Janjanbureh Slave House

The so-called Slave House in Janjanbureh (formerly Georgetown) on MacCarthy Island is a controversial and emotionally charged site in Gambian history. While local oral traditions maintain that this building served as a dungeon for enslaved people awaiting transport downriver, recent historical research suggests it may have originally been used as a warehouse for commodities like groundnuts and grain. Nevertheless, the building remains a powerful symbol of the suffering endured during the inland slave trade era. The structure, made of local stone and featuring massive iron rings and chains, conveys an oppressive atmosphere reflecting the harsh reality of colonial exploitation. In the 19th century, Janjanbureh was an important British administrative center and a base for efforts to suppress illegal slave trading after its official abolition. Today, the site attracts many visitors seeking their ancestral roots and a deeper understanding of the region's complex past. Regardless of its original function, the building serves as a stark reminder of human cruelty and the resilience of the affected populations.

Nearby cities

Bansang

Bansang is a market town on the south bank of the Gambia River, home to the only major hospital in the country's interior.

Janjanbureh

Janjanbureh, formerly Georgetown, is a historic island town in the Gambia River, known for its colonial past.

Kuntaur

Kuntaur is an important trading town on the Gambia River and the gateway to the River Gambia National Park.

River Gambia National Park (Baboon Islands)

A protected archipelago in the Gambia River serving as a sanctuary for chimpanzees, hippos, and lush jungle vegetation.

Kaur

Kaur is a historic trading town on the north bank of the Gambia River, known for its once-thriving peanut trade.

History & landmarks

Mungo Park Memorial

A memorial in Janjanbureh dedicated to the Scottish explorer Mungo Park, who explored the Niger River.

Freedom Tree of Janjanbureh

A historic symbol in Janjanbureh marking the spot where liberated slaves gained their freedom.

Kerbatch Stone Circles

Another significant megalithic site in The Gambia, part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing.

More places

Janjanbureh Island

An island in the Gambia River known for its historical significance and natural beauty.

River Gambia National Park

This park includes five islands in the river and is famous for its chimpanzee reintroduction projects.

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Kuntaur Rice Mill

One of the largest rice mills in the country, central to processing the harvests from the surrounding floodplains.

Sami Plateau

A vast, dry plateau in the east of the Central River Region.

Wassu Stone Circles

The most famous megalithic site in West Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage site, consisting of precisely arranged laterite pillars.

Kuntaur Groundnut Depot

An important logistical hub on the upper reaches of the river for the transport of the region's agricultural products.

Kuntaur Highlands

One of the few gently rising hilly landscapes in the Gambia, rising above the Gambia River valley.

Mussa Molloh's Tomb

The burial site of the last great King of Fuladu, who played a central role in the resistance against colonial powers.