By Edrissa Ken-Joof, Ph.D.
In a world increasingly fractured by identity politics, small nations like The Gambia face a stark choice: cling to the divisive politics of ethnicity or forge a unifying nationalism that transcends tribal lines. Here, where the Gambia River stitches together a tapestry of Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Manjago, Serahuli, Aku, Jola, Serer and other communities, the stakes could not be higher. Our country is no stranger to ethnic harmony. For generations, traditions like sanawya – a culture of joking relationships between clans – have served as social glue, diffusing tensions with humor and mutual respect. A Fula might tease a Mandinka about cattle raids; a Wolof and Serer could spar over fishing prowess. These traditions once insulated us from the ethnic violence plaguing neighbors like Mali.
The False Comfort of Tribal Politics
Yet today, as our country struggles to rebuild after decades of dictatorship and economic stagnation, a dangerous trend is rooting: politicians weaponizing ethnic identities to fragment the electorate. Ethnicity is not inherently toxic; it becomes so when politicized. In The Gambia, some leaders frame elections as zero-sum contests between Wolof, Mandinka, Fula, or Jola “interests,” reducing governance to tribal arithmetic. This mirrors Myanmar’s 2008 constitution, which entrenched ethnic hierarchies and excluded minorities from power. Such tactics erode trust in institutions and alienate citizens who simply want roads, schools, and jobs. Our strength lies in reframing diversity as an asset. Imagine a Gambia where Wolof fishermen, Fula herders, and Jola farmers collaborate on agro-industrial projects. Where Mandinka griots and Serer artisans jointly market Gambian culture to the world. This is not naivete; it is the logic of survival. As the Senegalese philosopher Léopold Sédar Senghor once said, “Civilization is the encounter of differences.”
Tribalism isn’t just morally bankrupt—it’s economic suicide. How can a nation smaller than Connecticut attract investment when leaders fan ethnic flames? How do we tackle climate crises or youth unemployment if governance is reduced to tribal arithmetic? This is not just a Gambian problem. From Myanmar’s Rohingya crisis to the rise of xenophobic populism in Europe or South Africa, the global surge in ethnocentrism offers a cautionary tale.
But there is another way.
The Singapore Blueprint: Unity in Diversity
In 1965, Singapore—a fledgling nation with no natural resources and a volatile mix of Chinese, Malay, and Indian communities—faced collapse. Its founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, made a radical choice: he rejected ethnic favoritism and built a civic nationalism rooted in shared sacrifice and collective progress. “We emphasized the common interest of everybody,” Lee declared in 1984. “We made them submerge their differences.” The result? A multicultural powerhouse now ranked among the world’s wealthiest nations. Singapore’s success holds urgent lessons for The Gambia, but cautiously. Like Singapore, we are a small, ethnically diverse country with colonial scars. Unlike Singapore, we have allowed ethnic divisions to fester in our politics. Again, we need to emphasize this phrase, ‘but cautiously’. Singapore achieved unity through authoritarianism: stifling dissent, mandating ethnic housing quotas. We need not replicate repression, but we must embrace Lee’s core truth: survival hinges on forging collective purpose from diversity. Contrast this with Myanmar again, where ethnic supremacy fueled genocide, or France, where rigid secularism has alienated immigrant communities, breeding resentment and extremism. The Gambia risks similar fractures if we conflate nationalism with ethnic purity. Actually, we’re being ironical here. We filed a case against Myanmar ‘s military leaders, when are gradually drowning in the same dirty pond.
A Crisis of Leadership
The Gambia’s political class has failed this test as our politics remains a gerontocracy. Our parties, from the UDP, GDC, PDOIS, CA, NRP to the APRC, remain fiefdoms controlled by founders who cling to power like monarchs, treating leadership as a birthright. Internal democracy is nonexistent. Worse, these leaders often conflate party loyalty with patriotism. Imagine a Gambian president proclaiming, “My tribe is the civil service.” Yet today, civil service appointments are still skewed by ethnic patronage. This hypocrisy fuels cynicism, especially among youth who see politics as a dirty game. This cult of personality stifles progress and entrenches tribalism. True leaders, as philosopher Jim Rohn noted, are “bold but not bullies.” Compare this to Singapore’s People’s Action Party, which reinvents itself through meritocracy; Gambia needs term limits, intra-party elections, and youth representation. Yet citizens are complicit. Voting based on tribe or selling ballots for a bag of rice betrays nationhood. Democracy, as Thucydides warned, perishes when citizens prioritize self-interest over collective survival. True leaders, as the late U.S. General Douglas MacArthur said, have “the courage to make tough decisions and the compassion to listen.” Gambian leaders must stop campaigning as ethnic champions and start governing as national stewards.
Education as Liberation
Our schools teach children about 13th-century Malian or Ghanaian kings but neglect what it means to be Gambian. A reformed curriculum should emphasize shared heritage: for instance, the Gambia River as a unifying force; interethnic trade networks; and heroes like our founding fathers, who led us to independence without bloodshed. Media must also reform. Radio hosts and influencers peddling stereotypes should be challenged; ethical journalism must spotlight collaborations, like Fula-Mandinka farming partnerships boosting food security.
A Roadmap for Reform
- Democratize Political Parties: Impose term limits on party leaders and mandate internal elections. Let new voices emerge.
- Rewrite the Curriculum: Teach children civic pride, not tribal pride. Replace ethnic hero-worship with lessons on Gambian innovators and entrepreneurs.
- Leverage Cultural Bridges: Formalize sanawya as a conflict-resolution tool in local governance.
- Invest in Shared Infrastructure: Build industrial zones that employ all ethnic groups, gender and other demographics, fostering economic interdependence.
A Call to Citizens
Let’s remember, The Gambia is named for the river that bisects our land – a symbol of life and connection. Today, that river risks becoming a boundary between tribes. Let it instead carry us toward a future where a Jola farmer in Foni and a Wolof trader in Serrekunda see their destinies as intertwined. In 1994, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela turned a fractured nation into a “rainbow” by prioritizing unity over vengeance. The Gambia, with our own rainbow of ethnicities, can do the same. It should be noted that democracy is not a spectator sport. Gambians should open-mindedly and maturely participate in politics. We should also shy away from the common saying that, ‘politics is not for me’. If not you, then who else? Maybe we will keep on electing dingbats, charley or karen to our State House, National Assembly and regional governments.
Again, Gambians must reject politicians who trade in ethnic fearmongering. When a leader says, “Vote for me because I’m your tribesman,” ask instead: “What is your plan for our shared future?” This is not idealism – it is pragmatism. As Thucydides warned millennia ago, “A private man, however successful, if his country perishes, is involved in her destruction.” Let us breathe nationalism, bathe in it, and let it guide us to a future where no Gambian is reduced to a mere demographic statistic. Our river has always flowed as one; let our nation do the same.
“[Democracy] is truth, honesty, and love.” — Lee Kuan Yew
Dr. Edrissa Ken-Joof, a Gambian based in the United States of America, is political analyst, scholar, writer, and an ex-public servant with a multifaceted academic and professional background. Holding a PhD in Management and currently pursuing a second doctorate in Public Administration, Dr. Ken-Joof is deeply committed to advancing knowledge in governance, leadership, and organizational dynamics. With a bachelor’s degrees in political science and English, master’s degree in international Affairs and Security Management and ongoing studies in Political Psychology, his expertise spans the intersections of politics, psychology, and public policy. He has a unique ability to blend analytical rigor with eloquent storytelling.
