Page 70 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 11

MY AFRIKA

You are that one which is little in size but ‘Kambi’ is a common surname of

mighty in power, strength and authority to the Bainukas, one of the ethnic

change the course of the Afrikan history. groups in the country who are cred-
ited as the original settlers of what is
today called The Gambia. The Portu-
ach time I think of the try. It is also one of Afrika’s most
guese recorded the name as ‘Kambi
Afrikan nation called densely populated countries. A few
Bolong’, and thereafter the name
The Gambia and how towns are located up river, but most passed from one explorer to another.
Eshe is the smallest Gambians live in rural villages. The Other names captured in The Gam-
among all the nations on mainland major ethnic groups are similar to bia’s record books are ‘Kambea’,
Afrika, I am reminded of the words those in Senegal and consist of the
‘Jambea’ and ‘Gambra’ as they ap-
of scripture that describe the town majority Malinke and also include the
pear in Portuguese records until Brit-
of Bethlehem Ephrathah as little, Wolof, Fulani (Fulbe), Diola (Jola), ish explorers arrived on James Island

but that which was given the grace and Soninke peoples. The Gambian in 1588 when it officially became
to bear the fruit that changed the economy is heavily dependent on Gambia. Another belief is that the
course of history. (See Micah 5:2) peanut (groundnut) production and
name is based on the translation of
export.
the Portuguese word ‘cambio’ mean-
I do not see the words of this article ing ‘trade’ or ‘exchange’, a common
about the nation called The Gambia The first Europeans to arrive on activity along the river.
going the way of a prophetic mes- Kombo-St. Mary Island, today
sage but rather as a prophetic prayer. known as Banjul, were the Portu-
The River Gambia
We are definitely living in strange guese explorers in 1456. It was the
Yes the nation called The Gambia
times and seasons, and the less pop- stunning location of the country on was named after the River Gambia,
ulated ones among us must be given the West Coast that attracted these which is quite interesting just as Ni-
all support both physically and spiri- European explorers in their quest to geria was named in connection to the
tually. So it's a great honor to write make it a base.
Niger River, but my interest really is
this simple but timely article to bless
a bit more towards what I believe is
this nation called The Gambia. Origin of the name Gambia the spiritual significance of the River
As with many origin stories there Gambia and its shape.
About The Gambia are several versions. One account, as Due to the fact that we made it a
The Gambia, is a country in western told by Hassoum Ceesay, a renowned
kind of an unwritten rule to make
Afrika situated on the Atlantic coast Gambian historian and researcher
the cover story of each issue of this
and surrounded on all sides by the at the National Centre for Arts and magazine about a specific nation in
neighboring country of Senegal. It Culture, is that upon their arrival in Afrika, I was really keen to know

occupies a long narrow strip of land 1456, Portuguese explorers met a which of the nations of Afrika I
that surrounds the Gambia River. local fisherman on St. Mary Island.
would be writing about. When it was
The land is flat and is dominated by During their interactions commu-
settled that I would write about The
the river, which is navigable through- nicated through sign language, the Gambia, I decided to take a look at
out the length of the country. As fisherman thought he was asked who the various things online that are re-
mentioned already, The Gambia is owned the island. The fisherman lated to the nation of Gambia and

Afrika’s smallest main-land coun- responded with ‘Kambi Bolong’.
from there see what the Lord would

70 | Heal . Restore . Rebirth . Afrika