The Gambia is an Islamic country. It is assumed that about 80% belong to the Islam, but according to the official statement this is 95%. The remaining 5% belong to another church, particularly the Anglican and Roman-Catholic church. Both churches have their own bishop in The Gambia. Furthermore there are (often concentrated) groups of Methodists, Seventh-day Adventists and even followers of the baha'i-doctrine, best to be compared to humanism.
So, you will often meet the Islam. Although they believe in the Islam way sometimes differs from the way they do in the middle-east or the African north-coast, a great part of the population is strictly religious. Fundamentalism or zealotry do not occur. You often see praying Gambians. They kneel on a special mat, facing Mekka, the birthplace of Mohammed and the most important place of pilgrimage for Islamite's. They pray five times a day: at 06.20 the Fajr, at 14.00 the Suhr, at 17.00 the Asr, at 19.30 the Maghrib and at 20.30 the Isha. Taking pictures and making a film go against the religious persuasion of islamic Gambians. When you want to do so, do ask permission (if possible) beforehand.
Names are often preceded by the word: 'Alhaji'. This means that the person who hides behind the name has made a pilgrimage (hadj) to Mekka. Merchants very often use this title, because it gives prestige and it brings customers.
Because of The Gambia's colonial past, Sunday is the sabbath. The holy day for the Gambians however, remains the Friday. The birthday of the prophet Mohammed in September, is a national holiday. The date differs every year, because the Gambians have two calendars: the western and the islamic. Because of the fact that the islamic year counts ten days less than the 365 days the Westerner counts in one year (or eleven less in a leap year), the dates of islamic holidays differ every year.
Islamites celebrate Ramadan. It takes place during the ninth month of the islamic year, starting at new moon and ending at the next new moon with a terrific celebration. It's a period of fasting and praying. Between sunrise and sunset they don't eat, drink or smoke and sex is taboo. Immediately after sunset they put an end to all that.
The tourist will hardly notice anything of Ramadan: every now and then it might occur that the service during evening meals leaves a bit to be desired. The guests come first but the servants haven't had anything to eat for a whole day yet.
Two months and ten days after the end of Ramadan, they celebrate Tobaski, the celebration of the offering. A sheep, goat or chicken is ritually slaughtered. This is done by cutting the animal's throat. The slaughtering is done by a religious person or the head of the house or compound. However, he can only do the slaughtering if he has attended the ritual slaughtering by the imam in the morning. During the slaughtering the wife of the person who does the slaughtering puts her hand on his back. It regularly occurs that tourists are invited to take part in the Tobaski celebrations with a family. They will however, expect a contribution towards the cost. This is done in kind, for example in the form of a bag of rice. The days before Tobaski it is a rumpus of the first order on the the many cattle markets. Prices of small live stock are skyrocketing. To get round this somewhat a lot of inhabitants of the coastal strip travel inland, where prices are lower. During these days you see an extra lot of sheep and goats in and on public transport. New clothing is often bought and the colourful clothing of the women especially catches the eye. They show themselves with it the day after Tobaski. Public life practically lies idle during Tobaski