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Senegambia Origins

James Island          Kolol Resort
 
Background:
The name Senegambia is not a new word. It was used by the British as early as 1765 to refer to their settlements on St. Louis and the Island of Gorée in Senegal as well as the British settlements on James Island in The Gambia. The word was in use until 1783 when the Treaty of Versailles returned St. Louis to France.

The word Senegambia came into greater usage with the creation of the Confederation of Senegal and The Gambia on the 1st February, 1982.

Geographical Ties:
The Gambia and Senegal are almost moulded into one territorial distinction. The former being the smallest nation, is surrounded entirely by it’s much larger sister state on all sides of it’s national boundary. And although both were under different colonial masters, (French-Senegal, English-Gambia) both nations share a deep historical, cultural and ancestral ties.

Even more significant is the fact that the Island of Bathurst was built by immigrants from the Island of Goree (Senegal), which was the last port of call for the Africans that were being hauled off to slavery to the outer world in the mid-1700’s- until abolition of the trade in 1860.

Modern Day:
Today, the meaning of Senegambia refers to the whole region of The Gambia and Senegal combined, the term is most often used on the west coast of The Gambia to refer to the tourist resorts area located around Kololi. It refers especially to the restaurant and tourist shop lane called Senegambia Strip, leading to the Senegambia Hotel.

To get here, you will most likely have to take a town trip from Kotu. There are regular taxis that ply the way from Serrekunda as well as green taxis parked outside most of the major tourist hotels.
 
 
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