Banjul - Folkloric Show Onboard

The Gambia, a small country in size, has a diverse and multi-cultural society with as many as 9 ethnic groups found along the river.  

Each of the following ethnic groups speak their own language, have their own cultural and traditional dress and musical instruments. Some of these tribes have their own tribal marks and can be visibly recognize, like the Fulani people, who have three stripes on their face. Each of the ethnic groups do have differences in the way they conduct marriage or wedding ceremonies and funerals. During ceremonial wedding or naming ceremonies and social gatherings, the following local instruments are used for music, the Kora which belongs to the Mandinkas, is a 21 string instruments made of calabash and animal skin, Djembe and drums that are common to all ethnic groups, Riti which belongs to the Fulani and the Balafong is also made of 21 wood sticks and calabash normally used by the Jola tribe. 

All these musical instruments are played by a special family in each ethnic groups commonly known as Griots or oral historians. During these events, you don’t only learn the culture and traditions of The Gambia, but you feel it. 

The cultural entertainments will last between 1 hour to 1 1/2 hour. Here we will observe the real west African cultural dance with style and experience the real character and identity of The Gambia in terms of culture. We will see the traditional west African musical instruments found in The Gambia. We will also listen the rhythms of the Djembes and Drums, and the sound of the Kora and Balafon played by different tribes in The Gambia.