Welcome to the summary page for FabulousFusionFood's The Gambia recipes, part of the African Continent. This page provides links to all the Gambian recipes presented on this site, with 21 recipes in total.

The Gambia, officially: the Republic of The Gambia is the smallest country on the African mainland and is bordered on three sides by Sénégal. On 18 February 1965 The Gambia became independent from the British Empire and it became a republic in 1970. Banjul is its capital and Serrekunda the largest city. A wide variety of ethnic groups live in The Gambia with a minimum of intertribal friction, each preserving its own language and traditions. The Mandinka tribe is the largest, followed by the Fula, Wolof, Jola, and Serahule. The approximately 3,500 non-African residents include Europeans and families of Lebanese origin (roughly 0.23% of the total population). Muslims constitute more than 90% of the population. Christians of different denominations account for most of the remainder. Gambians officially observe the holidays of both religions and practice religious tolerance. 

Gambia's cuisine is an admixture of Native, Arabic, Portuguese and British influences. Fufu is the country's staple and it is a major local producer of cassava flour. Much of Gambian cuisine also reflects similarities with Senegalese cookery as the populations of the two countries are very similar.

The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. Geographically, The Gambia is the smallest country in continental Africa; it is surrounded by Senegal on all sides except for the western part, which is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. Its territory is on both sides of the lower reaches of the Gambia River, which flows through the centre of the country and empties into the Atlantic. The national namesake river demarcates the elongated shape of the country, which has an area of 11,300 square kilometres and a population of 2,769,075 people in 2024 which is a 2.30% population increase from 2013.[4] The capital city is Banjul, which has the most extensive metropolitan area in the country. The second and third-largest cities are Serekunda and Brikama.

Arab Muslim merchants traded with native West Africans in The Gambia throughout the 9th and 10th centuries. In 1455, the Portuguese were the first Europeans to enter The Gambia, although they never established significant trade there. The British Empire established a colony in 1765. In 1965, 200 years later, The Gambia gained independence under the leadership of Dawda Jawara. Jawara remained the president winning several elections until he was overthrown by Yahya Jammeh in a bloodless 1994 coup.

Adama Barrow was elected as The Gambia's third president in the December 2016, he defeated Yahya Jammeh with the help of a coalition of other opposition political parties. Jammeh initially accepted the results, but then refused to leave office claiming he was cheated, triggering a constitutional crisis. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) conducted a military intervention and achieved Jammeh's removal two days after his term was initially scheduled to end.

The name 'Gambia' is derived from the Mandinka term Kambra/Kambaa, meaning the Gambia River. (It may be derived from the sacred Serer Gamba, a special type of calabash beaten when a Serer elder dies).[19] Portuguese explorers, who reached the region in the 15th century, adopted a variation of this local name, which was later anglicized to Gambia during British colonial rule.

Upon independence in 1965, the country used the name The Gambia. Following the proclamation of a republic in 1970, the long-form name of the country became Republic of The Gambia.

The Gambia is one of a small number of countries for which the definite article is commonly used in its English-language name and where the name is neither plural nor descriptive (e.g., 'The Philippines' or 'the United Kingdom'). The article is also officially used by the country's government and by international bodies. In 1964, shortly prior to the country's independence, Prime Minister Dawda Jawara wrote to the Permanent Committee on Geographical Names for British Official Use requesting that the name The Gambia retain the definite article, in part to reduce confusion with Zambia which had also recently become independent. Some scholars suggest it also emphasizes the nation's connection to the Gambia River, a defining geographical feature.

Gambian Cuisine

The cuisine of the Gambia is heavily influenced by the culinary traditions of neighbouring Senegal, reflecting a mix of local ingredients and historical influences, including French colonial cuisine. A popular dish in particular is domoda, a savoury peanut stew made with meat, peanut paste, and vegetables, representative of Gambian comfort food. Yassa is also enjoyed widely; it features marinated fish or chicken seasoned with lemon, onions, and mustard, providing a sharp flavour that contrasts with the earthiness of many other dishes.[129] Gambian cuisine usually includes peanuts, rice, fish, meat, onions, tomatoes, cassava, sweet potatoes, egg plant, cabbage, chili peppers and oysters from the River Gambia.