The Gambia has long prided itself as “The Smiling Coast of Africa”. We are a small nation, but our strength has always been in our diversity. Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Jola, Sarahulé, Aku, Manjago, Bambara, and many others have lived side by side for generations. We intermarry, share markets, celebrate each other’s Tobaski, Christmas, and cultural festivals. That spirit of coexistence is what makes us Gambian. Yet in recent years, that unity is being tested.
Tribalism and hate speech are no longer whispers in village bantabas. They have moved into our politics, onto radio call-in shows, and onto social media where a single post can reach thousands in minutes. If we do not act decisively, we risk allowing division to become our national identity. This is why The Gambia urgently needs to criminalise tribalism and hate speech.
Since 2016, The Gambia has made remarkable progress in restoring democracy, freedom of expression, and the rule of law. But freedom without responsibility becomes dangerous. When politicians, influencers, or ordinary citizens use tribal language to mobilise support, they are not debating policy. They are drawing lines between “us” and “them”. That undermines elections, governance, and national cohesion. Criminalising hate speech does not mean banning criticism. It means drawing a clear red line: you can disagree with a leader, but you cannot attack an entire tribe.
Africa has seen where unchecked ethnic rhetoric leads. From election violence to communal clashes, the pattern is the same: leaders exploit identity, youths are mobilised with insults and lies, and ordinary families pay the price. The Gambia is small. We do not have the luxury of recovering from large-scale division. One incident of violence can traumatise a community for a generation. A law that criminalises tribal incitement and hate speech is a form of prevention. It tells every Gambian: your tribe is not a weapon.
Today, most young Gambians get their news from Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, and X. Algorithms reward outrage. A tribal insult goes viral faster than a message of peace. Without consequences, we are raising a generation that believes insulting another tribe is normal politics. Criminalisation, paired with civic education, will reset that norm. Schools, media houses, and community leaders must teach that being proud of your heritage is good, but using it to demean others is not.
Criminalisation must be careful and specific, so it is not abused to silence dissent. The law should target direct incitement or calling for violence or discrimination against a group based on tribe or ethnicity; using dehumanising language by comparing any tribe to animals, diseases, or enemies; or engaging in tribal profiling in politics by campaigning on the basis of “our tribe must rule” instead of policies. Penalties should include fines, community service, and where necessary imprisonment. Importantly, the law must be applied fairly, regardless of political affiliation or status.
But the law alone is not enough. Government, religious leaders, the media, and traditional authorities must lead a national campaign on tolerance. We need more national service, more mixed-school programmes, and more public messaging that celebrates what unites us. Our national anthem says “For The Gambia our homeland”.
Tribalism and hate speech are slow poisons. They start with jokes, then insults, then suspicion, then violence. Criminalising them is not about limiting speech. It is about protecting the right of every Gambian child to grow up without being hated for the name they bear. It is time we build tolerance into law, so that “The Smiling Coast” remains a home for all of us.