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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
 Posted - 27 Oct 2006 : 18:05:45
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BUILDING 3: METHODIST CHURCH ON DOBSON STREET
This is the oldest church in Banjul built in 1834 and was sponsored by the Methodist Mission |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2006 : 19:01:17
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BUILDING 4: ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL IN BANJUL
This building was built in the 1840s. Its original name was Victoria Hospital. At the end of slavery, some settlers from the west were stationed in Goree, Freetown and St. Loius. The group from Goree built the hospital.
This reminds me of a posting by Biraago about the early settlers of Banjul. I will discuss this later as what seemed to have been assumed to be correct is in fact a fallacy. Banjul was divided into quarters, some areas habited by settlers; others were servants whilst others were the elite. In fact McCarthy square was actually a divided between these social structure groupings. It marked as a boundary and such empty spaces were used for farming although the poor muddy soils of Banjul could not support agriculture.
Portuguese Town was actually the Wall Street of Banjul and had wealthy settlers. Servants of the rich and artisans inhabited Melville Town. Where McCarthy square is, used to be the original market and it separated Portuguese town from Jolof town.
Other small social groupings were Mocam Town, which is now called Half Die after the cholera out break of 1869.
One thing quite interesting in Banjul is the fact that almost every one who claims to have come from there actually had origins outside of the town. Majority are from Saloum in the areas bordering Kaolack and Goree' in Senegal. Its quite safe to say that many in Banjul are from Senegal from the towns of Goree and St. Louis which used to be the first capital of Senegal from 1840 to 1958 and also capital of French west Africa from 1895 to 1902 or from Sierra Leone.
It partly explains the strong social bonds between religious families in Banjul and those in northern saloum especially the Niasse, and the Sey. Even in the case of Christianity, similar strong bonds developed with other churches in Senegal especially with the Catholic Church. Mostly the Choirs have crossed the border a lot of the time “unnoticed”. Since this is reflected in both major religions, it may confirm the original lineage Banjul settlers had with Senegal. St. Louis locally called NDARR in Wolof is placed on the world heritage list with the following inscriptions: “The historic town of Saint-Louis exhibits an important exchange of values and influences on the development of education and culture, architecture, craftsmanship, and services in a large part of West Africa”.
Notice the influence of craftmanship stated here and how it was exported to a large part of West Africa and compare it to the Melville Town in Banjul. TAKO SAN NDARR was a famous song by Youssou Ndour explaining the hospitality of it people which the town is know for throuhgout the region.
The question as to who the original settlers of Banjul were is unclear. Its known for a fact that the land was bought from the chief of Nuimi who claims the area. However, was the land an empty piece of land at the time or was it found occupied. If it was occupied, who were they and where have they gone. Certainly, the Aku’s came later with colonial rule mainly from Free Town. I have researched this question and come up with nothing definite yet. I hope to write to the British Museum in London if they had records of inhabitants by 1816 and who they were. There are Portuguese last names in Banjul being used by Gambians. Such families also seem to have connections with island of Cape Verde. Could this group have been baptized as early as 1452 when Alviso visited Gambia?
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 27 Oct 2006 : 19:25:53
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
Its known for a fact that the land was bought from the chief of Nuimi who claims the area.
i think Banjul was bought by the British from the King of Kombo, perhaps a Bojang from Bakau or Brikama or something. I think Bakau used to have a Chief.
its Kombo not Niumi. am i wrong??? |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2006 : 06:27:52
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| I think google need to update their pictures. These pictures are nearly two decades old. You could see the old Mcarthy square without the pavillion that was built towards the end of the PPP regime. Any way thanks for the pictures Momodou. Big up to Kons and the others for the history lessons. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2006 : 10:25:05
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quote:
Originally posted by shaka
I think google need to update their pictures. These pictures are nearly two decades old. You could see the old Mcarthy square without the pavillion that was built towards the end of the PPP regime. Any way thanks for the pictures Momodou. Big up to Kons and the others for the history lessons.
shaka you are right, i didnt even notice. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11644 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2006 : 16:32:23
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The satellite photo was taken on 2002-02-10. You can see the pavilions around arrow 2. |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2006 : 23:37:55
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| Good spot Momodou, they looked rather a bit too small for me, so i was thinking it is the old building that use to be in the saome spot. |
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Alhassan
Sweden
813 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 15:25:58
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quote:
Originally posted by njucks
quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
Its known for a fact that the land was bought from the chief of Nuimi who claims the area.
i think Banjul was bought by the British from the King of Kombo, perhaps a Bojang from Bakau or Brikama or something. I think Bakau used to have a Chief.
its Kombo not Niumi. am i wrong???
Banjul was sold by a man called Toumani Bojang. Banjul was under the dueristriction of king Demba Sonko of Essau or Numi. Banjul was sold for a small sum of money.Most of the wollofs of Banjul came during the war between Maba and the French. My father's mother came during that time then came my grandfather. He was aknown Tama and Xyn player as he was of the MURIDS from Djurbel.My Great grand father Samba Lawbeh Ndiayé was the only person who followed Bamba to Gabon. I have been visiting there when I was younger. I shall try to find books of reference. One good history of the Gambia by Grey. |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 16:04:22
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quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
The satellite photo was taken on 2002-02-10. You can see the pavilions around arrow 2.
Momodou, you are correct. i checked it again with the Independence Stadium in Bakau, its of similar quality, decieving but its there as well. the resolution is not very good. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 18:11:25
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quote:
Originally posted by Alhassan
quote:
Originally posted by njucks
quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
Its known for a fact that the land was bought from the chief of Nuimi who claims the area.
i think Banjul was bought by the British from the King of Kombo, perhaps a Bojang from Bakau or Brikama or something. I think Bakau used to have a Chief.
its Kombo not Niumi. am i wrong???
Banjul was sold by a man called Toumani Bojang. Banjul was under the dueristriction of king Demba Sonko of Essau or Numi. Banjul was sold for a small sum of money.Most of the wollofs of Banjul came during the war between Maba and the French. My father's mother came during that time then came my grandfather. He was aknown Tama and Xyn player as he was of the MURIDS from Djurbel.My Great grand father Samba Lawbeh Ndiayé was the only person who followed Bamba to Gabon. I have been visiting there when I was younger. I shall try to find books of reference. One good history of the Gambia by Grey.
Its true some came during the war of Maba but the earliest settlers came in 1815 from Goree. This is is a known history. Goree then was under the British. I am happy that you are confirming what i wrote about Goree being a town for culture and your grand parent was a TAMA player. He may have lived in Melville Town where the artisans and craftsmen lived. Banjul was a sagregated town based on class and wealth.
Portuguese town was inhabited by the rich merchants from Goree.
The census of Banjul in 1817, two years after it was set up, was 600 and by 1826, it rose to 1800 of which there were only 30 Europeans. Some were liberated slaves from St. Louis. This partly explains the strength of Christianity in Banjul because there were chritians before the missionaries came. The fisrt church was built in 1834(Methodist church on Dobson Street). These liberated africans had christian believes in the west.
Infact the earliest known muslim Imam in Banjul was a Fulani religious leader. The records at the Archives have an aplication for permit from the colonial governor to build a mosque in Banjul. If my memory serves me right, it was one Momodou Bah. Please verify this name at the archives. I read this 17 years ago so the name is not sticking. We need to rewrite our history. There is a lot we have not been told in School about who we are.
Infact there was no known record of a settlement in Banjul prior to 1815. First occupiers came in 1816 as a settlemt for stopping ships with slave cargo from leaving the coast. So obviously banjul was not inhabited prior to this date. Records on the condition of the island indicated that it was muddy and a swampy place.
The story that Banjul is from the name BANJULO, after the name of the BAMBOO tree which the natives cut on the island seems logical. The large number of bamboo house on the island seem to support an growth of this plant and today no traces of an outgrowth of this plant could be found anymore. Many houses especially in Half-Die are made of KRINGTING and some still stand today.KIRINTING is woven bamboo. Mud bricks were not suitable due to water levels and they fall quickly. The most affluent people lived in woodedn houses then |
Edited by - kondorong on 30 Oct 2006 18:44:19 |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 20:59:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Alhassan
Banjul was sold by a man called Toumani Bojang. Banjul was under the dueristriction of king Demba Sonko of Essau or Numi.
Kondorong , thanks for the brief history. many people sadly dont visit the archieves to read about these facts.Someone should do a history of colonial housing. Some KRINTING houses are still standing more than 100yrs. A building made of Bricks and Concrete collapsed in Pipeline some years back half way through construction.!!!!
Alhassan, i think Banjul was from Kombo not Niumi. this is what the evidence points to. Cpt. Alexandra Grant bought it and established a settlement in 1816 as Kondorong said.
there is more on Momodou's website on Gambia. the home of this bantaba.
The most important development before the birth of colonialism was the establishment of the British settlement in what is now known as Banjul, Kombo Saint Mary.
Captain Grant who established the settlement 185 years ago in 1816 stated that a treaty was signed with the King of Kombo to get the permission to settle. They paid him 103 bars of iron annually. This shows that up to 1816 the kings had effective control over their territories. They accepted the settlement to promote trade. The British merchants provided iron, tobacco, guns gunpowder, rum, spices, corals, etc. in exchange for elephant tusks, bees wax, hides, timber, bullock horns and gold. It was a mutually beneficial trade. As a treaty between the acting Governor and the king of Kantalikunda stated, the people of England and the people of Kantalikunda agreed to trade together "innocently, justly, kindly and usefully." [http://www.gambia.dk/gam.html]
a point to note is that ivory was still traded, showing that elephants were still abundant! |
Edited by - njucks on 30 Oct 2006 21:14:09 |
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Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 21:06:16
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| we can't thank them enough. Indeed, pictures are more powerful than words |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 21:17:13
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BUILDING 5: ANGLICAN CHURCH INDEPENDENCE DRIVE
Before proceeding, i would like to correct an error on my part. The methodist church was not the oldest church. The oldest is the Anglican church built in 1833. The methodist church was built in 1834.
An important historical monument there is the Sankandi monument in memory of the six police officers and one Commissioner who were killed at the battle of Sankandi. This church used to be called b "The King's Church" or "English Church" by the locals. |
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Cornelius
Sweden
1051 Posts |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2006 : 21:31:47
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building 6: national meseum building
Its believed to have been built around 1850 purposedly for partying by the colonial governor and officers of the Crown. No africans could go there. In the 1980s, it was turned into a library and was the head the Gambia National Library befoer they moved to their current location behind Gambia High Scool. The Meseum took over in 1985 and are there to date.
Just to the right of the entrance is an old sailing boat. Rumour has it that it belonged to the Father of President Jawara who was a trader. How true that is i dont know. It may be true because Jawara's Sister called Nano was married into the Bensouda Family who were merchants stationed in the Niani town of Kuntaur. Their big family mansion still stands in ruins when you enter Kuntaur from Fulla Kunda. Its just behind the Agricultural Camp. The Bensouda's are believed to have origins in Morroco.
Junkung must have learnt something from the old Pa. They both married or had connections with Morroco |
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