By Yunus S. Saliu
The Vice President, Mohammed BS Jallow, officially opened the Banjul Cultural Festival 2025 at Arch 22, marking the start of a weeklong celebration of Gambian heritage, creativity, and identity.
The festival, running from 25 December 2025 to 1 January 2026, drew a large audience including cabinet ministers, permanent secretaries, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, the Deputy Mayor of Banjul, councilors, members of the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard), the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), cultural groups, elders, and members of the public.
In his opening remarks, Vice President Jallow said the festival is “a powerful expression of Gambian cultural identity that brings life to the capital city while uniting the people.” He commended the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and its partners for improved organization, particularly the creation of a national task force coordinating key stakeholders, and acknowledged the support of sponsors and cultural institutions.
“This festival preserves and promotes important aspects of our heritage, especially hunting and masquerade traditions that link Banjul to other West African coastal cities, while remaining uniquely Gambian,” he added.
Vice President Jallow also paid tribute to the Odilleh Cultural Group for its 60 years of cultural service and highlighted the festival’s economic potential, noting the role of the Gambian diaspora in supporting infrastructure, skills transfer, and international promotion. He said the event aligns with President Adama Barrow’s national development agenda by contributing to cultural preservation, tourism growth, and economic empowerment.
Earlier, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Honourable Abdoulie Jobe, described the festival as a flagship event celebrating national identity and positioning Banjul as an international cultural tourism destination. He explained that the festival is part of a broader strategy to develop cultural products that boost tourism and support the creative industry, noting that the EU-funded Tourism and Creative Industries Project has trained 30 cultural group members in event management, organisation, and promotion.
Minister Jobe said extensive promotion through GRTS and social media has already reached over 60,000 viewers, raising expectations of high visitor turnout. “We want this to be more than a cultural product; it must also be a tourism product that attracts both Gambians and international visitors,” he stated.
He added that the five-day programme offers rich cultural experiences and complements other national tourism initiatives such as the Janjanbureh Kankurang and Masks Festival and the Ninki Nanka Trail, aimed at making Gambian tourism inclusive, sustainable, and competitive.
“Culture is our strongest bond. It unites communities, strengthens social cohesion, and transforms creativity into dignity, opportunity, and economic empowerment,” the minister said.
Yusupha Keita, Acting Country Representative of the International Trade Centre, reaffirmed the project’s support for the festival as a nationally recognised and internationally attractive event. He highlighted its role in training cultural groups, enhancing promotion, and ensuring compliance with cultural and tourism standards.
Deputy Mayor of Banjul, Honourable Abdou Aziz Dabakh Gaye, and the Chairman of the Banjul Festival also delivered remarks at the ceremony.