The Gambia became a British Crown colony called British Gambia , divided for administrative purposes into the colony (city of Banjul and the surrounding area) and the protectorate (remainder of the territory).
Which tribe was first in Gambia?
There are signs that among the first people to settle in The Gambia were the Jola . The banks of The River Gambia have been inhabited continuously for many thousands of years. There are indeed pottery fragments that have been found and have been dated to about 5,500 years old.
How did Gambia get its name?
The Gambia is the official name of the smallest West African country. ... The Portuguese who first explored the country named it after the river known as ‘The River Gambia . ‘ The Portuguese thus named it ‘The Gambia. ‘ [In Portuguese A Gâmbia] So when Britain took over, they maintained that name.
Why is The Gambia separate from Senegal?
The peculiar shape and size of the country are the result of territorial compromises made during the 19th century by Great Britain , which controlled the lower Gambia River, and France, which ruled the neighbouring colony of Senegal.
Who colonized Gambia?
The Gambia was administered as a part of British West Africa from 1821 to 1843. It was a separate colony with its own governor until 1866, when control was returned to the governor-general at Freetown, Sierra Leone, as it would remain until 1889.
Why is Gambia so poor?
As of 2014, the United Nations Development Programme's human development index ranked it the 172nd poorest country out of 186. While the causes of poverty in the Gambia are numerous, the two root problems are an overall lack of economic diversity as well as inadequate agricultural proficiency and productivity.
Is Gambia rich or poor?
The Gambia – Poverty and wealth
The Gambia is classified as one of the least developed countries and is a low-income country . Real GNP per capita growth in the 1990-97 period averaged-0.6 percent a year, so average living standards were falling. SOURCE: United Nations.
What language do they speak in Gambia?
The Gambia is a former British Colony and the official language is English but there are also several tribal languages including Mandinka and Wolof . Educated in English, most Gambians are at least bilingual.
How do you say hello in Gambia?
Gambian Phrases (Traditional) When you greet someone you say “ Salaam aleikum” which means “Peace be upon you” and they would reply Maleekum salaam which means “and peace be upon you” (Arabic). All the various ethnic groups are familiar with this formal salutation.
What is the religion of Gambia?
Approximately 95.7 percent of the population is Muslim , most of whom are Sunni. The Christian community makes up 4.2 percent of the population, the majority Roman Catholics. Religious groups that together constitute less than 1 percent of the population include Ahmadi Muslims, Baha'is, Hindus, and Eckankar members.
Is Liberia a British colony?
The Republic of Liberia, formerly a colony of the American Colonization Society, declares its independence. Under pressure from Britain, the United States hesitantly accepted Liberian sovereignty, making the West African nation the first democratic republic in African history.
What does the word Gambia mean?
The name “Gambia” is derived from the Mandinka term Kambra/Kambaa, meaning Gambia River (or possibly from the sacred Serer Gamba, a special type of calabash beaten when a Serer elder dies). Upon independence in 1965, the country used the name the Gambia.
Is Gambia safe for tourists?
Gambia is, for the most part, a safe country to visit . However it does have a rather high crime rate, though it's mainly ridden with petty street crime. You should be vigilant and take all possible precaution measures in order to minimize the risk of getting stolen from.
How wealthy is Gambia?
$1.773 billion (nominal, 2019 est.) $6.448 billion (PPP, 2019 est.)
Why did the British keep the Gambia?
With the British abolition of the slave trade in their settlements in 1807, they tried to look for a suitable location in The Gambia from where they would be able to monitor the river and stop ships from entering and leaving with slaves. ... Britain declared the Gambia River a British Protectorate in 1820.
Who colonized Togo?
Background: Togoland, of which modern Togo was formerly a part, was colonized by the Germans in 1894. The German occupation has been ended by a joint Anglo-French force early in World War I. In 1960 French Togoland became Togo.
