Gambia is a mosaic of various ethnic groups who have kept their traditions alive, particularly through music. Tales of families and clans have been handed down through centuries by “griots”, or praise singers, giving tribes, such as the Wolof and Mandika, a strong sense of identity and awareness of their history. The singers are accompanied by the tunes of the “kora”, a kind of harp, skilfully crafted by the Mandika tribe. Gambia’s literary tradition also revolves around family histories and epic poems. A few contemporary writers are emerging, although their numbers are small compared to other West African nations.

The tribes engage in crafts such as woodcarving, batik cloth printing, weaving and silver and gold jewellery making.

Outside most of the tourist hotels you will find a craft market comprising any number of stalls offering wood carvings, batiks, sand drawings, tie dye prints, jewelry and basket work. You can visit dozens and see the same items are repeated everywhere.

It is the quantity of the same, that tends to devalue the whole. Many of the items are beautiful, all are hand produced, many are started in workshops and then finished and polished by the local stall holders, who claim to be the original carvers.

BUT there are beautiful originals to be found and encouraged. We found some wonderful carvings at stall 23 in Fajara market, far too big and heavy to bring home but wonderful just the same.

The batiks are bold and striking, many of the simpler designs are produced a local 'studios' under a Boaba tree, or in local compounds. Many are from the batik factory in Serrekunda. There are also some beautifully artistic batiks from the GeneBes studio in Bakau, where Queen Ami originally ran the classes teaching most of the other batik workers their skills.

Walk along any beach and some hopeful 'artist' will almost certainly be one of the people you will meet, carrying a few works that they hope you will buy (Many are not actually the artist, but sales people working for the artists)

Much of the basket work is done by Senegalese crafts people now living in The Gambia. One such artist you will find on the beach behind the Badala Park hotel, he will spend time for a few Dalasi teaching you how to do the weaving and allow photos to be taken, but there are many others, but maybe not as keen to show their craft.

The major wood carving 'factory' is at Brikama and if you look carefully you will find many originals, often made from awkward shaped or knotted sections of the tree that cannot be made into the more typucal 'bread and butter' pieces.

Lastly the Jemba drums, again this is a production line, the trunks are cut and hollowed by one worker, others then finish the drums. They all vary in size and artistic finish and price, but they are an art form in their own right and provide income directly into the local community.

GTS is attempting to start an annual GTS Art exhibition. This will reward student artists and their schools and encourage the more original artists to develop their work.