By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
The Kolley Kunda family, a longstanding native family of the Kamalo area, has intensified calls for the Gambian government to provide adequate compensation following the demolition of their traditional shrine, farmlands, fruit trees, women’s gardens, and a well. The destruction occurred amid land development activities in Kamalo, a site along the Banjul-Serrekunda Highway that has been at the center of controversial allocations and reviews in recent years.
In an exclusive interview, family members expressed profound grief and frustration over the loss of their cultural and economic assets.
Bonuwa Kolley recounted how, in 2023, the family observed demarcation works in Kamalo and approached the then-Alkalo of Old Jeswang, Musa Ceesay. The Alkalo reportedly assured them that Kolley Kunda would receive its fair share of the lands. However, that promise went unfulfilled, even after Ceesay’s removal from office.
The family’s concerns escalated when bulldozers, hired by businesspeople allocated plots in the area, razed their traditional shrine—known as Tul or Jalang—without prior notice. “We were not informed about the coming of the bulldozers that would allow us to relocate the shrine to a safer place,” said Solomon Kolley. He emphasized that the shrine serves not only the family but also communities from Casamance in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, acting as a traditional healing center for the distressed and sick.
“Kamalo is our home,” Bonuwa Kolley stressed. “It’s where all my family members were born, and we only moved upland to Jeswang in 1981.” The family continues to rely on Kamalo for farming, women’s oyster collection, and income from the shrine. Numerous mango and orange trees planted over generations were also destroyed.
Describing the incident as “a clear demonstration of heartlessness and injustice,” Bonuwa Kolley highlighted the family’s status as bona fide natives of Kamalo. The family has formally appealed for redress, writing letters to the Office of the President and the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), which is responsible for preserving cultural heritage sites. To date, no responses have been received from either institution.
Solomon Kolley echoed these sentiments, calling the demolition “unfair” and urging the government to intervene to address the seizure of their land and the destruction of their property. “It’s not fair to destroy everything we own, seize our land, destroy our shrine, and leave us empty-handed,” he said.
Other family members lamented the loss of livelihoods tied to the farmlands and shrine, noting that prolonged delays in justice exacerbate trauma and suffering, particularly for those dependent on shrine-related income.
The Kamalo area has come under scrutiny for land allocations. In recent years, a multi-sectoral task force reviewed allocations in the Kamalo Industrial Layout, leading to the cancellation and forfeiture of several plots due to irregularities. Development activities were halted in 2023 pending reviews, but private clearances appear to have proceeded in some cases.
The Kolley Kunda family is appealing directly to President Adama Barrow and his cabinet to investigate the matter urgently and ensure compensation. They argue that ignoring their pleas undermines justice for indigenous families displaced by development.
As land disputes continue to plague The Gambia, this case underscores tensions between cultural preservation, native rights, and urban expansion. The NCAC and government have yet to comment publicly on the family’s specific claims.
