In 1997 I gave up my job and flat and flew off to Senegal in West Africa. I had some money , a years open return ticket and an address in Gambia to help me on my way . My rough plan would be to stay as long as the money lasted , maybe even stay for longer if something came up. From Dakar I travelled down through Senegal into the Gambia. I eventually ended up at the Kololi Tavern which is located in Kololi district just outside of Serrakunda town. After the Tavern, with the help of a friend, I rented a house in the district of Kololi . Gambia and Senegal had been a non serious venture to explore what I had long seen as a fascinating and rich culture. My first expedition was in Uganda and Sudan in 1993 to find work in the refugee camps on the Ugandan/Sudan border. For me this was an alternative to going back to the war in Bosnia and Croatia. In 1992. I had gone to work in a refugee camp in Croatia but my feelings had got the better of me ( I just don't like to see people get ****** over ) and I ended up joining the Bosnian/Croat army in the besieged Bosnian town of Bosanski Brod. When the Bosnian/Croat army turned on the Bosnian Muslims I had had enough . After my return to England and many failed attempts to return to Bosnia as an aid worker I made a move to Africa.

 

 

Gambia is located on the West coast of Africa and is a finger shaped country that cuts into Senegal  which completely surrounds Gambia, apart from the Atlantic coastline. The huge river Gambia literally cuts the country into two from one end to the other. The mouth of the river at the Atlantic is 5km wide. With only 80km of coastline and 740km in length Gambia is the smallest country in Africa. The population of 1,204,984 is made up of (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-Gambian 1% . The main religion is Muslim , although there are a few Christians . The main African language is Wolof with Mandinka and Fula also being spoken depending on region. Being an ex English colony most people in the larger towns speak English . Gambia is a democratic republic which is split into 5 administrative divisions . The President of the country is Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh who attained power after the bloodless military coup of 1994 . Gambia has virtually no mineral recourses to exploit and the country relies on agriculture and livestock for an economic base . For a more detailed assessment go back one page and click on one of the Gambian resource links for more information.

The photographs on this page are from my 3 month stay and subsequent visit to Gambia. Each thumbnail leads to a larger picture and description of people and places . For a brief description move cursor over thumbnail.

 

FOR A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH MOVE CURSOR OVER IMAGE

 

CLICK HERE FOR A MORE DETAILED MAP OF GAMBIA

Main street Serekunda Kololi rd Sand artist Samba with Zebby My back yard Road to Wassau
River Gambia Slave house, JangJang Bureh Island Inside the slave house Contemplatin the slave house Chillin
An idea of the width of the river Gambia, JangJang Bureh Lamin Lodge Outskirts of Kuntaur village Ghanian friend Cyril, wife & her sister River Tanji , at Paradise Inn.
Ebouchams family in Kuntaur Shop on the way to Paul Jallows at Tanji Inside the tavern Kololi Tavern & Gallery The Africa Jamono Ballet

 

Zebby & Musa outside the slave house The stone circles at Wassau Friends street, Serekunda Outside Kuntuar village Family of a friend in Banjul

 

 

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