Naturefriends
International stole the show at the third edition of Janjangbureh Kankurang
Festival as members stormed the historical island in large number on the
opening day last Friday.
Naturefriends
International who has been attending the festival since its rebranding in 2018,
used the their presence as an opportunity to celebrate the International
Friends of Nature’s Day and commemoration of the NFI 125th year of
establishment.
The
large number of its members who attend the festival are tourists which was
described as ‘overwhelming’ because there was no tourist at the festival who
came through local or ground tour operators in The Gambia.
Since
its establishment in 1895 in Vienna, NatureFriends have committed themselves to
their goals worldwide with thousands of activities from the struggle for
freedom of way to the development of environmentally and socially compatible
tourism and leisure activities to the commitment to nature and environmental
protection, climate justice and international solidarity.
Mamadou
Mbodji, vice president of Naturefriends International said they believe that
the Janjangbureh Kankurang Festival is important and that was why they decide
to bring such number of European tourists to the festival.
He
noted that the festival connected to what Naturefriends International called
the “Landscape of The Year organized for the first time in Africa and the two
countries that have been chosen are Senegal and Gambia.”
Mr
Mbodji expressed for choosing Senegal and The Gambia saying “as a Senegambian
to have been able to organize this Landscape of The Year between these two
countries is a pride and it was great joy for me to accompany the European
countries (nine nationalities from all the organizations in Europe and two
African countries) to the festival annually since rebranded.”
According
to him, not only environment is their objective but also culture and in
Janjangbureh. “When we walked into the
world we found nature but what human being brings is culture and culture is
something really strong for humanity.”
Among
other importance of culture, he stated that it helps to federate human being
wherever they are and “diversity is valued whether you are from Europe, Africa
or Asia we all got our own culture.” When you put them together he said “we can
get something really positive for the humanity,” he noted.
Expanding
on it, he said peace is possible through culture, dialogue, thus, when you know
others’ culture, you will understand them and when we are together there will
be no stereotype and misunderstanding and through that we will be able to build
a sustainable peace,” he quizzed.
He
discussed other objectives of the Landscape of The Years which he said is meant
to identify ecological area that is rich, fragile and federating two countries
“that’s why we chose Kougheul – Senegal and Janjangbureh – The Gambia with aim
of identify touristic possibilities that are facing difficulties, we have to
nurse them.”
