The first edition of the book was published in 1992 and it was at the time the first book which contained the entire history syllabus for the West African Examination Council School Leaving Certificate. Now over 20 years since then, and three years after the demise of its author, a new edition has been published by Said Yusuf’s TopLink Publishers.
This new edition is divided into six major sections and 28 chapters each dealing with a section of the rich history of the Gambia. In the first section the author dissects the geography and topography of the Gambia and gives a bird’s eye view of the socio-economic make up of the country including the ethnic groups.
The ethnic composition of the country is further explained the second section of the book dealing with the social, economic and political set up of the groups. The Fula, Mandinka, Wollof, Jola, Serehuli, Serer, and Aku are discussed in great details paying particular attention to their peculiar institutions and of course those aspects of their societies which have commonalities.
The third section deals with the pre-colonial states of Ghana, Kaabu, Manding empire of Mali, Fulladu, Wollof states, Kaabu, and Futa toro. This section is indeed particularly interesting because above all it shows the high degree of progress and mature state of statehood which was exhibited in these states before the arrival of the Europeans. These states had a high degree of military, diplomatic, social and economic advancement before colonial rule came to destroy their institutions and replaced them with alien ones.
Corollary information on the resistant leaders such as Foday Kabba Dumbuya (1830-1901), Foday Sillah, Sait Matty, Maba Jahou Bah and others who fought against European rule is provided amply in the third section. Also, there is a generous treatment of the Soninke Marabou wars or jihad which erupted in the 1850s and raged on in Baddibu, Kiang, Foni etc till 1900.
The fourth section deals with equally interesting topics such as the arrival of the Europeans in the Gambia from 1456 and how their presence developed from purely mercantile factors to imperial rule and domination. The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, one of the saddest episodes of the history of Africa is treated with candour and its full brutalities revealed to the reader. Other topics treated in this section include the Anglo-Niumi war, the founding of Bathurst (Banjul).
Section five deals with Gambia under colonial rule, here the colonial indirect rule system is discussed and the social and economic developments under colonial rule are discussed. The advent of Christianity and the role of the missions in education and social development is discussed.
The last section deals with the post Second World War political developments which led to full independence in 1965, such as the developments of political parties and other nationalist activities.
A new addition in this edition is the chapter added as epilogue on the role of women in national development contributed by Hassoum Ceesay, himself a noted historian. This chapter is indeed timely as women’s role in national development is fast becoming a hot issue.
This is an excellent introduction to Gambian history for students and also the reading public. It is highly recommended.
Available at Timbooktoo. Tel:4494345
