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Gambia: Independence
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Right from the beginning, democracy in The Gambia took root. In the run up to independence, various political parties and trade unions emerged representing different interests in society. Jawara's People's Progressive Party rose out of the protectorate areas. In fact it was then called the Protectorate People's Party because the party was meant to be a party for the hinterland areas, an idea that was in essence given the fact that the colony of Bathurst and its satellite areas had dominated and more, monopolized the political system under colonial rule. The people in the rural areas had felt left out.
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The agricultural implements depicted in the shield are an axe and hoe and indicate that future prosperity of Gambia depends upon agriculture. The lions as supporters represent stateliness and dignity and may ... recall the former colonial power. Dorling-Kindersley [rya97] differs on the interpretation of axe and hoe, which are said to represent the Mandinka and Fulani, the two more important ethnic groups of Gambia. Was this interpreation proposed later than independence in order to stabilize the relations between both groups? The crest above the helmet is a local oil palm.
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Since the 13th century, the Wolof, Malinke, and Fulani peoples settled in what is now Gambia. The Portuguese were the first European explorers, encountering the Gambia River in 1455, and in 1681 the French founded an enclave at Albredabut. During the 17th century, Gambia was settled by various companies of English merchants. Slavery was the chief source of revenue before it was abolished in 1807. Gambia became a British Crown colony in 1843 and an independent nation within the Commonwealth of Nations on Feb. 18, 1965. Full independence was approved in a 1970 referendum, and on April 24 of that year Gambia proclaimed itself a republic.
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Gambia gained independence from Britain in 1965. The current president is Yahya Jammeh, who originally came to power in a coup in 1994, and was later voted into office – most recently in 2006.
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Since independence, successive elections have been held every five years in The Gambia. At times, some of these elections were marred by violence and intimidation, but the intensity and interest with which they were contested underscored the extent to which Gambians took delight in the idea of participatory democracy. At independence in 1965, Gambians were already keen to dabble at multiparty democracy.
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