Happy Independence Day Gambia

“If a donkey kicks you and you kick back, you are both donkeys” - Gambian proverb

(Flag of Gambia (1965-Present)

Gambia is located in west Africa.

(Map of where Gambia is located)

Its capital is Banjul. Its largest city is Serekunda. The official language is English. The country is 4,127 square miles. Gambia is 95% African and 5% European. 90% of Gambia practice Islam, 8% practice Christianity, and 2% practice traditional African religions. The total population is 1,882,450. The climate is tropical. Gambia is a unitary presidential republic.

(Banjul, capital of Gambia)

Gambian cuisine consists of peanuts, rice, fish, meat, onions, tomatoes, cassava, chili peppers and oysters.

(Gambian cuisine)

The major style of music is Sabar.

(Gambians performing Sabar music)

Gambia’s most popular sport is wrestling.

(Gambians wrestling)

In the 9th century Arabs came to Gambia.

(Gambian ancient structures)

In the 14th century Gambia was apart of the Mali empire. In the 15th century the Portuguese came to the area.

(Portuguese buildings)

In 1588 the Portuguese established the slave trade in the Gambia region. In 1618 the United Kingdom took over the region. In the 17th century the United Kingdom and France fought over the Gambian region. In 1758 the United Kingdom took full control of the Gambian region.

(Europeans taking over Gambia)

In 1783 the French owned a small part of Gambia. 3 million Africans were stolen from this region and sold into slavery. In 1807 the United Kingdom failed at stopping the slave trade in the Gambian region. In 1816 the United Kingdom established military posts in Gambia. In 1856 the United Kingdom took control of France’s portion of Gambia. In 1888 Gambia became an official English colony. Its named was changed to “British Gambia”.

(Flag of British Gambia (1888-1965))

In 1901 it started to formed its own independent government. In 1906 slavery was abolished in British Gambia. During World War 2 some Gambians fought in the British army. In 1962 British Gambia held general elections. On February 18th 1965 Gambia gained its independence.

(Flag of Gambia (1965-Present))

In 1970 Gambia became a republic. Dawda Kairaba Jawara became the president.

(Dawda Kairaba Jawara)

In 1981 there was an attempted coup. Senegal helped squash the coup. 800 people were killed in the fighting.

(Gambia soldiers)

In 1982 Gambia and Senegal signed a treaty of confederation. In 1989 Gambia withdrew from the confederation. In 1994 the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) deposed the Jawara government. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh became the head of state.

(Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh)

In 1996 the Provisional Independent Electoral Commission was established to conduct national elections. In 2001 Jammeh was officially elected. In 2013 Gambia left the Commonwealth of Nations. In 2016 Adama Barrow was elected president.

(Adama Barrow)

Today marks the 52nd anniversary of Gambia’s independence and we would all like to say happy independence day Gambia.

Videos of Gambia independence

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weQ9-BlQ6V0  “Gambia Independent (1965)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV8UG5vnwaQ  “President Macky Sall's Speech On Gambia Independence Day 18/2/2017”