Kunta Kinteh Island
Tourists and culture ambassadors from various countries who witnessed the 11th edition of the International Root Festival in the Gambia themed “Celebrating Unity through Culture” left the West African country with memories of great wonders of nature and beautiful hotels along the country’s coastlines, reports Raheem Akingbolu
Asides the visit to James Island which a few years ago was renamed Kunta Kinteh Island by the Gambian government following the revelation by Haley in the famous book, visitors were also allowed into a slavery museum located in Albreda as well as meeting some descendants of Kunta Kinteh at their family house at Juffureh. There is however a few kilometers between the highland, which is a tiny speck of sandy ground in the middle of the river, and Juffereh/Albreda.

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From the villages, one can look out across the broad Gambia River and see ruins of the fort on James Island, where perhaps nearly a million African captives passed through on the way to slavery in Europe and the New World.
Judging from the enthusiasm displayed by the residents of the two villages, it was obvious they are reaping the twin benefits of the Kinteh’s legacy and the bounty of the Gambia River, which is said to be very rich in fish.

Explaining the objective of the annual festival, The Gambian minister of Tourism, Hon. Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, said the greater part of the festival is held annually by The Gambian government in Banjul, capital of the country, to commemorate the enforced enslavement and transportation of millions of Africans to the Americas and the Caribbean Islands.
On the significance of the visit to the island, she said the primary reason for conceptualising the festival was to celebrate the legacy of Kunta Kinteh, Haley’s groundbreaking research and showcasing of The Gambia and its beautiful features, hence the visit to the late hero’s family

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Speaking further, she stated that each year, Africans and friends of Africa from the Diaspora are always invited by the ministry. “It is not about Gambia alone but about our common heritage as Africans. Every year, the ministry of culture and tourism invites all people of African descent and all persons committed to the well being of Africans and the development of Africa to come to The Gambia and participate in this historical, cultural and educational event,”

The pilgrimage, which turned out to be a whole day affair, succeeded in connecting Africans from across the world to the agonies blacks went through in the hands of Europeans in the days of yore. As a tour guide, Muhammed Lami narrated the story of the people of the Island and took visitors through the carcasses of the building that housed the colonialists and their victims, tears rolled down the cheeks of a few emotional laden men and women, especially the blacks from Europe and America.
Jamaica’s reggae superstar, Sizzla Kalonji, who was also the cultural ambassador of the festival gave an inspiring speech on the Island and called on Africans not to allow their sweat for liberation to be in vain.

For the one week that the event lasted, there was no dull moment for over 300 dignitaries who participated. Though there were series of activities, including Jumat service lined up for the opening ceremony, the first major activity was the Night Of The Griots featuring traditional music and dance, music of the Kora, Halam, historical narratives and traditional songs. This was followed by official opening in Banjul the following day with carnival procession parades of different masquerades. The peak of the opening ceremony was the musical jamboree held at the Independence Stadium, Bakau, which featured international guests artistes like Sizzla Kalongi, Erykah Badu, Mutabaruka, Sratchulius and Princess, Mystic Crew, and Jah Cure.

• wildlife
• fish
• culture
• books
• festivals
• dancing
• gardening
• boating
• music
• fishing
• agriculture
• ecology
• history
• tourism
• ecotourism
• beaches

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A peep into the future
To strike a balance between the old tradition and the reality of the modern day African nations, a symposium was held at Kairaba Beach Hotel on Tuesday, May 13 to awake Africans. Speakers at the symposium included Dr Julius Garvey. Garvey is the son of Jamaican Pan-Africanist, Marcus Garvey. Others speakers were Dr Rashidi Rukono, US based public lecturer and author; and Professor Lamin Sarr, a Gambian US-based intellectual.

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All the speakers looked at African culture in the 21st Century and gave their deep knowledge and experience about the continent.
For instance, Dr. Rashidi lectured that history began in Africa and thus stressed that Africans should not be defined by slavery. He explained in detail the importance of history, saying: “What you think of yourself depends on what you know of yourself and what you know of yourself is what you are told.” He made reference to the late Pan-Africanist, Dr Marcus Mosiah Garvey, whom he said had noted that “person without knowledge of the past is like a tree without roots”
For Dr. Julius Garvey, it is absolutely necessary for Africans to recapture their culture because in his view, “African culture can and has to be the basis for our resonance as a people.”
In the evening of the same day, a traditional Boat Race (Regatta) was organised by staff of The Gambia Port Authority to entertain international guests to the event.

Welcome to Kanilai village
The climax of the ceremony took place on Wednesday, when a ceremony tagged FUTAMPAF (Rites of Passage) was held at Kanilai Village, the hometown of the Gambian President, Yahya Jammah. Futampaf is a Jola Initiation Ceremony hosted by Jammah. At the traditional event, some visitors were initiated and adopted into a family in Kanilai. To give them a sense of belonging, local names were given to them.

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Shortly after the initiation, President Jammah explained the significance of the festival and expressed his appreciation that Africans in Diaspora had come to be part of the historical event.
He quickly added that his administration would be delighted to work with potential investors, and that interested people among the invited guests should not hesitate to contact the Gambia Import and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA) to consider the tremendous opportunities and attractive incentives available to investors.

Earlier in an interview with THISDAY, the country’s minister of Tourism, had extended the same invitation to Nigerian investors, saying the Government of the Republic of The Gambia had identified Nigeria as a viable partner to grow its tourism sector. It said the tourism sector with 16 per cent contribution to the GDP was the second largest contributor to its economy after agriculture and there was need to leverage other economies for growth.

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Earlier in an interview with THISDAY, the country’s minister of Tourism, had extended the same invitation to Nigerian investors, saying the Government of the Republic of The Gambia had identified Nigeria as a viable partner to grow its tourism sector. It said the tourism sector with 16 per cent contribution to the GDP was the second largest contributor to its economy after agriculture and there was need to leverage other economies for growth.

The minister described Nigeria as a big brother Africa that stands in the best position to lift the Gambia Tourism sector.
While calling on Nigerian investors to leverage the country’s rich tourism potential, she said there was a need for massive infrastructural development in the sector which she said had employed a large number of youths in the country.
To further strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and The Gambia on the regional tourism development dream, Jobe-Njie, disclosed that her country was in the final stage of a discussion to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Nigerian Tourism Board.

The following day, guests were led to Makasutu Cultural Forest, a renowned eco-tourism lodge. This was followed by an African Gala Dinner at Senegambia Beach Hotels Garden at which awards were given out.
Makasutu – meaning ‘sacred forest’ in Mandinka - is both an ecology project and a place for people to come and learn about the local culture and people. Makasutu is a tropical 1000-acre reserve encompassing five different eco-systems, including gallery forest, savannah, mangroves, palm forest and wetland. Wildlife is plentiful with many bird species, monitor lizards, baboons, vervet and red colobus monkeys, and the occasional crocodile and even the odd mongoose can be spotted on the riverbanks

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