The Gambia’s hidden history: how a tiny river basin influenced colonial trade and slavery
Researchers are re-examining the history of The Gambia, highlighting its role as a critical hub for Atlantic trade and slavery. The study emphasizes the agency of African societies in shaping these historical networks.
Why it matters
This research contributes to modern discussions on reparations and provides a more nuanced understanding of colonial-era economic systems.
A mural at a slave house on Janjanbureh Island, once known as Georgetown, in The Gambia. Peter van der Sluijs/Wikimedia Commons The Gambia’s hidden history: how a tiny river basin influenced colonial trade and slavery Published: July 24, 2026 4:27am EDT https://theconversation.com/the-gambias-hidden-history-how-a-tiny-river-basin-influenced-colonial-trade-and-slavery-288205 https://theconversation.com/the-gambias-hidden-history-how-a-tiny-river-basin-influenced-colonial-trade-and-slavery-288205 Link copied Share article Share article
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The Gambia is often portrayed as little more than a geographical oddity , a strip of land engulfed by its much larger neighbour Senegal. It was once the centre of Senegambia , administered by Britain between 1765 and 1779. But there is another way of looking at it which reveals its importance and adds to current reflections on reparations for slavery.
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