Banjul is the capital and fourth largest city of The Gambia. It is the centre of the eponymous administrative division which is home to an estimated 400,000 residents, making it The Gambia’s largest and most densely populated metropolitan area. Banjul is on St Mary’s Island (Banjul Island), where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean. The population of the city proper is 31,301, with the Greater Banjul Area, which includes the City of Banjul and the Kanifing Municipal Council, at a population of 413,397 (in 2013 ). The island is connected to the mainland to the west and the rest of Greater Banjul Area via bridges. There are also ferries linking Banjul to the mainland at the other side of the river.
Climate
Banjul features hot weather year-round. Under the Köppen climate classification, Banjul features a tropical wet and dry climate. The city features a lengthy dry season, spanning from November to May and a relatively short wet season covering the remaining five months. However, during those five months, Banjul tends to see heavy rainfall. August is usually the rainiest month, with on average 350 millimetres or 14 inches of rainfall. Maximum temperatures are somewhat constant, though morning minima tend to be hotter during the wet season than the dry season.
According to a Gambian government minister, Banjul is at risk of submerging under water by a metre rise in sea levels as a result of climate change and global warming.
Nostalgic for the hotel we lived in 30 years ago… here we are back to see if some changes..
Our friend, Mr. Saihou Drammeh, whom we met 30 years ago. Then he was 20 years old.💚We were younger too…🕺🤸🏻♂️ Our first meeting 30 years later..
Economy
Banjul is the country’s economic and administrative centre and includes the Central Bank of the Gambia. Peanut processing is the country’s principal industry, but beeswax, palm wood, palm oil, and skins and hides are also shipped from the port of Banjul.
I was here 30 years ago and I must unfortunately state the fact that nothing has changed here for the better. The same poverty, the same dirt on the streets, the same corruption and a huge gap between the rich and the poor. It is even difficult to call poor people poor, because they exist below the poverty level. At the same time, people are not embittered, they are very friendly and smiling.
We Europeans should learn from their patience and philosophy of survival, and not go to psychologists and complain about depression. I think that the best treatment for depression is to go to Africa and live there for at least one month. Depression will disappear very quickly, I guarantee you!
When someone in our family is in a bad mood, I always say: “No problem in Gambia!” – And the sour family member becomes ashamed… And he begins to think positively.
30 years in our family this motto: No problem in Gambia!
Thank you Gambia for this lesson. 🖤 🤎❤️ 🧡💛 💚 💙 💜 💓 💗 💖
May 14, 2023 – Welcome to The Gambia 💘