Washington DC – DMV

The Republic of the Gambia, commonly known as the Gambia, or Gambia is a country in Western Africa. The Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, bordered to the north, east, and south by Senegal, with a small coast on the Atlantic Ocean in the west. Its borders roughly correspond to the path of the Gambia River, the nation's namesake, which flows through the country's center and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Its size is almost 10,500 km² with an estimated population of 1,700,000.

Gambia shares historical roots with many other West African nations in the slave trade, which was key to the maintenance of a colony on the Gambia River, first by the Portuguese and later by the British. Since gaining independence in 1965, the Gambia has enjoyed relative stability, with the exception of a brief period of military rule in 1994. An agriculturally rich country, its economy is dominated by farming, fishing, and tourism. About a third of the population lives below the poverty line of US$1.25 a day.

Gambians are known for their excellent music, as well as their dancing. Although the Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, its culture is the product of very diverse influences. The national borders outline a narrow strip on either side of the River Gambia, a body of water that has played a vital part in the nation's destiny and is known locally simply as "the River." Without natural barriers, the Gambia has become home to most of the ethnic groups that are present throughout western Africa, especially those in Senegal. Europeans also figure prominently in the nation's history because the River Gambia is navigable deep into the continent, a geographic feature that made this area one of the most profitable sites for the slave trade from the 15th through the 17th centuries. It also made it strategic to the halt of this trade once it was outlawed in the 19th century. Some of this history was popularized in the Alex Haley book and TV series Roots which was set in the Gambia.

The Gambia Diaspora Football team represents Gambia in the Diaspora World Cup. This 2011 will be their first appearance.

Last Update: December 2010