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Gambia Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1881–1966

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British colonial administrator of Gambia meeting with a chief, 1889.

Annual Departmental Reports relating to the Gambia, 1881–1966

In the past some of you have been brought together from time to time to mark important local or imperial events, but never before has the Governor of the Colony required the attendance of all the District Heads of the Protectorate at a meeting called to consider and discuss Government plans for the welfare of the country.
Conference of Chiefs, 1944-1954,  img 6

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Explore key government reports that chart Gambia’s journey towards independence

The landing of the British Governor at Bathurst, Gambia River: His inspection of the Frontier Force who are paying the military honours.

This comprehensive collection explores in detail Gambia’s history under British colonial rule through extensive governmental reports. Beginning near the end of the nineteenth century with the formation of Gambia as a British colony and protectorate, this collection tracks the wide-ranging administrative duties of various governmental departments within Gambia up until the country’s independence in the 1960s. 

From recording crime and disease levels throughout the territory, to in-depth reports concerning agricultural reform. These documents contributed by The British and Commonwealth Office provide a thorough level of insight into Gambia’s history as a British colony. 

This collection is accompanied by an online guide to the microfilm edition by D. C. Dorward, Lecturer in African History, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.

Contents

Gambia Under Colonial Rule, in Government Reports, 1881–1966...

Annual Departmental Reports relating to the Gambia, 1881–1966

Discover 
A panoramic city view of Gambia.

Highlights

Section of the transcribed speech which opened the Chief's Conference on 7th March.

Licensed to access Conference of Chiefs, 1944-1954

Records of conferences charting Gambia’s journey towards independence, as powers are transferred from the colonisers to the native Gambian population. Includes the first conference to which all District Heads of the Protectorate were invited.

Front page of a Report on the Agricultural Position and Requirements of the Gambia by the Director of Agriculture.

Licensed to access Agriculture, 1923-1952

Agricultural reports largely document the expansion of Gambia’s groundnut (peanut) industry which remains the country’s largest export to this day. Includes reports concerning agricultural strategies designed to increase crop yields and detailed records of local weather patterns.

Top section of a document recording Rules of the Court of Civil and Criminal Justice of the Settlement on the River Gambia, dated 23 October 1877.

Licensed to access Rules of the Court of Civil and Criminal Justice 1877

A comprehensive record of Gambia’s legal processes during the nineteenth century. This extensive document details the various rules and functions of the Gambian Court and the extent of its legislative and executive powers.

Top section of an Annual Report on the Medical Department for the year 1909, dated 3 March 1910.

Licensed to access Medical Dept Reports, 1909-1921

Explore reports and statistics recording the levels of incidence of diseases present in the local population. Additionally included are reports detailing various strategies for disease prevention and extensions of the Victoria Hospital in Bathurst (Banjul).

Insights

  • The British Empire established the military post of Bathurst on the island of Banjul in 1816. This territory — previously under the jurisdiction of the British Governor-General in Sierra Leone — became a separate colony in 1888, with its borders officially drawn in 1889 following an agreement with the French republic. 

  • As seen in the Public Services and Natural Resources volumes, the Government encountered many challenges while attempting to install an adequate infrastructure that would result in profit and successful colonial rule. Detailed within the collection, Gambia’s climate was of particular concern for the colony’s agricultural efforts. 

  • The local groundnut (peanut) industry was quickly seized upon as a source of income for the British Empire. The collection details how Western agricultural practices were introduced to the Gambia, resulting in the groundnut becoming one of the country’s largest exports. Explore the Trade and Shipping volume for further insight into Gambia’s exports and imports and how they were affected during the two World Wars.

  • Receiving its own executive and legislative councils in 1901, Gambia slowly started to shift towards being a self-governing colony. Outlined within the collection are records concerning Gambia’s judicial system and details of local crime incidences as well as reports on local prisons throughout the colony.

  • Following the Second World War, calls for constitutional reform became increasingly loud throughout the country. Contained within this collection are extensive records of conferences between the British Government and Gambia’s local chieftains. These allow readers to trace the gradual transfer of power from the British Empire to the Gambian people, culminating in the UK granting Gambia full internal self-governance in 1965.

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