Janjanbureh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Janjanbureh
Janjanbureh Location in The Gambia
Country	The Gambia
Division	Central River Division

Janjanbureh, also sometimes called Jangjangbureh, is a town in The Gambia. It was started in 1823 on an island called Janjanbureh Island, which is also known as MacCarthy Island. This island is located in the Gambia River, in the eastern part of the country.

Before 1995, the town was known as Georgetown. It used to be the second largest town in The Gambia. Today, Janjanbureh is the capital of the Janjanbureh Local Government Area (which was once called the Central River Division). It is also the main town of the Janjanbureh district. In 2013, about 127,333 people lived in the Janjanbureh Local Government Area.

History of Janjanbureh

How Janjanbureh Island Was Acquired

Janjanbureh Island was once known as Lemain Island. In 1823, a British captain named Alexander Grant bought the island. He made a deal with Kolli Camara, who was the king of Lower Niani. Captain Grant agreed to pay him every year for the island.

The British planned to use the island as a place for people who had been freed from slavery to live.

Early Conflicts and Trade

Soon after the British settled, a disagreement started. The colonists asked for workers from Niani, but King Camara's family, the Kamara clan, sent an army instead. This forced the British to hide in their new fort on the island.

The British tried to fight back against the Niani capital, Ndougousine, but they did not succeed. The Mandinka people captured two of their cannons. However, the British managed to keep control of Janjanbureh Island.

By the 1840s, the trading post on the island was doing well. People traded things like animal hides, wax, and ivory. It was the furthest point up the river that the British colonial government controlled. In 1880, the town had 1,263 people living there, but only one of them was from Europe.

Famous People from Janjanbureh

Janjanbureh is the hometown of Lamin Sanneh, a well-known historian who taught at Yale University.

Janjanbureh Today

Main Attractions and Access

Today, Janjanbureh is known for being home to The Gambia's main correctional facility (prison).

A popular place for visitors is the Wassu stone circles. These ancient stone circles are a major tourist attraction. They are located about 22 kilometers northwest of Lamin Koto, on the north side of the river, just across from Janjanbureh.

The island itself is still often called MacCarthy Island by local people. You can reach the island by crossing a bridge from the south bank of the river. If you are coming from the north bank, you can use small boat ferries or a government ferry.

In 1995, both the town of Georgetown and MacCarthy Island were officially given their new names: Janjanbureh.

Images for kids

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  Jajanbureh ferry

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  The slave house, a museum of the slave trade

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  Hut at the Jangjangbureh Camp