May 10, 2013

In Photos – A Portrait of The Gambia

Post Categories: Africa | The Gambia

This Islamic school was very happy to see some Western visitors

Of all the places in which I’ve travelled no destination has made me wish harder for the invention of the eyeball-implanted camera as The Gambia. Nearly every street scene, vendor, vehicle, market stall and school child has you reaching excitedly for your lens. Here are a selection of my favourite portraits of the Gambian people I encountered on my travels…

Patouray came up to me at a petrol station and asked for his photo to be taken. He was infectiously cheerful and didn’t speak much English but told our guide that his daughter was married to an Englishman and he was delighted that she had a good life in the UK.

These boys were on their way into the ‘Playstation’ shop to sit indoors playing video games in the dark on a sweltering day. Some human behaviour really is universal!

Officials at Banjul stadium’s Labour Day sporting parade

This is Sophie, she sought me out and asked me to take her picture. She was very quiet but was rocking a truly amazing jumper.

This stall holder shows us the loom on which he hand makes table runners and bags to sell to tourists.

Sitting in The Gods at Banjul stadium under a portrait of the President Yahya Jammeh.

Cookery teacher Ida Cham Njai buys vegetables for today’s dish

Another lovely Gambian lady who beckoned me over to take her portrait. I love how she knows to look off away from the camera, it makes the photo.

Our guide at Kachikally crocodile pond shows us croc teeth necklaces

May Day parade spectators

Just one of the pictures of the excitable class of 3-6 years olds from the Lutheran Church School we visited.

A typical reaction to touting a camera about in The Gambia

Not everyone in The Gambia wants to have their photograph taken however. It’s important to point out that I’ve never been to a place where more people are hostile to photography and cover their faces when they see a camera, so you have to be sensitive to this issue and very aware of where you’re pointing your lens.

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I travelled to The Gambia with specialist tour operator The Gambia Experience, photographing the Banjul, Fajara and Makasutu areas of the country, including the towns of Galloya, Kabuneh and Bafaloto plus Brikama market, and Tanji fish market, staying at Nagala Lodge and Mandina Lodges.