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Gambia is a small (4,000 square miles or 11,295 sq. km) country in West
Africa. It is surrounded by Senegal on all sides (see
map), except on the Atlantic coast, and for this reason the two
countries have a lot of ethnic and cultural ties. In contrast to
Senegal, a former French colony, The Gambia was colonized by Britain
and gained it's Independence on February 18, 1965.
Oral and written
history give account of traders moving in caravans from the trading
towns of the Niger to those of The Gambia about 400 years ago. People
have been interviewed who said that their territories owed loyalty, to
the Mali Kingdom. Mali was mainly composed of Mandinka speaking people.
Written records also talk about the states of Niumi, Baddibu and Niani
owing loyalty to the king of Saloum at Kahone in present day Senegal.
Sine Saloum was composed of Wolof and Serer language groupings.
The administrative
capital is Banjul with the major towns in the urban areas being
Serrekunda, Bakau, Kanifing, Kotu, Kololi, Fajara and Brikama. The
country is divided into local government arears viz, Greater Banjul
Area comprising Banjul, Serrekunda, Bakau and environs, Western
Division with Brikama as the leading town, Central River Division,
North Bank Division with Kerewan and Farafenni as the leading towns,
Upper River Division with Basse as the leading town and Janjanburey
Division (formerly Maccarthy Island Division) with Janjanbureh
(formerly George Town), as the leading town.
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