Gambia National Museum, National museum in Banjul, Gambia.
The Gambia National Museum occupies a three-story colonial-era building filled with archaeological finds, historical records, and traditional instruments from the region. Each floor is organized to show different periods and aspects of the country's past.
The building originally served as the Bathurst Club during colonial times, a gathering place reserved only for European members. It was converted into a museum in 1985 to preserve and share the country's history and cultural heritage.
The museum displays how Islam has shaped Gambian society across generations, and visitors can see this influence reflected in local crafts and family practices on view. The exhibits show connections between spiritual beliefs and everyday traditions that remain active in the community today.
The museum is located on Independence Drive and visitors can walk through all three floors at their own pace. Plan to spend enough time to see the instrument collection in the basement along with the upper levels.
The basement holds an extensive collection of handmade musical instruments that represent the musical traditions of various ethnic groups across the region. Few visitors expect to find such a complete gathering of these instruments in one place.
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