Janjanbureh, Gambia

Janjanbureh or Jangjangbureh is a town, founded in 1832, on Janjanbureh Island, also known as MacCarthy Island, in the Gambia River in eastern Gambia.[1][2] Until 1995, it was known as Georgetown and was the second largest town in the country. It was the capital of the former Central River Division and is best known as home to Gambia's main prison. The Wassu stone circles lie 22 km northwest of Lamin Koto, on the north bank across from Janjanbureh.

Janjanbureh
Janjanbureh
Location in the Gambia
Coordinates: 13°32′2.87″N 14°45′58.15″W
Country The Gambia
DivisionCentral River Division

It was the birthplace of the late Yale University historian Lamin Sanneh.[3]

The island is known locally as MacCarthy Island and is located in what used to be called MacCarthy Island Division. The island is accessed by bridge from the south bank, and small boat ferries or government ferry on the north bank. In 1995, both the city of Georgetown and MacCarthy Island were renamed Janjanbureh respectively.

Janjanbureh is also the name of the district in which the town of Janjanbureh is located.

References

  1. Gailey, Harry A. (1964). A History of The Gambia. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
  2. Gray, J.M. (1940). History of The Gambia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  3. Seelye, Katharine Q. (2019-01-11). "Lamin Sanneh, Scholar of Islam and Christianity, Dies at 76". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
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