By: Yunus .S. Saliu
In his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on Thursday at the National Assembly complex in Banjul, President Adama Barrow reaffirmed his government’s commitment to cultural preservation and the promotion of national heritage as key elements of The Gambia’s development agenda.
“To maintain and build on our competitiveness, attraction, and cultural preservation efforts, we have introduced the Janjangbureh Bicentenary and Kankurang Festivals, and revived the Roots Homecoming and Futampaf festivities,” President Barrow announced.
He underscored the importance of leveraging culture not only for identity and pride, but also as a vital driver of tourism and economic diversification.
In a significant policy move, President Barrow revealed that The Gambia Government has submitted the UNESCO Convention of 1954 on the Protection of Heritage in Times of Armed Conflict to the National Assembly for ratification. “Once ratified, The Gambia will be a signatory to all existing UNESCO conventions and, thus, solidify the government’s commitment to protecting and preserving our national heritage,” he said.
Highlighting recent progress in cultural documentation, President Barrow noted that in November 2024, The Gambia launched its Report on the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Landscape and the National ICH Register, with technical support from the Heritage Management Organisation.
“With the Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the arts and culture sector stands on the edge of having an element of Gambian heritage nominated for inscription into the UNESCO Safeguarding List of Intangible Cultural Heritage,” he said. “This would be a remarkable step towards protecting and valorising Gambian heritage.”
The annual State of the Nation Address serves as a platform for the Head of State to update the nation on key achievements, ongoing challenges, and strategic priorities. This year’s address emphasized the government’s deepening focus on culture, heritage, and the creative industries as vital components of national growth and global recognition.