History of Banjul
Banjul, formerly Bathurst is not only the capital city of Gambia but also its Atlantic port. It is situated on St. Mary's Island where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean and is the only large urban area in Gambia. Banjul is the main urban area that holds the country's economic and administrative center. Its chief export is peanuts. Other products that are exported include: beeswax, palm kernels and oil, and skins and hides. Peanut processing is the chief industry. It is located at 13°28' North, 16°36' West. Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra.
Banjul and Gambia came under British influence during the colonial times. In 1816, Banjul was founded when the British Colonial Office ordered Captain Alexander Grant to establish a military post on the river. This was done to suppress the slave trade and serve as a trade outlet for merchants ejected from Senegal, which had been restored to France. Grant chose Banjul Island that was ceded by the chief of Kombo as the site. It was first named Bathurst after Henry Bathurst, the secretary of the British Colonial Office.
Banjul became the capital of the British colony and protectorate of Gambia. After 1947 it was governed by a town council and when Gambia attained independence in 1965, the town was granted city status and became the national capital. Its name was changed to Banjul in 1973.
In 1994, Banjul was the scene of a bloodless military coup d'etat which saw President Dawda Jawara being overthrown and replaced by the country's current President Yahya Jammeh.
Almost half of the city's population in Banjul is Wolof. The Aku (descendants of freed slaves), Malinke (Mandingo), Mauritanian, and Lebanese communities are significant minorities.
Banjul has several tourist attractions such as the Gambian National Museum, the Albert Market, Banjul State House, Banjul Court House, two cathedrals and several major mosques among others.
The city is connected with the interior and Senegal via a ferry northward across the Gambia River and Banjul-Serekunda Highway. The city is also an educational centre hosting several schools such as the Gambia High School, two Roman Catholic secondary schools, a Muslim high school, a vocational school, and a public library among others.
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