The Gambia, Africa

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Geography

• Area: 7,018 square miles; slightly less than twice the size of Delaware
• Capital: Banjul
• Climate: Topical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)
• Features: Surrounded by Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

Current Environmental Issues

Deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases.

People

• Nationality: Gambian(s)
• Population: 1,797,860 (July 2011 est.)
• Urban Population: 58% of total population (2010)
• Primary ethnic groups: Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%, non-African 1%
• Religions: Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, other 2%
• Languages: English is the official language, while Mandinka, Wolof, Fula and other indigenous languages are also spoken.
• Literacy rate (age 15 and up): 40% (Male: 48%/ Female: 33%)
• School Life Expectancy: 9 years
• Infant mortality rate: 72/1,000 live births
• Life expectancy: 64 years (Male: 61/ Female: 66)
• HIV/AIDS: 18,000 people living with HIV/AIDS; ranking 81^st in the world, approximately 1% of the total Gambian population. (U.S.A is #10 with 1.2 million) (2009 est.) 

Government & Economy

• Independence: February 18, 1965 (From the UK)
• Number of registered political parties: 7
• Flag Description: Red stands for the sun and the savannah; blue represents the Gambia River; green symbolizes forest and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace.
• Natural resources: Peanuts, rice, millet, sorghum, fish, palm kernels, vegetables, livestock, forestry
• Average annual income per person: $1,900 (2009 est.)
• Unemployment Rate: NA
• Population Below Poverty Line: NA

Transnational Issues

There are attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal’s Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other West African states.

• Refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2007)

Culture

Food: 

Benachin- “Jollof rice”, a mixture of spiced meat and rice cooked with tomato puree and vegetables

Base Nyebe- rich stew of chicken or beef with green beans and other vegetables

Chere- steamed millet flour balls

Domodah- meat or chicken stewed in groundnut (peanut) butter and served with rice

Plasas – meat and smoked fish cooked in palm oil with green vegetables served with fufu

Fufu-mashed cassava or sweet potatoes

Chura-gerteh- a sweet porridge consisting of pounded groundnuts (peanuts) and rice, served with yogurt or sour milk

The most commonly eaten fruits are mangoes, bananas, grapefruit, papayas and oranges. (www.everyculture.com)

Music: google “Jaliba Kuyateh”—a Kora player, or visit www.accessgambia.com/music.html