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. |
