Gambia Colony and Protectorate

The Gambia Colony and Protectorate was the British colonial administration of the Gambia from 1821 to 1965, part of the British Empire in the New Imperialism era. The colony was the immediate area surrounding Bathurst (now Banjul), and the protectorate was the inland territory situated around the Gambia River, which was declared in 1894. The foundation of the colony was Fort James and Bathurst, where British presence was established in 1815 and 1816, respectively. For various periods in its existence it was subordinate to the Sierra Leone Colony, however by 1888 it was a colony in its own right with a permanently appointed Governor.

Gambia Colony and Protectorate

1821–1965
Flag
Coat of arms
StatusCrown colony
CapitalBathurst
Common languagesEnglish (official), Mandinka, Fula, Wolof widely spoken
Religion
Christianity, Sunni Islam, Serer
GovernmentCrown colony
Monarch 
• 1821–1830
George IV (first)
• 1952–1965
Elizabeth II (last)
Governor 
• 1829–1830
Alexander Findlay (first)
• 1962–1965
John Warburton Paul (last)
Prime Minister 
• 1962–1965
Dawda Jawara
LegislatureLegislative Council (1844–1866; 1880–1960)
House of Representatives (1960–1965)
Historical eraNew Imperialism
• Establishment
17 October 1821
• Independence as The Gambia
18 February 1965
Area
196511,295 km2 (4,361 sq mi)
Population
• 1901
90,404
• 1931
199,520
• 1963
315,486
CurrencyPound sterling (to 1912)
British West African pound (1912–65)
Succeeded by
The Gambia (1965–1970)
Today part ofGambia
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Chronological
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The boundaries of the territory were an issue of contention between the British and French authorities due to the proximity to French Senegal.[1] Additionally, on numerous occasions the British government had attempted to exchange it with France for other territories, such as on the upper Niger River.[2]

France and Britain agreed in 1889 in principle to set the boundary at six miles north and south of the river and east to Yarbutenda, the furthest navigable point on the river Gambia. This should have been followed by the dispatchment of a joint Anglo-French Boundary Commission to map the actual border. Yet, at its arrival on place in 1891, the boundary commission was met with resistance by local leaders whose territories they were coming to divide. The boundary commission could nevertheless rely on British naval power; British ships bombed the town of Kansala to force the Gambians to back off, and according to the 1906 The Gambia Colony and Protectorate: An Official Handbook men and guns from three warships landed on the riverbanks “as a hint of what the resisters had to expect in the event of any continued resistance.”[3]

The colony ended in 1965 when The Gambia became an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations,[4] with Dawda Jawara as Prime Minister.

Economy

The economy of The Gambia, like other African countries at the time, was very heavily orientated towards agriculture. Reliance on the groundnut became so strong that it made up almost the entirety of exports, making the economy vulnerable. Groundnuts were the only commodity subject to export duties;[5] these export duties resulted in the illegal smuggling of the product to French Senegal.

Attempts were made to increase production of other goods for export: the Gambian Poultry Scheme pioneered by the Colonial Development Corporation aimed to produce twenty million eggs and one million lb of dressed poultry a year. The conditions in The Gambia proved unfavourable and typhoid killed much of the chicken stock, drawing criticism to the Corporation.[6]

Transport

The River Gambia was the principal route of navigation and transport inland, with a port at Bathurst. The road network was mainly concentrated around Bathurst, with the remaining areas largely connected by dirt roads.

The only airport was at Yundum, built in World War II.[7] Post war it was used for passenger flights. Both British South American Airways and the British Overseas Airways Corporation had services, the former moving its service to Dakar, which had a concrete runway (as opposed to pierced steel planking).[8] The airport was rebuilt in 1963 and the building is still in use today.

Government structure

During the later colonial period, especially in post-1901, The Gambia began to have a more developed colonial government. Roles in the government, though taken by white British officials, included examples such as the Attorney General, the Senior Medical Officer, the Controller of Customs, the Receiver General, and the Director of Public Works.

The colony was governed by the Executive Council primarily, but legislation came from the Legislative Council.

Independence

In anticipation of independence, efforts were made to create internal self-government. The 1960 Constitution created a partly elected House of Representatives, with 19 elected members and 8 chosen by the chiefs. This constitution proved flawed in the 1960 elections when the two major parties tied with 8 seats each. With the support of the unelected chiefs, Pierra Sarr N'Jie of the United Party was appointed Chief Minister. Dawda Jawara of the People's Progressive Party resigned as Minister of Education, triggering a Constitutional Conference arranged by the Secretary of State for the Colonies.[9]

The Constitutional Conference paved the way for a new constitution that granted a greater degree of self-government and a House of Representatives with more elected members. Elections were held in 1962, with Jawara's Progressive Party securing a majority of the elected seats. Under the new constitutional arrangements, Jawara was appointed Prime Minister: a position he held until it was abolished in 1970.

Following agreements between the British and Gambian governments in July 1964, The Gambia became independent on 18 February 1965.

See also

References
  1. "Hansard HC Deb 18 August 1887, vol 319, cols 944–955".
  2. Thomas Pakenham (1991), The Scramble for Africa. London: Abacus. p. 675
  3. Atlas Obscura
  4. The Gambia Independence Act 1964, c. 93
  5. "Hansard HC Deb 25 March 1959, vol 602, cols 1405–1458".
  6. "Hansard HC Deb 13 March 1951, vol 485, cols 1317–1375".
  7. "Yundum". Britannica Online encyclopedia. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  8. "Hansard HC Deb 29 January 1947, vol 432, cols 202".
  9. "History of the Independence Movement". Gambia Information Site. 10 August 2012.

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