Embedded Files
In this article Rakie talks about the grand history of a quite small country, making its story come to life.
Gambia, The Smiling Coast of Africa
Gambia, The Smiling Coast of Africa
By: Rakie Jagne
By: Rakie Jagne
From being part of the Mali empire to gaining independence in 1965 and going through the leadership of a dictator, Gambia has had a long series of political systems. Just like any country, Gambia's history is filled with conflict and victory, suffering and hope. Being the smallest African country on the mainland, it has done a good job of maintaining peace even when under harsh rule. Looking at each timeline, the history of The Gambia will unfold.
For many years, the history of Africa was purely oral. However, it is generally understood that the beginning of modern Western African countries started with the Mali empire. From the fall of its leaders and rebel groups forming, the Mali Empire collapsed and many new countries were born. According to BBC, 13th century Gambia was “Part of the Mali Empire, which at its peak is the largest empire in West Africa, widely influencing the culture of the region.” Later, before any countries could settle, the Songhai Empire took charge. This set off the timeline of the Sonike people in the region to start forming new countries and new sovereignty; Senagambia was one of them.
When slavery is mentioned, usually one time period comes to mind– the slave trade from Africa to the Americas. Still, few know about the significant role Gambia and Senegal played in the practice of slavery. Starting with Portuguese settlers, the slave trade began with exchanging clothing, cooking supplies, and other products in turn for slaves. Soon afterward, the British got involved and started selling slaves to Spanish and Portuguese colonies, and later the newly made American colonies. As stated in an article by geographers Thomas Wikle and Dale Lightfoot, “The African slave trade has been described as the largest forced migration in human history. Estimates suggest that one in six slaves transported to the Americas came from the Senegambia region.” That is a staggering number. Removing hundreds of thousands of West Africans from their home drastically changed the culture and damaged many relationships and families.
Map of Gambia. mage from Africa Guide
Gambia, in the 1500s to 1800s, shaped the way numerous countries are socially and politically organized in the modern era, not only Gambia itself. However, to understand what it is like today, it is important to look back at what happened in the 1900s. After Gambia eventually gained independence from Britain in 1965, it was later seized by a cruel and harsh ruler named Yahya Jemmeh. Being a new country, Gambia was not prepared for the “widespread abuses, including forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary detention.” These mistreatments caused by Yahya Jammeh were reported by Human Rights Watch, an organization that investigates similar abuses. This broke the spirit of the Gambian people and ruined the newly formed peace which was established after independence.
Picture of Gambian Coast. Image from The Borgen Project
Luckily, Yahya Jammeh’s 22-year-long dictatorship ended when a new president was elected in 2017, Adama Barrow. Barrow advocates for the welfare of his people and brings a new light to what was once a disheartened land. Although this might seem to relate to a story of a beaten down and abused country, the Gambia and its people live on. Now, it mostly relies on the tourist population/supply, and from what is seen, this tiny part of the West African coast is thriving and smiling.
Page updated
Report abuse