The Gambia commonly known as Gambia by the locates, is a country in Western Africa. The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, bordered to the north, east, and south by Senegal, with a small coast on the Atlantic Ocean in the west.
Its borders roughly correspond to the path of the Gambia River, the nation’s namesake, which flows through the country’s center and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Its size is almost 10,500 km² with an estimated population of 1,700,000.
On 18 February 1965, Gambia was granted independence from the United Kingdom and joined The Commonwealth. Banjul is Gambia’s capital, but the largest conurbation is Serekunda.
The Gambia shares historical roots with many other west African nations in the slave trade, which was key to the establishment of a colony on the Gambia river, first by the Portuguese and later by the British. Since gaining independence in 1965, The Gambia has enjoyed relative stability, with the exception of a brief period of military rule in 1994.
An agriculturally rich country, its economy is dominated by farming, fishing, and tourism. About a third of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day
History
Please go to :
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_The_Gambia
Geography
The Gambia is a very small and narrow country with the border based on the Gambia River. The country is less than 48 km wide at its greatest width. The country’s present boundaries were defined in 1889 after an agreement between the United Kingdom and France. It is often claimed by Gambians that the distance of the borders from the Gambia River correspond to the area that British naval cannon of the time could reach from the river’s channel. However, there is no historical evidence to support the story, and the border was actually delineated using careful surveying methods by the Franco-British boundary commission. Apart from its coastline, where The Gambia borders the Atlantic Ocean, it is an enclave of Senegal and is by far the smallest country on the continent of Africa.
Other Info
Oficial Name:
Republic of The Gâmbia
Independence:
February 18, 1965
– Republic declared April 24, 1970
Area:
11.295km2
Inhabitants:
1.700.000
Languages:
English [eng] 1,000 in Gambia (2004). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
More information.
Jola-Fonyi [dyo] 59,650 in Gambia (2002 SIL). Southwestern districts. Alternate names: Kujamataak, Kújoolaak Kati Fooñi, Jola-Fogny, Diola-Fogny, Yola, Jola. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Jola, Jola Proper, Jola Central, Jola-Fonyi
More information.
Mandinka [mnk] 453,500 in Gambia (2002). Most of the western half of Gambia. Alternate names: Mandinque, Mandingo, Manding, Mandé, Socé. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-West
More information.
Mandjak [mfv] 19,250 in Gambia (2002). Western, south of the Gambia River. Alternate names: Mandjaque, Manjaca, Manjaco, Manjiak, Manjacu, Manjack, Mandyak, Ndyak, Kanyop. Dialects: Bok (Babok), Sarar, Teixeira Pinto, Tsaamo, Likes-Utsia (Baraa, Kalkus), Cur (Churo), Lund, Yu (Pecixe). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Bak, Manjaku-Papel
More information.
Maninkakan, Western [mlq] 12,600 in Gambia (2004). Eastern Gambia. Alternate names: Northwestern Maninka, Malinke, Malinka. Dialects: Jahanka. Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Central-Southwestern, Central, Manding-Jogo, Manding-Vai, Manding-Mokole, Manding, Manding-West
More information.
Pulaar [fuc] 262,550 in Gambia (2002). Alternate names: Fulfulde-Pulaar, Pulaar Fulfulde, Peul, Peulh, Fulbe Jeeri, Fulani. Dialects: Fulacunda (Fulakunda, Fulkunda), Toucouleur (Tukolor, Tukulor, Halpulaar, Haalpulaar). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fulani-Wolof, Fula, Western
More information.
Serer-Sine [srr] 28,360 in Gambia (2002). Northwestern Gambia. Alternate names: Serer, Serrer, Seereer, Serer-Sin, Sine-Saloum. Dialects: Segum, Fadyut-Palmerin, Sine, Dyegueme (Gyegem). Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Serer
More information.
Soninke [snk] 66,175 in Gambia (2002). Southeastern corner. Alternate names: Marka, Maraka, Sarahole, Sarawule, Sarahuli, Silabe, Toubakai, Wakore, Gadyaga, Aswanik. Dialects: Azer (Adjer, Aser). Classification: Niger-Congo, Mande, Western, Northwestern, Soninke-Bobo, Soninke-Boso, Soninke
More information.
Wolof, Gambian [wof] 165,000 (2002). Western Division, south bank of the Gambia River and central. Wolof on the north bank speak Wolof of Senegal. Dialects: Wolof of Senegal is intelligible with that of Gambia but with significant enough differences to require adaptation of materials. Needs further investigation. Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Atlantic, Northern, Senegambian, Fula-Wolof, Wolof
Capital city:
Banjul
Meaning of country name:
From the river Gambia that runs through the country. The word gambia supposedly derives from the Portuguese word câmbio (meaning "trade" or "exchange"), in reference to the trade the Portuguese carried out in the area.
Description Flag:
The national flag of Gambia consists of a horizontal tricolour of red, blue and green. The colours are separated by white stripes. The red at the top symbolises the sun, as well as the savanna. Below the red is blue that symbolises the Gambia River that flows through the nation. The green symbolises the land, and also the forests of the nation. The white portions represent peace.
Coat of arms:
The Coat of arms of The Gambia has been in use since 18 November 1964. It depicts two lions holding an axe and hoe, supporting a shield that depicts another pair of hoe and axe, crossed. Atop the shield is set the heraldic helmet of a knight and an oil palm above it. At the bottom is the national motto: Progress – Peace – Prosperity.
The two lions represent the colonial history of The Gambia as part of the British Empire. The crossed axe and hoe represent the importance of agriculture to The Gambia. They are also considered to represent the two major ethnic groups of The Gambia: the Mandinka and the Fulani. The palm tree, found above the heraldic crest, is also a vital national tree.
Motto:
"Progress, Peace, Prosperity"
National Anthem: For The Gambia Our Homeland
For The Gambia, our homeland
We strive and work and pray,
That all may live in unity,
Freedom and peace each day.
Let justice guide our actions
Towards the common good,
And join our diverse peoples
To prove man’s brotherhood.
We pledge our firm allegiance,
Our promise we renew;
Keep us, great God of nations,
To The Gambia ever true.
Internet Page: www.gambia.gm
www.visitthegambia.gm
Gambia in diferent languages
eng | arg | ast | bre | cym | dan | est | eus | fao | fin | fry | glg | hun | ibo | ina | ita | jav | lat | lim | lld | mlg | nld | nor | pol | roh | ron | rup | scn | slk | spa | sqi | swa | swe | vor: Gambia
dsb | hrv | hsb | lav | lit | slv: Gambija
bam | cor | kin | lin | run: Gambi
ces | fra | frp | fur | jnf: Gambie
cat | oci | srd: Gàmbia
crh | kaa | uzb: Gambiya / Гамбия
deu | ltz | nds: Gambia / Gambia
hau | tur | zza: Gambiya
ind | msa: Gambia / ڬامبيا
sme | tet: Gámbia
afr: Gambië; Gambia
aze: Qambiya / Гамбија
bos: Gambija / Гамбија
epo: Gambio
gla: A’ Ghaimbia
gle: An Ghaimbia / An Ġaimbia
glv: Yn Ghambia
hat: Ganbi
isl: Gambía
kmr: Gambî / Гамби / گامبی
kur: Gambiya / گامبیا
mlt: Gambja
mol: Gambia / Гамбия
nrm: Gaumbie
por: Gâmbia
que: Gambya
rmy: Gambiya / गाम्बिया
slo: Gambia / Гамбиа
smg: Gambėjė
smo: Kamepia
som: Gaambiya
tuk: Gambiýa / Гамбия
vie: Găm-bi-a
vol: Gambän
wln: Gambeye
wol: Gaambi
zul: iGambiya
abq | alt | bul | kir | kjh | kom | krc | kum | rus | tyv | udm: Гамбия (Gambija)
che | chv | mon | oss: Гамби (Gambi)
bak: Гамбия / Gambiya
bel: Гамбія / Hambija
chm: Гамбий (Gambij)
kaz: Гамбия / Gambïya / گامبيا
kbd: Гамбие (Gambie)
mkd: Гамбија (Gambija)
srp: Гамбија / Gambija
tat: Гамбия / Gambiä
tgk: Гамбия / گمبیه / Gambija
ukr: Ґамбія (Gambija)
ara: غامبيا (Ġāmbiyā); غمبيا (Ġambiyā); جامبيا (Gāmbiyā); جمبيا (Gambiyā)
fas: گامبیا (Gāmbiyā)
prs: گامبیا (Gāmbiyā)
pus: ګامبيا (Gāmbiyā); ګمبيا (Gambiyā)
uig: گامبىيە / Gambiye / Гамбия
urd: گیمبیا (Gæmbiyā); گمبیا (Gambiyā)
div: ގެންބިއާ (Genbi’ā)
heb: גמביה (Gambiyah); גאמביה (Gâmbiyah)
lad: גאמביה / Gambia
yid: גאַמביע (Gambye)
amh: ጋምቢያ (Gambiya)
ell: Γκάμπια (Gkámpia)
hye: Գամբիա (Gambia)
kat: გამბია (Gambia)
hin: गांबिया (Gāṁbiyā)
ben: গাম্বিয়া (Gāmbiyā)
pan: ਗਾਂਬੀਆ (Gā̃bīā)
kan: ಗ್ಯಾಂಬಿಯ (Gæṁbiya)
mal: ഗാംബിയ (Gāṁbiya)
tam: கம்பியா (Kampiyā); காம்பியா (Kāmpiyā)
tel: గాంబియా (Gāṁbiyā)
zho: 岡比亞/冈比亚 (Gāngbǐyà)
jpn: ガンビア (Ganbia)
kor: 감비아 (Gambia)
mya: ဂမ္ဘီယာ (Gãbʰiya)
tha: แกมเบีย (Kǣmbiya)
khm: ហ្គាំប៊ី (Hkāṁbī); ហ្គែមបៀរ (Hkæmbier)
Posted by Hugo Carriço on 2010-03-10 22:06:38
Tagged: , The_Gambia , Gâmbia , africa , flag , bandeiras
