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The country is motley of ethnic groups
such as the Malinke, Fulani, Wolof, Diola and Soninke. Most of them
have converted to Islam and follow religious and social customs
particular to the Muslims worldwide. The Gambians are extremely
friendly and hospitable and most understand other customs and beliefs.
Gambia is a country of fabulous, unspoilt beaches and, naturally,
beachwear is going to be one of your primary requisites. However, it is
important to remember that casual and revealing wear are frowned upon
outside the hotels and beaches. Women need to dress conservatively
respecting the religious and social traditions of the Gambians. The
Gambia is a frequented tourist destination, but that hasn’t taken away
from traditional culture in the form of music, dance and craftsmanship.
Religion
Muslims constitute 90% of Gambia’s
population. The remaining 10% of the population comprise of Christian
and local ethnic groups.
Food
Food in Gambia is made of
commonly grown food such as groundnuts, vegetables, millet and cassava
along with meat and fish. There are several Gambian dishes worth a try.
“Bechanin” or Jollof rice is a tasty pilaf with tomato puree and
vegetables. “Base Nyebe” is a thick and richly flavoured stew of beef
with beans and other vegetables, usually served with “Chere”, which is
steamed millet flour balls. Gambian “Domoda” is meat stewed in
groundnut puree and is served with rice. “Plasa” consists of meat and
smoked fish, cooked in palm oil with leafy veggies and is usually
served with “Fou-Fou”, which is trashed up cassava. A delicious sweet
dish called “Churagrete” is porridge made of pounded groundnuts, rice
and milk.
Culture and Crafts
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.
Education
Education remains
underdeveloped. Schooling is still not compulsory and only one-third of
primary-school-age children are enrolled and even lesser attend.
Literacy remains one of the main concerns of The Gambia.
Language
The official language is English,
although a large number of tribal languages such as Mandika, Fula,
Wolof, Jola and Serahule are spoken across the country.
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