Gambian People
The Gambia has one of the highest population densities in West Africa, along with the second highest maternal mortality rate. Gambians face many hardships, struggling to survive in the harsh sub-Saharan environment, with diseases such as Malaria, measles, dengue fever, and a host of others endemic across the nation.
Many Gambians attend school for a few years before leaving to work on their farms. Girls are routinely pulled out of school in order to be married, and never complete their educations. With limited resources and a rapidly expanding population, many Gambians face difficulties finding employment other than farming. This is especially true in the provinces, where Gambians have even less opportunity to pursue careers outside of the traditional roles of farmer and wife.
Houses are typically made out of mud block with thatched roofs in the more rural areas, and made of cement block with corrogated tin sheet roofs in the more developed areas. The diet consists mostly of a grain, rice or millet, with a sauce. Vegetables are few, and fish can be found served in dishes in villages along the river. Meat will usually be reserved for special occaisions.
The Gambia has 3 main ethnic groups, Mandinkas, Wolofs, and Fulas, along with a few other minor tribes. Islam is heavily predominant, upwards of 90% of the population is Muslim. Polygamy is the norm, with each man taking an average of 3 to 4 wives. Even among more progressive Gambians, many men will have at least two wives
