Lausanne World Pulse – Perspectives Articles – The Big Deal About Little Gambia

By Mark Kolo and Hannah Ibanga
February 2007

Virtually every tribe in Gambia can be described as unreached.

Gambia, a small country in West Africa with a population of 1.4 million people, had its early contacts with the gospel as far back as two hundred years ago when the Anglicans and Methodists arrived on “the smiling coast.” It was one of the first countries in the sub-region where Western missionaries planted churches. In spite of centuries and decades of the gospel’s presence in Gambia, not much can be celebrated since there remain dominant forces long entrenched in the land, unchallenged by the might of the Church.

Virtually every tribe in Gambia can be described as unreached since none of them possess sufficient manpower and resources to effectively evangelise their own people without external assistance. Early pioneers to Gambia seemed to concentrate their evangelistic work almost entirely among the Aku. This made many of the other people groups believe that Christianity was not meant for them. This perception has been passed down from one generation to another to the extent that a Wolof or Mandinka person considers it unthinkable to be called a Christian. These tribes, numbering hundreds of thousands, barely have a handful of indigenous believers among them. For example, among the 100,000 Soninke in Gambia, there are less than thirty known Soninke Christians. The story is no better among the Fulas who regard themselves as the original custodians of Islam in West Africa. Even communities among the Traditional Religion such as the Jola and Manjako are being taken over by the steady growth of Islam in Gambia due to financial aid from Arab countries.

Among the 100,000 Soninke in Gambia, there are less than thirty known Soninke Christians.

What can the Church do to reverse this trend? Tor Uja, director of Mission House International, believes that “Gambia needs a fresh, massive and sustained missionary drive to bring the impact of the gospel to these people. The existing churches are in dire need of discipleship. There is need for intensive youth work that can rise men for Gambia. For despite the political changes, there has remained an open door for the gospel, although it takes them long to believe.”

Demi-gods and Red Flags
The Marabouts have a strong grip on many people in Gambia. Their influence cuts across society like a knife. From politics to economics, from the social structure to the educational system, these men run the country with such great power that some of them are considered gods by their followers. The encasement of Gambia within Senegal on all borders makes it easy for Marabouts who are trained and receive powers from Senegal to penetrate every fabric of societal life in Gambia. For many, loyalty to a personal Marabout comes before the state. Only the praying might of the Church can liberate the vast number of people whose lives are governed by these forces of darkness. Who will stand in the gap to pray?

Mark Kolo serves as director of media and mobilization with Missions Supporters League (MSL), a movement focused on mobilizing prayer and material support for cross-cultural missions. He is working toward pioneering MSL’s vision to reach the ten countries of Southern Africa. He lives in Jos, Nigeria. Dr. Hannah Ibanga serves as a consultant pediatrician. She formerly worked at the Medical Research Council in Gambia where she pioneered the work of MSL. Although she is originally from Nigeria, she currently lives in the United Kingdom.