OVERVIEW OF GAMBIA
The Gambia, a nation situated on the western coast of Africa and encircled by Senegal, exhibits a distinctive form and size. Marked as Africa’s smallest mainland country, The Gambia also ranks among the continent’s most densely populated nations. While a few towns are positioned upriver, the majority of Gambians reside in rural villages. The principal ethnic groups mirror those found in Senegal and encompass the predominant Ma-linke population, alongside Wolof, Fulani (Fulbe), Diola (Jola), and Soninke peoples.
The Gambian economy heavily relies on the production and export of peanuts (groundnuts). The country’s recognition stems from its modest Atlantic coastline, characterized by its beaches, as well as its association with Jufureh (Juffure), reputed as the ancestral village of Kunta Kinte, the central figure in Alex Haley’s renowned novel, “Roots.”