Balanta Cultural Heritage Exhibition to open in Brikama

By Dawda Baldeh

The Gambia Balanta Youth Development Association (BAYDA) will stage the country’s first Balanta Cultural Heritage Exhibition on June 13, 2026, at the Presentation of Mary Nursery School.

The one‑day event will showcase artifacts, history, language, customs, values, and live cultural performances designed to preserve and promote Balanta identity. BAYDA said the exhibition aims to educate young people, strengthen cultural pride, and ensure traditions are passed to future generations.

“This exhibition is not merely an event; it is a movement to safeguard and rejuvenate the rich cultural identity of the Balanta people. Our goal is to educate the youth, bolster cultural pride, and ensure that our traditions are handed down to future generations,” BAYDA President Mayo J. Tamba said.

Organisers have invited Balantas across The Gambia and the diaspora, and people from other communities, to attend. BAYDA is also calling on media organisations, cultural groups, and the public to help raise awareness and support efforts to protect the nation’s diverse cultural heritage.