A Journey to The Gambia and Senegal
By: Eric Kawa
On a busy Monday, I made my way from The Gambia to Dakar, Senegal. We began in Brusubi, passing through Sanchaba, Senegambia, and Bakau, heading straight to Banjul.
Hastily, we rushed to catch the ferry. Here we come, Bara!
Driving from Bara to Hamdalaye, we arrived at the Senegalese border. After a few interrogations at the Gambian Immigration Department, we managed to pass through, thanks to my friend Mohamed Gaye, who served as my lawyer. 😊
We quickly moved on to the Senegalese Immigration unit. Upon inspecting my passport and press ID, one of the officers thought I was too young to be a journalist. What more can I say this time? I just helped Mohamed smile. 😊
Now, we were heading to the car park known as ‘Garage,’ where we got a three-seater Peugeot for the ride to Dakar.
We spent hours driving through Kaolac and other subregions, and I couldn’t sleep—curiosity kept me awake as I wanted to see the way.
Gradually, we were welcomed to Dakar by its attractive toll gates. To say the roads were beautiful is an understatement; they were so impressive, you could literally host a carnival.
I was thrilled to visit Senegal for the first time. Senegal is my maternal homeland. Although my mother was born in Sierra Leone, my maternal great-grandparents trace their roots to Senegal, with the surname ‘Dieng’ (or Jeng in English).
We entered the capital around 3 AM and spent an hour touring the city. Dakar is renowned for its massive infrastructural development. Often described as ‘Terenga,’ Senegal is the home of hospitality, and its people truly live up to that reputation.
Of course, I couldn’t speak without using words from my Wolof vocabulary. ‘Jerreh Jeff’ (Thank You) to my sharp Wolof tutor, Hawa, a young niece of a friend in The Gambia. She’s quite sharp for her age.🤩
‘Santa Yallah Moubaha’ (Thanks to God in abundance) —I could find my way around Senegal because of my ability to speak French.
The delicious cuisines were a highlight of my trip. Thieboudienne (Jollof Rice) is a must-try, and of course, you shouldn’t miss Benachi (Gambian Jollof Rice) either. Bon appétit! 😋
We also visited the African Renaissance Monument—the largest statue in Africa—and had some great fun.
Walking through the ‘corniche’ and boulevards of Dakar took me back to high school, where I read Mariama Bâ’s ‘So Long a Letter.’
We stopped by ‘Parc historique d’Hanne,’ where I had some lion friends. 🦁😅
The next day, I connected with a Guinean friend, now a brother of mine, Mohamed Yansané. We had been connected on Facebook for years before finally meeting in person. We visited Al Amir’s barbershop, where I got a sleek new haircut.
Later, we had a special ‘pain thon’ (bread with tuna) and Senegalese tea for breakfast, we prayed at one of the Masjids in Madina, and continued our tour, adding more experiences to my diary. One of the highlights was visiting the obelisk ‘La Place de la Nation.’
While in The Gambia, I enjoyed the hospitality of my aunt Makuta and my Gambian schoolmate, Adama, whom I attended Bilingual High School with in Sierra Leone. I still remember the sumptuous Benachi that both my aunt and Adama made for me on Eid.
I also enjoyed Thiakry, Wonjo/bisap, and plenty of baobab juice treats.
Special thanks to my fellow APLP Alumni, Fatoumata, who surprised me with beautiful Gambian outfits.
I had a great time touring The Gambia with my friends Joanis, Abdul Aziz, and Alhassan of Sanchaba who also surprised me with some gifts.
The days in Senegal and The Gambia were unforgettable memories that I wouldn’t trade for anything. ‘Jerreh Jeff’ (Thank You!)
