Music
The Gambia is a West African country closely linked musically with its neighbor, Senegal. Griots, a kind of hereditary praise-singer, are common throughout the region, a legacy of the ancient Mande Empire. Gambian Griots often play the kora, a 21 string harp.
Modern ethnic Mande in The Gambia are called the Mandinka, and they make up around 40 per cent of the country's population. The region of Brikama has produced some very famous musicians, including Amadou Bansang Jobarteh and Foday Musa Suso. The latter founded the Mandingo Griot Society in New York City in the 1970s, bringing Mande music to the New York avant-garde scene and collaborating with Bill Laswell, Philip Glass and the Kronos Quartet.
Gambian popular music began in the 1960s, when The Super Eagles and Guelewar formed while hip bands were playing American, British and Cuban music. The Super Eagles went to London in 1977, appearing on Mike Raven's Band Call. They played merengue and other pop genres with an African flourish, including Wolof lyrics and minor stylistic elements. After the performance, the band began jamming out some traditional tunes and an unknown man heard, told the group that that was the style they should be playing. This inspired the group to return to their country's musical roots, and they spent two years travelling around The Gambia and studying traditional music. The reformed band was called Ifang Bondi, and their style was Afro-Manding blues.
Civil unrest caused Ifang Bondi and most Gambian musicians to emigrate to countries like the Netherlands, decimating the nascent music industry
Holidays:
In addition to Islamic and Christian religious holidays, The Gambia celebrates:
Independence Day (February 18),
Republic Day (April 24), and
Sports:
Wrestling is the most favourite sport in Gambia
Football
Cricket
Guys picking middled aged white women tourists, on the beach
For tourists all the usual sports:Tennis, fishing and Volley ball on the beach.
2006-08-18 11:08:13
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answer #1
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answered by nonconformiststraightguy 6
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my parents r from gambia so i ask them ur qustions they like 2 play soccer but called football there,indepedent day,the kids do a lot of stuff,
2006-08-18 15:32:40
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answer #2
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answered by CrAzYcHiC123 4
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There is a lot on the internet. Official website for the country:
www.gambia.gm;
www.visitthegambia.gm
www.lonelyplanet.com
2006-08-18 09:56:45
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answer #3
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answered by confused 4
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