Gambian place names
In Gambian place names several have peoples left their mark. Most local or field names are taken from the language of the Mandinka , with about four-tenths of the largest population group in Gambia form. One can therefore recognize the predominant population group based on the place name.
Prefix and suffix for place names
Different prefixes and suffixes are used for place names. There is no uniform rule for the spelling, sometimes the names are written together, but also coupled or separated.
suffix
- Mandinka "- Ba" (seldom also in the spelling "Bah") means big, so a " Bantaba " ( Banta Ba ) - literally translated outside - big , is a meeting place of the place. “Ba” is also used as a suffix for place names, for example in Brikama Ba .
- Mandinka "-nding" means small, as a suffix it can be found, for example, in the place name of Banjulunding . It is read as Banjulu N'ding - literally translated as Banjul-klein ; Banjulu is a variant of Banjul .
- Mandinka "- Tenda" means quay or landing stage, as a suffix it can be found in numerous place names that are located directly on the Gambia River , for example at Karantaba Tenda . Sometimes there is another place further away from the river without this suffix.
- English "- Wharf" , also means wharf and is used for a few places on the Gambia River. One can assume that these place names originated during the British colonial period or that a quay was established here by the British.
- Mandinka "- Kunda" follows the founder (or the former owner) of the place, more than 200 places have this addition. For example, Serekunda ( Sere Kunda ) - literally translated Seres place .
prefix
- Wolof "Ker -", "Kerr -" follows the founder of the place, around 100 places have this addition. For example, Kerr Seringe Ngaga .
- fula "Sare -" follows the founder of the place, around 100 places have this addition.
Field names
- Mandinka " Bolong " (French spelling in the francophone neighboring country Senegal : Bôlon / Bolon) denotes either a creek or a tributary . Most of the flowing waters in the Gambia have this suffix.
- Mandinka " Banto Faro " - literally translated behind the swamp , denotes the land between the river and the raised land. They are occasionally flooded. Not used as a suffix.
Africanization
In the course of the Africanization and increasing self-confidence after the independence of the Gambia from the United Kingdom, some place and field names have been renamed to traditional names or more neutral names have been chosen that do not remind of former British governors. Numerous streets have also been renamed Banjul , previously named after high officers in the Royal Navy during the Battle of Trafalgar .
- The capital Bathurst changed to Banjul (1973)
- The location of Georgenown changed to Janjanbureh (1995)
- MacCarthy Island changed to Janjanbureh Island (1995)
- MacCarthy Island division changed to Central River Division (1995)
See also
literature
- Michael Tomkinson: Gambia, a tourist guide. Tomkinson, London et al. 1983, ISBN 0-905500-13-X