Africa-Press – Gambia. Residents of Soma in the Lower River Region and its surroundings are gearing up for an unforgettable cultural jamboree scheduled to take place this Saturday, 26th July 2025.
According to Malang Fatty, Chief Organiser of the Soma Trans Gambia Festival (SOTRAFEST), the event is a community-based cultural celebration typically held in Soma, a key town in The Gambia’s Lower River Region. It is designed to celebrate and promote the diverse cultural heritage, unity, and social cohesion of all the people living in Soma and its surroundings, especially those who are part of the Trans Gambia corridor.
The theme for this year’s event is Promoting Peace, Tolerance and Intercultural Dialogue. Mr. Fatty, a native of Soma, told this reporter that the festival’s key elements include cultural showcases of traditional music and dance performances from various ethnic groups such as Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Jola, among others. Folk storytelling, drumming, and masquerade displays such as the Kankurang will also feature, along with local art, fashion, and craft exhibitions.
Community participation is central to the festival, with youth groups, women’s groups, cultural associations, and schools taking part in competitions, performances, and educational events. Diaspora Gambians also attend and contribute to the event as a way of reconnecting with their roots.
Mr. Malang Fatty further stated that the cultural jamboree will bring many benefits to the country, especially for the economy and tourism sector. It boosts the local economy through trade fairs, food vendors, and tourism-related activities. The festival also aims to encourage domestic and regional tourism within The Gambia and Senegal, while promoting the Trans Gambia connection a reference to Soma’s role as a transit and cultural link between northern and southern Gambia, and between The Gambia and Senegal.
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