The Republic of The Gambia is one of the smallest and poorest
country’s in Africa and lies about 13º north of the equator with
a 50 mile Atlantic coastline. The country extends 300 miles into
the African Continent, tracing the river Gambia, and is
enveloped on 3 sides by Senegal. Like Ireland it has had a
traumatic history with over 100,000 of its people being
kidnapped and sent into slavery in the Caribbean during the 18th
and 19th century. Many of these people and their descendants
were “sold on” into the southern states of the USA. This cruel
story was told in the 1970’s saga ‘Roots’ as we follow the life
of Kunta Kinte into slavery. Gambia was colonized by Britain and
finally gained its independence in 1965. The current political
climate is stable and President Jammeh was re-elected just
recently with a 72% majority vote. 95% of the 1.5 million
population is Muslim and while English is the official language,
and the language of school instruction, tribal languages such as
Mandinka, Wolof, Fula and Jola ar