50 km) wide on either side of the\u00a0Gambia River<\/a>\u00a0and extends almost 300 miles (480 km) into the interior; except for a short coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, it is entirely surrounded by\u00a0Senegal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Relief and drainage<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>Gambia River<\/a>\u00a0is the country\u2019s dominant feature. It flows across a\u00a0plateau<\/a> of Miocene-Pliocene sandstone consisting of compacted sediment composed predominantly of quartz grains formed from about 23.7 to 1.6 million years ago. In the east, narrow valleys are separated by broad interfluves or flattish hills. In the west, lower and smaller sand hills alternate with depressions filled in with sand to form a flat plain.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Soils and climate<\/h2>\n

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\u00a0Yundum<\/a>\u00a0the average annual rainfall is about 50 inches (1,300 mm), and the mean monthly temperature tends to be in the upper 70s F (mid-20s C), while at\u00a0Basse Santa Su<\/a>, about 270 miles (435 km) inland, the\u00a0comparable<\/a>\u00a0figures are about 40 inches (1,000 mm) and the low 80s F (upper 20s C). The\u00a0relative humidity<\/a>\u00a0is high but drops from December to April, when the dry northeastern wind known as the harmattan is dominant.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Plant and animal life<\/h2>\n

The vegetation cover of The Gambia is savanna on the uplands, various kinds of inland swamp in the low-lying areas, and mangrove swamp along the brackish lower Gambia River. Few wild animals are native to the region, and those that survive are under pressure from the human and domestic animal populations. In the middle and upper river areas there are warthogs, monkeys, baboons, antelope, pygmy hippopotamuses, and crocodiles. In addition, more than 500 species of birds live throughout the country. Birds and wildlife can be found in Bijilo Forest Park, along the Atlantic coast, the Abuko Nature Reserve, just upriver from Banjul, Kiang West National Park, farther inland, and River Gambia National Park (also known as Baboon Island National Park), near\u00a0Kuntaur<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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People<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>
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Ethnic groups<\/h2>\n

The river basin was a focal point for migrating groups of people escaping the turmoil of western Sudanic wars dating from the 12th century. The\u00a0<\/span>Diola<\/a>\u00a0(Jola) are the people longest resident in the country; they are now located mostly in western Gambia. The largest group is the\u00a0<\/span>Malinke<\/a>,\u00a0comprising<\/a>\u00a0about one-third of the population. The\u00a0<\/span>Wolof<\/a>, who are the dominant group in Senegal, also predominate in Banjul. The\u00a0<\/span>Fulani<\/a>\u00a0settled the extreme upriver areas, and their kingdom, Fuladu, became a major power in the late 19th century. The\u00a0<\/span>Soninke<\/a>, an admixture of Malinke and Fulani, are also concentrated in the upriver areas.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Languages<\/h2>\n

English<\/a>\u00a0is the official language, but the most frequently spoken languages are generally of the\u00a0Atlantic<\/a>\u00a0branch of the\u00a0Niger-Congo<\/a>\u00a0family.\u00a0<\/span>Mandinka<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Wolof<\/a>\u00a0constitute<\/a>\u00a0the lingua francas of the country, and other languages spoken include Pulaar (Fulbe),\u00a0Serer<\/a>, Diola, and Soninke. Some Muslim clerics are literate in Arabic.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Religion<\/h2>\n

The population is overwhelmingly Muslim. There are a small number of Christians\u2014predominantly Roman Catholic\u2014and some adherents of traditional beliefs.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Settlement patterns<\/h2>\n

Human settlement in The Gambia extends across both banks of the river and is found in three regions: the swamps\u00a0adjacent<\/a>\u00a0to the river, the riverine flats, known as\u00a0<\/span>banto faros<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(from a Mande word meaning \u201cbeyond the swamp\u201d), and the sandstone uplands. Most rural settlement is concentrated on the uplands, which have the best-drained soils. A number of settlements are located in the\u00a0banto faros<\/em> on the middle course of the river, where there is less danger of flooding than in the swamps. Many villages are built on the boundary between the uplands and the riverine flats.<\/p>\n

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About three-fifths of the population lives in urban areas. The major urban concentration is around\u00a0<\/span>Banjul<\/a>, the capital, and several large urban centres have developed in the\u00a0vicinity<\/a>. Urban dwellers retain close ties to their rural relatives, and there is considerable interaction between rural and urban populations. Migration to urban areas has remained steady since the 1970s.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Demographic trends<\/h1>\n

The population growth rate and\u00a0infant mortality rate<\/a>\u00a0in The Gambia are among the highest in\u00a0western Africa<\/a>. The population is young, with about two-thirds under age 30. Life expectancy is comparable to the regional average but lower than that of the world. Over the years, conflict in other western African countries led to an influx of refugees into The Gambia, most notably those fleeing from fighting in\u00a0Senegal\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0Casamance<\/a>\u00a0region as well as those who fled from civil wars in\u00a0Liberia<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Sierra Leone<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>

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The Gambia: Age breakdown<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The Gambia: Ethnic composition<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The Gambia: Religious affiliation<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The Gambia: Urban-rural<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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At the Market in The Gambia<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Rice harvesting<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The Gambia: Major import sources<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The Gambia: Major export destinations<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Manufacturing<\/h2>\n

The most significant industry in the country is peanut processing. The crop is sold to agents of The Gambia Groundnut Corporation (until 1993 known as the\u00a0<\/span>Gambia Produce Marketing Board), which fixes the season\u2019s price in advance, pays the producers in cash, and sells the crop overseas. The agents arrange for transportation of the peanuts to Banjul or\u00a0Kuntaur<\/a>, where the nuts are shelled before being shipped. After shelling, a large part of the crop is pressed into oil at pressing mills. The residue is used as cattle cake. The construction industry has grown in\u00a0correlation<\/a>\u00a0with the growth of the tourism sector. Smaller industries include the manufacture of food products, beverages, textiles, footwear, and wood products. Handicraft and other small-scale local craft production exists in villages throughout the country.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Services<\/h2>\n

<\/span>Tourism<\/a>\u00a0has grown in importance and is a major source of foreign exchange. Tourists originally came from Europe, attracted by the country\u2019s beaches,\u00a0diverse<\/a>\u00a0birdlife, and pleasant climate between October and April. Tourism declined after the 1994 coup, but efforts to revive it had met with some success by the end of the 1990s. The\u00a0<\/span>International Roots Festival, an annual heritage celebration created in 1996, attracts members of the African\u00a0diaspora<\/a>\u00a0from around the world. Several luxury hotels have been built near Banjul. Jufureh, a village upriver from Banjul made famous by the American writer\u00a0Alex Haley<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Roots<\/em>\u00a0(1976), is a popular tourist attraction.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Economy<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>
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Agriculture, forestry, and fishing<\/h2>\n

Gambian agriculture can be described as a classic monoculture;\u00a0<\/span>peanuts<\/a>\u00a0(groundnuts) 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\u00a0division of labour<\/a>, with men involved in planting,\u00a0cultivating<\/a>, and harvesting cash crops while women\u00a0cultivate<\/a>\u00a0subsistence crops such as cassava (manioc), yams, eggplant, tomatoes, rice, and lentils. There are citrus orchards in the western area near\u00a0Banjul<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The production of peanuts has increased with the wider use of fertilizers and ox-drawn equipment and the introduction of better seeds. In order to diversify the economy, the government has encouraged the production of rice. A pilot scheme was begun in the mid-1960s to introduce plantation\u00a0oil palm<\/a>\u00a0production, but this has had little impact on the national economy. Stock farming, always a factor in the\u00a0Fulani<\/a>\u00a0culture<\/a>, has also received government support, but factors such as insufficient\u00a0animal husbandry<\/a>\u00a0techniques and the scarcity of suitable pasture and water have limited the size of herds. The drought years of the 1970s and \u201980s seriously damaged agricultural production, particularly upriver. The\u00a0country<\/a>\u00a0was not as hard hit as other countries in the region, however, and recovery has been steady.<\/p>\n

Although the country\u2019s small ocean coastline limits marine fishing, there is some potential for\u00a0commercial fishing<\/a>\u00a0offshore and in the river. Most Gambians are not fishermen, but those who are have been handicapped by inadequate equipment. The government has offered small loans for the purchase of motorized fishing boats and the construction of smoke huts for the processing of\u00a0bonga<\/em>\u00a0(shad, or West African herring), which is exported to other western African states.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Resources and power<\/h2>\n

The Gambia has very few exploited mineral deposits. Some amounts of clay, sand, and gravel are excavated for local use. Foreign investors have been granted licenses to explore offshore blocks for potential petroleum and\u00a0natural gas<\/a>\u00a0reserves, but these actions have not yet yielded any production. The Gambia River holds hydroelectric potential, but there are no dams on the river within the country\u2019s borders. Oil is imported to meet the country\u2019s energy needs. Electricity is limited to parts of Banjul and a few interior towns but is sporadic at best; most Gambians do not have access to modern\u00a0infrastructure<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Finance and trade<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>Central Bank of The Gambia issues the national currency, the dalasi. There are several private banks in the country as well.<\/p>\n

The Gambia previously had a relatively large volume of trade for such a small country. In the early 1980s, however, the country had a yearly adverse\u00a0balance of trade<\/a> reflecting the losses caused by drought. The trade deficit continued into the 1990s and 2000s. More and more people, especially young men, have migrated to the urban area around Banjul, and this has led to a decrease in peanut production.<\/p>\n

Besides peanuts, The Gambia\u2019s exports include cotton, rice, and cattle. In addition, the reexportation of goods\u00a0constitutes<\/a>\u00a0a considerable portion of the country\u2019s export trade. All manufactured items must be imported; other imports include petroleum products, lumber, and cement. Trading partners include\u00a0Guinea-Bissau<\/a>,\u00a0C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire<\/a>, Vietnam,\u00a0Spain<\/a>, and Brazil. Senegal is also a significant partner, although much of the trade is unofficial, and the smuggling of peanuts and other goods into Senegal is a problem. The Gambia is highly dependent on\u00a0foreign aid<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Transportation<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0Gambia River<\/a>\u00a0has historically been the chief route between the interior and the coast, but a modern all-weather road now reaches the eastern border and parallels the river on both sides; there are secondary roads throughout the country as well. The majority of The Gambia\u2019s roads are not paved. Ferries cross the river at Banjul and at various points where there are no bridges, and small watercraft are common means of transport. There are no railways and no domestic air services, although The Gambia International Airlines flies out of the international airport located at\u00a0Yundum<\/a>, southwest of Banjul. The main port is at Banjul.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Government and society<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>
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Constitutional framework<\/h2>\n

The Gambia is a multiparty\u00a0republic<\/a>. 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 five-year term. The president appoints the vice president and cabinet members. Legislative power is held by the\u00a0National Assembly<\/a>,\u00a0comprising<\/a>\u00a053 members who serve five-year terms. The majority of members are elected, while five are appointed by the president.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Local government<\/h2>\n

The Gambia is organized into\u00a0<\/span>Local Government Areas (LGA), each of which either is\u00a0coterminous<\/a>\u00a0with a long-standing administrative unit known as a division or corresponds with roughly half of a division. The city of\u00a0Banjul<\/a>\u00a0and the Kanifing Municipality each form a separate LGA. Most\u00a0decision making<\/a>\u00a0is done at the village level by traditional leaders and councils of elders. Only serious or\u00a0contentious<\/a>\u00a0matters are referred to district or government bodies.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Justice<\/h2>\n

An independent judiciary is guaranteed under the constitution. The highest judicial body is the Supreme Court. Other\u00a0venues<\/a>\u00a0include the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the Special Criminal Court, and there are Magistrate Courts and tribunals at lower levels. The Gambia\u2019s\u00a0judicial system<\/a>\u00a0also provides for the implementation of\u00a0<\/span>Shar\u012b\u02bfah<\/a>\u00a0(Islamic law) in the\u00a0venue<\/a>\u00a0known as the Cadi Court; this court can be used by the Muslim\u00a0community<\/a>\u00a0to resolve such issues as marriage, divorce, and matters affecting dependents.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Political process<\/h2>\n

The\u00a0People\u2019s Progressive Party<\/a>\u00a0(PPP), which had been the dominant\u00a0political party<\/a>\u00a0since independence, fell from power after the 1994 coup. Since 1996 the\u00a0Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction<\/a>\u00a0has been the dominant party. In addition to the PPP, which remains active, other opposition parties include the\u00a0Gambia People\u2019s Party, the National Democratic Action Movement, the Peoples\u2019 Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism, and the\u00a0United Democratic Party<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

The constitution provides for universal suffrage for citizens 18 years and older. Although women have held legislative seats and cabinet positions, their numbers have been few.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Security<\/h2>\n

The Gambian National Army is relatively small. The army has a limited marine unit and an air wing. Service is\u00a0voluntary<\/a>, although the constitution provides for the option of\u00a0conscription<\/a>. The Gambia\u2019s military forces have participated in various international peacekeeping missions, including serving as\u00a0United Nations Peacekeeping Forces<\/a>\u00a0in several countries.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Health and welfare<\/h2>\n

Although improvement has been made since independence, the overall health conditions in The Gambia are poor. Inadequate sanitation is a problem for more than half of the population, and about one-third of the people do not have access to safe drinking water. Malaria poses the most significant health threat; other parasitic diseases and tuberculosis are also common health problems. The Gambia has a lower prevalence rate of HIV\/AIDS than many other African countries, although it appeared to be increasing among younger women during the 2000s.<\/p>\n

Many health-care facilities\u2014general hospitals, health centres, dispensaries, and maternity and child-care clinics\u2014tend to be centred around Banjul, but there are other hospitals and numerous clinics throughout the\u00a0country<\/a>. The Medical Research Council at Fajara investigates tropical diseases. Traditional healers are commonly consulted, especially in rural areas. A long-standing shortage of health-care workers in The Gambia adversely affects the staffing of medical facilities, particularly in rural areas. To address this problem, in 1999 the government established a medical school in the country to train its own doctors.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Housing<\/h2>\n

Examples of colonial residential architecture can be found in Banjul, but most dwellings are single-story and are made of wood. Family\u00a0compounds<\/a>\u00a0tend to be spread out over a large area with an inner courtyard. Outside the city centre sprawling shantytowns have been growing rapidly as more people migrate to the capital from the interior. In upcountry towns, concrete buildings of one or two stories with tin roofs predominate. Villages consist mostly of round mud huts with thatched roofs, with a few single-story concrete buildings with tin roofs.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

Housing supply has not been able to keep pace with The Gambia\u2019s population growth. As a result, overcrowding and congestion occur in both rural and urban areas, particularly in the latter, and these conditions contributed to the growth of slums at the end of the 20th century.<\/p>\n

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Education<\/h2>\n

Education at the primary level is free but not\u00a0compulsory<\/a>. There are secondary and postsecondary schools, including a\u00a0teacher-training college<\/a>\u00a0at\u00a0Brikama<\/a>. The government established the country\u2019s first university, the\u00a0<\/span>University of The Gambia, in 1999. Prior to that, Gambian students seeking\u00a0higher education<\/a>\u00a0had to leave the country, many of them traveling to\u00a0Sierra Leone<\/a>,\u00a0Ghana<\/a>,\u00a0Britain<\/a>, or the\u00a0United States<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Cultural life<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>
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Daily life and social customs<\/h2>\n

The Gambia has long been home to several different ethnic groups who have maintained their individual cultural traditions; as such, the country has a rich heritage. In the past, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, leatherworkers, weavers, textile dyers, and other artisans were found in all of the region\u2019s societies. Weavers and textile dyers still make distinctive cloth throughout the country; The Gambia is noted for its indigo-dyed cloth in particular. Some drum and kora (a complex stringed instrument) makers are still active, and recordings have been made of their traditional music.<\/p>\n

Gambian cuisine<\/a> is nearly identical to Senegalese cooking. Staples include millet, rice, yams, plantains, and cassava (manioc). Fish, both dried and fresh, as well as sauces made from fish and peanuts dominate the diet throughout the country. Millet and rice porridges are often served as breakfast.<\/p>\n

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Gambians\u2014especially those in Banjul and upcountry towns\u2014wear both traditional West African clothing as well as European-style dress. Gambian women often sport elaborate head wraps and flowing caftans on the streets of the capital and in rural villages. Men typically wear traditional shirts and Western pants, but on Fridays and Muslim holidays they wear traditional Arab dress and skullcaps, especially when going to mosque.<\/p>\n

Muslim holidays, including Tobaski (also known as\u00a0<\/span>\u02bf\u012ad al-A\u1e0d\u1e25\u0101<\/a>, marking the\u00a0culmination<\/a>\u00a0of the hajj rites near Mecca) and Koriteh (also known as\u00a0<\/span>\u02bf\u012ad al-Fi\u1e6dr<\/a>, marking the end of\u00a0Ramadan<\/a>), and Christian holidays, including\u00a0Christmas<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Easter<\/a>, are observed in The Gambia. In addition, other holidays celebrated in the country include Independence Day, on February 18, and the Anniversary of the Second Republic, on July 22.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The arts of the The Gambia<\/h1>\n

Dance and music, traditionally tied to village activities, are still important today. Regular shows are held, especially at harvest time and during the dry season when there is less agricultural work to be done. The musical performances of traditional West African troubadour-historians known as\u00a0griots<\/a>\u00a0(Wolof\u00a0gewels<\/em>) not only provide entertainment but also serve to preserve cultural traditions,\u00a0oral<\/a>\u00a0genealogies, and historical narratives.\u00a0Praise songs<\/a>\u00a0are also part of the griot\u2019s\u00a0repertoire<\/a>. The griots of The Gambia, many of whom play the kora, were made famous by\u00a0Alex Haley<\/a>\u2019s\u00a0Roots<\/em>\u00a0(1976).<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Cultural institutions<\/h2>\n

The Gambia National Library is located in\u00a0Banjul<\/a>. The Gambia National Museum, also in Banjul, houses various ethnographic collections that include\u00a0artifacts<\/a>, historical documents, and photographs. Other museums in the\u00a0country<\/a>\u00a0include a natural history and\u00a0culture<\/a>\u00a0museum in Tanji and a small regional\u00a0slave trade<\/a>\u00a0museum at Jufureh, which is part of the\u00a0James Island<\/a>\u00a0and Related Sites\u00a0UNESCO<\/a>\u00a0World Heritage site<\/a>\u00a0(designated in 2003). There is a museum in Wassu devoted to the stone circles of\u00a0Senegambia<\/a>\u00a0(collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2006). The circles, made of laterite pillars, are positioned near burial mounds. Two of the four stone circle sites are located in the country along the\u00a0Gambia River<\/a>\u00a0near Wassu and Kerabatch and have been dated to the 10th and 11th centuries; the other two sites are in neighbouring\u00a0Senegal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

<\/div>\n
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Sports and recreation<\/h2>\n

Gambians, like other West Africans, are enthusiastic football (soccer) fans, and the country has a national football team. In virtually every town and village, there is a field or open space for playing football. The Gambia also has a national cricket team. Other popular sports include basketball and\u00a0track and field<\/a>\u00a0(athletics). There are some local softball teams, mostly near Banjul. Traditional wrestling is especially popular throughout the country. Matches involve music, dance, costumes, and much\u00a0spectacle<\/a>\u00a0and draw large crowds.<\/p>\n

The Gambia participates in several international sporting competitions. It made its Olympic debut at the\u00a01976 Games in Montreal<\/a>, and some individual track and field athletes compete in the\u00a0African Games<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0Commonwealth Games<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Banjul and its environs have numerous film theatres, and American action films and Indian movies are especially popular. Bars and nightclubs exist in the major towns.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"\"

Kora<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"\"

A woman and child in Banjul, Gambia.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\t\t\t
\n

Media and publishing<\/h2>\n

The Gambia Daily<\/em>\u00a0is published by the government. There are also privately owned publications, such as\u00a0The Daily Express<\/em>,\u00a0Foroyaa<\/em>\u00a0(\u201cFreedom\u201d),\u00a0The Point<\/em>, and\u00a0The Daily Observer<\/em>. Radio Gambia, run by the government, broadcasts in English, French, Swedish, and various Gambian languages; there are also private radio stations operating in the country, providing news and music programming. Access to television in The Gambia is limited. A government station (established in 1996) broadcasts several hours a day, and other programming often comes from neighbouring Senegal and satellite networks.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

Although The Gambia\u2019s constitution provides for freedom of the press,\u00a0media freedom<\/a>\u00a0in the country is severely\u00a0inhibited<\/a>. Laws passed since the mid-1990s have introduced harsh restrictions on the media, including expensive licensing fees, jail terms for journalists found guilty of libel or\u00a0sedition<\/a>, and hefty fines for individuals and organizations not in\u00a0compliance<\/a>\u00a0with media-related rules and regulations. Many journalists have been harassed or arrested. Nonetheless, some independent media outlets continue to publish materials critical of the government.<\/p>\n

Enid R.A. Forde<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Harry A. Gailey<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Andrew Clark<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Gambia is a small West African country, bounded by Senegal, with a narrow Atlantic coastline. It’s known for its diverse ecosystems around the central Gambia River. The Gambia The Gambia,\u00a0country\u00a0in\u00a0western Africa\u00a0situated on the\u00a0Atlantic\u00a0coast and surrounded by the neighbouring country of\u00a0Senegal. It occupies a long narrow strip of land that surrounds the\u00a0Gambia River. The land […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-builder.php","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"_vp_format_video_url":"","_vp_image_focal_point":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-838","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":417,"url":"https:\/\/thegambianhonoraryconsulzurich.ch\/?page_id=417","url_meta":{"origin":838,"position":0},"title":"About Us","author":"ousjah","date":"March 22, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"About Agency About Us Consulate of Gambia in Zurich provides a wide range of consular services to local and international citizens here. This website provides detail information of consulates around the world such as address, phone numbers, fax numbers, email, official website, opening hours. Honorary Consul Office of the Honorary\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thegambianhonoraryconsulzurich.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/s5.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thegambianhonoraryconsulzurich.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/s5.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thegambianhonoraryconsulzurich.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/s5.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thegambianhonoraryconsulzurich.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/s5.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thegambianhonoraryconsulzurich.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/s5.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thegambianhonoraryconsulzurich.ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/s5.jpg?resize=1400%2C800 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29,"url":"https:\/\/thegambianhonoraryconsulzurich.ch\/","url_meta":{"origin":838,"position":1},"title":"Home","author":"ousjah","date":"March 4, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Be sure to contact them ahead on how to book an appointment or be properly directed. Appointment booking can be done via phone call during the official opening hours or send us an email. The consulate may have dedicated support for Gambia in Switzerland, or prioritize their appointments. \u00a0 Please\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":565,"url":"https:\/\/thegambianhonoraryconsulzurich.ch\/?page_id=565","url_meta":{"origin":838,"position":2},"title":"Services","author":"ousjah","date":"March 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Consular Services Consulate services include: Be sure to contact them ahead on how to book an appointment or be properly directed. Appointment booking can be done via phone call during the official opening hours. 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