Maladies in Babylon: Land, Corruption & Conflict - Gambia | 8 Apr 2021

This Participatory Video, produced by the people of Lamin, Makumbaya, and Mandinari, in the West Coast Region of The Gambia looks into the contentious issue of land grabbing. It captures the ordeal of land owners from three communities, regarding the forceful seize and sale of their lands by one Lamin Jarju, a resident of Babylon who has claimed ownership of and chieftaincy over the said farmlands.

Babylon, the area of land in question has been historically a large farmland utilized by the people of Lamin, Makumbaya, and Mandinari for their farming activities. Most of them rely on these farms to earn a living. It is not a recognized settlement legally speaking, thus has no chief. Albeit this reality, there is this tussle of ownership of these lands, leaving many people dissatisfied and frustrated.

Numerous attempts have been made to solicit support from various government institutions for them to intervene to find a lasting solution to this issue but nothing was achieved.The video essentially captures numerous stories of struggle for sustenance and justice.Facilitated by Gambia Participates, with support from the ATJLF.