Africa-Press – Gambia. Thousands of people gathered in Banjul on Thursday to mark the closing of the weeklong Banjul Cultural Festival, which ran from December 25 to January 1. The festival highlighted the city’s cultural diversity, showcasing its heritage while promoting unity among different tribes, Gambians, and visitors.
The event explored the Gambia’s varied cultures and traditions as a driver of development. It was supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), its affiliated institutions, partners, and funded by the European Union Youth Empowerment Project – Tourism and Creative Industries.
Initiated several years ago as a small initiative with a few cultural groups, the festival has grown into one of Gambia’s most prominent community events, attracting an estimated 50,000 attendees. Banjul, which hosts the State House, saw streets including Independence Drive, Lancaster, Fitzgerald, Wellington, Anglesea, Hagan, ECOWAS, Stanley, Arch, Box Bar, and Hardington filled with revelers celebrating the New Year. Attendees enjoyed cultural performances, music, dance, and displays of traditional Egungun (masquerades) from morning to dawn.
The Banjul New Year Task Force, established by MOTAC Minister Abdoulie Jobe, coordinated the festival through multiple committees to ensure smooth organization. The setup received praise from Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow, who commended the ministry, partners, and sponsors for improving festival management and fostering collaboration among key stakeholders.
“This festival preserves and promotes important aspects of our heritage, especially hunting and masquerade traditions that link Banjul to other West African coastal cities while remaining uniquely Gambian,” Vice President Jallow said during the official opening.
A major feature of the festival is the parade of traditional hunting masquerades. Over fifty hunting groups, some with histories spanning six decades, entertained audiences. Notable participants included Rainbow (Gesseh) and Sambasoho, Ekun Baba Odeh Hunting Society, Gunshot Hunting Society, Odilleh Hunting Society, Rainbow National Society, Egereh Fojusilleh Hunting Society, Sahirr Mbye Ak Lamin Njie, Dekali Banjul Fanal, Zimba Ak Batch Sowe, and Saul Sowe Carnival.
Locally referred to as the Hunting Festival, the Banjul Cultural Festival traditionally begins on Christmas Eve and concludes in the early hours of January 2. It draws large crowds of locals, visitors, and international tourists to the capital each year for this vibrant cultural experience.
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