As stated in the previous editions of this column, culture plays an important role in our daily lives.

Sites depicting our cultural heritages, especially sites linked to slavery and the slave trade, deserve our attention. Due to their value, proven by the World Movement for Recognition and Commemoration of the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition, there is an ardent call for the sites to be jealously guarded.

James Island, located in the middle of the River Gambia, right across Albreda and Juffereh in Upper Niumi, North Bank Region (NBR), has been inscribed in the list of World Heritage Sites.

The inscription of the island on the list has confirmed its exceptional and universal value which deserves protection for the benefit of all humanity. James Island and other related traditional cultural and historical sites present a testimony to the periods and facts of the encounter between Africa and Europe along the River Gambia.  James Island was put on the list following a meeting of World Heritage Committee in 2003.

Flash points
1456, A portuguese sailor in the entourage of Luis De Cadamosto died and was buried on  the island which was renamed after him as St Andrews’ Island. In 1651, the fort was built by servants of the Duke of Courtland in  an attempt to establish an empire in this part of the world. 1661, James Island was seized by the Royal Adventure of England  and was renamed after James, Duke of the York.

In the year 1695, James Island was seized on three separate occasions by the French. It was at one time blown up and later reconstructed in 1698; it was repaired after its partial destruction by fire in 1703. In the year 1708, the Royal Adventure of England garrisoned on the fort. In 1709, the island was abandoned. 1714, the island went through reconstruction.  In 1719, pirates seized the island and carried away all the goods and slaves.

As part of relentless efforts geared towards the preservation and protection of James Island from the  threat of erosion and the possible complete disappearance of the island into the sea, the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), the institution vested with the responsibility of being the custodian of arts and culture in the country, last Friday, January 2009, made a working visit to James Island.

The NCAC was accompanied to the Island by Deborah Stolh, programme coordinator  from  Prince Claus Fund also called Cultural Emergency Response (CER), a Charitable Organisation based in the Hague, Netherlands. Christopher Honeycutt, a Peace Corps volunteer also known as Kawsu Dampha, based in Upper Niumi and media practitioners. The visit was meant to assess the level of sea erosion at  James Island and to map out the possible methods to avert the deteriorating condition of the place. Prince Claus Fund specialises in cultural emergency response  programmes throughout the world.

The organisation has offered  35,000 Euros to support the immediate restoration of James Island, the CFAO building located right on the river bank of Albreda/Juffureh as well as the  restoration of the stone circle museum in Kerr Batch. The USA Embassy in the Gambia has also extended a helping hand in the form of financial assistance towards restoration of James Island. The restoration is expected to commence soon.

Deborah Stolh, in a short and precise chat with the press shortly after the tour of James Island, explained the aims and objectives of her organisation, which according to her, focuses its attention on cultural emergency responses throughout the world. She said the Cultural Emergency Response Organisation which offers both financial and material support to cultural emergencies operates based on the needs of the communities and for the benefit of humanity. She expressed hope that the fund allocated for the said projects in the Gambia would suffice.

Christopher Honeycutt, an agriculturalist and a specialist in environment, said the US Embassy has offered support for planting of trees on the island for conservation and protection of the place from further deterioration.

Momodou Joof, director general of the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) and Baba Ceesay, director of Cultural Heritage at the NCAC jointly refuted allegations that James Island is fast disappearing into the sea. According to the NCAC boss, James Island is located right  on a hard bedrock, which made its long existence possible.

Joof revealed that Prince Claus Fund project for the Gambia will last for six months. "We intend to work on the walls of the structures of the island, sea sides of the island and  use [various] methods in conservation and protection from sea erosion," he said. According to Baba Ceesay,  the donors will engage the communities of Albreda/Juffureh  and the environs in restoration of the CFAO building. The said building, according to  historical analysts, was used as a trading centre by the European colonialists. "The place, once renovated, will be used as a market for artists and other businesses," Mr Ceesay explained.