Ms Angela Kolley, Secretary of State for Tourism and Culture, on behalf of the Gambian leader, President Yahya Jammeh yesterday launched a book entitled Kanilai: a Guide to Heritage Sites at a ceremony graced by Madam Isatou Njie-Saidy, the Vice President and various Secretary of States at the Paradise Suites Hotel.

The book, authored by Demba EM Sanneh and fully sponsored by President Yahya Jammeh is meant to promote eco-tourism and to satisfy the curiosity of visitors to Kanilai and the rest of the heritage trail in Bwiam, Dobong, Kankuntu, Sita, Kusamai, Karanai Jola and Jakoi Sibirik.

In her address, Ms Angela Kolley said the Gambian leader’s personal involvement, guidance and direction gave Mr. Sanneh the courage and opportunity to undertake the work, which was fully sponsored by President Jammeh.

According to her, the book will undoubtedly complement the efforts of the National Council for Arts and Culture in its heritage identification and preservation drive, and also contribute towards efforts to promote eco-tourism. The provision of eco-tourism facilities, she added is a sine qua non to diversifying The Gambia’s tourism product. “I would like to urge the ground tour operators to add the Kanilai cultural trail to their visitor tours in order to further enrich the Gambian experience. Kanilai can be used as a base, whilst tourists extend their visits to other sites in the other villages within the trail. I want to also use the opportunity to call on other Gambians to emulate the author’s example by researching other cultural sites in the country”, she said.

She challenged Gambians to be proud of their cultural heritage and do everything possible to promote it, especially among the youth, who are often attracted to foreign cultures. She added that culture plays a very crucial role in human development and it should be incumbent on all societies to ensure its maintenance.

Secretary of State Kolley said cultural tourism is increasingly becoming very popular and more and more people are becoming interested in this area. There is therefore an urgent need to develop and document our cultural sites. Quite apart from developing these areas for our international visitors, it is also important that we develop them for local use.

“All the work that President Jammeh has done and continues to do in Kanilai is an apt indication of how His Excellency has freed himself from the shackles binding many African elite who forget their villages once they come to the city”, she concluded.

The author of the book, Mr. Demba E.M Sanneh, for his part, gave a brief historical overview of his book under the directive of the Gambian leader, President Yahya Jammeh, whom he described as his mentor and guide during the production of the book.

He therefore, expressed profound and sincere thanks to the Alkalolu of Kanilai, Kusamai, Karanai Jola, Bwiam, Dobong, Kankuntu, Sita, and Jakoi Sibirik for their valuable support and guidance towards the production of the book.

The book was reviewed by Dr Lamin Sidibeh, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Social Science Department, University of The Gambia. The ceremony which was attended by many Secretaries of States, including Neneh Macdoull Gaye, Ismaila Sambou and the Speaker of the National Assembly, Honorable Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay and top government officials was chaired by Momodou Joof, the Executive Director, National Council for Arts and Culture.