The fight between Massaneh Ceesay & Bakary Niuminko for the hand of the beautiful Banjulian girl, Fatou, has been a popular legend in The Gambia. The two men used marabouts notable in their mystic powers to win the young lady. Who did she choose? This second volume of Folk tales and Fables includes myths as well as fables. Koochi Barama is a story that transcends all the Gambian tribes. He was a close childhood friend of the king of Sabach. Koochi lived with his two wives. This story shows how lies and betrayal can affect close relationships. In the olden days, rulers used to forge alliances and exchange experiences. The close bond between the kings of Niamanty and Burawulay was well respected. Thus when the king of Niamanty died, his friend was consulted in the administration of his estate. The fables in this collection continue to teach the moral lessons and our cultural values.

The stories were gathered from the Serahulay, Wollof, Mandingo and Fula people of Gambia. The the themes in the nine stories contained in this Volume surround arranged marriages, polygamy and the lives of young girls in general.

Ideal for high school and undergraduate students, this addition to the Culture and Customs of Africa series examines the contemporary cultures and traditions of modern Gambia, from religious customs to literature to cuisine and much more. This title in the Culture and Customs of Africa series examines the traditions and customs of contemporary Gambia, a geographically tiny nation in the vast landscape of Africa that is home to a large number of various ethnic groups, each with its own distinctive way of life. It is a country that has been largely unknown in Western culture, with the exception of Alex Haley's book Roots and subsequent TV series, which highlights Gambia's historic significance in the slave trade. This book illuminates Gambian religion and worldview; literature and media; arts and architecture/housing; gender roles, marriage, and family; social customs, traditional dress, cuisine, and lifestyle; and music and dance. The author has successfully encapsulated both long-ago history and contemporary Gambia to provide students with a complete look at life in Gambia today. Information on past traditions and historic events is discussed in the context of how they pertain to life today and their influence on the constant evolution of Gambian life and culture.

This selection of ten stories was gathered from the Wollof, Mandingo and Jola people. The story of 'Boppi Jerreh' has been much narrated by the Wollof people of Banjul, the fisher folk of Barra, and its neighbourhood from time immemorial. The Wollof story, 'Kumba Ndaba marries Jeggan Touray' shows how the institution of marriage fosters kinship ties while the the stories gathered from the Jola people are all based on the occupational lives of women, a deep appreciation of nature, and the traditional practice of consulting soothsayers before embarking on any major initiative.

Take a journey into the heart of West Africa... Artist, musician, and author Dave Kobrenski takes the reader on a musical and visual journey up the Djoliba river in Guinea to explore ancient music traditions, as well as to understand the challenges that face a country "balancing between the world of its ancient traditions and the frontier of modern ideals and influences." Dozens of original paintings and drawings accompany vivid first-hand accounts of the music, culture, and people of Guinea, while scores of rhythm notations make this a unique and valuable resource for musicians, educators, and travel enthusiasts alike. From the author's preface: "Part travelogue, part sketchbook, this is a book about glimpsing in the everyday dust of existence the potential for rich and meaningful expressions of being in the world; of seeing that beyond the tattered common cloth of life hangs a veil of mystery infused with magic and wonder."

“This powerful story shouldn’t be missed.” Publishers Weekly (starred) “A fiercely readable, potent memoir of a survivor who refuses to be silenced. . . . An inspirational page-turner." Kirkus Reviews (starred) An incandescent and inspiring memoir from a courageous young woman who, after she was forced to flee to Canada from her home in The Gambia, became the first woman to publicly call the country’s dictator to account for sexual assault—launching an unprecedented protest movement in West Africa. In 2015, Toufah Jallow was a nineteen-year-old dreaming of a scholarship. Encouraged by her mother, she entered a presidential competition designed to identify and support the country’s smart young women, ands he won. Which brought her to the attention of Yahya Jammeh, the country’s dictator, who styled himself as a pious yet progressive protector of women. At first, he behaved in a fatherly fashion towards his winner, butthen he proposed marriage. When Toufah turned him down, he drugged and raped her. She could not tell anyone what happened. Not only was there no word for rape in her native language, if she told her parents, they would take action and incur Jammeh’s wrath. Wearing a niqab to hide her identity, she gave his security operatives the slip and fled to Senegal, eventually making her way to safety in Canada. Then Jammeh was deposed. In July 2019, Toufah Jallow went home to testify against him in a public hearing, sparking marches of support and a social media outpouring of shared stories among West African women. Each bold decision Toufah made helped secure the future Jammeh had tried to steal from her, and also showed her a new path of leadership and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence.

Collection of West African folktales drawn from prose narratives, proverbs, riddles, and songs.