Thursday, 17 March 2016

By Lora Frank


For a vessel sailing down the west coast of Africa, the mouth of the Senegal river offers the first refreshing welcome after the parched territory of the western Sahara. Further south, around the difficult promontory of Cape Verde, is the, even more, enticing estuary of the Gambia. Here the channel is sufficiently broad and deep to carry even modern ocean-going vessels as far as 150 miles inland.

Located in West Africa, the Republic of Gambia is a narrow plain embedded in Senegal, traversed by the Yingangbiya River. Within Gambia's area of 10,380 square kilometers, there is a population of l 36 million, the main tribes being the Mandingo, the Fula, and the Wolof. Islam is the primary religion of Gambia and the official language is English. The currency is the dalasis and the capital is Banjul.

During the 17th century various English and French adventurers and semi-official expeditions came and went, on the trail of gold and slaves. There were Portuguese communities living on the river banks until the mid-18th century, and much intermarriage with local people. From the 18th century, the French and the British struggled for control of the region. Between 1765 and 1783 The Gambia and Senegal were combined into the province of Senegambia, under French administration. The British settlement of James Island was recognized by the Treaty of Versailles in 1783.

The banner of Gambia was formally embraced on February 18, 1965, the day Gambia accomplished independence from the Britain. Planned by Pa Louis Thomas, the national banner of Gambia is level tricolor of red, blue and green that are isolated by thin white stripes.

The red stripe stands for the savanna grasslands and also symbolizes the sun; blue represents the clear waters of the Gambia River that flow through the country; green represents the lush greenery, agricultural practices, and forests of Gambia.

The thin white stripes symbolize solidarity, peace in the country. The Flag Company Inc spent significant time in banner plans offered an uncommon version of decals and banners to retain the historical backdrop of Gambia Flag for future generations.




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