Holiday Details
- Holiday Name
- Independence Day
- Country
- Gambia
- Date
- February 18, 2026
- Day of Week
- Wednesday
- Status
- 46 days away
- About this Holiday
- Independence Day is a public holiday in The Gambia
Independence Day
Gambia • February 18, 2026 • Wednesday
46
Days
20
Hours
27
Mins
48
Secs
until Independence Day
Africa/Banjul timezone
About Independence Day
Also known as: Independence Day
Ñalumu Jote sa Bopp bu Gambie: Jaloore ak Ngoné bu Màgg
Ñalumu Jote sa Bopp walla "Independence Day" ci Gambia, du rekk ab bés bu ñu falu ci almanax bi, waaye bés la boobu di firndéel taxawayu askan wu bëgg sañ-sañam, jomam, ak yéeneem ci sàmm réewam. Ci bés bi, mbooleem réew mi yepp dañuy taxaw ngir màggal keroog ba ñu génnee ci loxoy njiit yu bokkul ak ñoom, di Granda-Bretaña (Great Britain). Féete bi yéeg na ba ci biti, ndaxte am na solo lool ci xolu mbooleem nitt ñi dëkk ci réewum Gambia, ba mu dalee ci Banjul ba ci gox-goxaan yi gënë sori.
Li tax bés bi am solo mooy ne, dafa feete ak ab biddéew bu bees bu tàkk ci bëj-gànnaaru Afrik. Gambia, réew mu ndaw ci yaatuwaay waaye mu rëy ci taariix, dafa jàngal àdduna bi ne mbax ak doole du ci yaatuwaayu suuf waaye ci sàmm kersa ak taxaw ci sa sàñ-sàñ. Féete bi day dëgëral nekk gi ñu nekk benn askan, doonté ñu ngi dëkk ci xeet yu bare ak làkk yu bare. Ci bés bi, mbooleem Gambian yi, fumu mën a nekk ci àdduna bi, dañuy mébbeet ak mbégte ci seen réew.
Kañ la Ñalumu Jote sa Bopp bi ci 2026?
Ci atum 2026, Gambia dina màggal bésu Jote sa Boppam ci anam bu kawe. Lii mooy xibaar yi jëm ci bés bi:
- Bés bi: Wednesday
- Taariix bi: February 18, 2026
- Des na: 46 fan ngir bés bi jot.
Taariix ak Sosu réewum Gambia
Taariixu Gambia ak jote sa boppam, ab tànk la bu yàgg lool. Réew mi nekk na ci loxoy njiit yu Granda-Bretaña lu mat ñenti téeméeri at (400 years). Ci anam yu bare, réew mi dafa nekkoon ab barab bu am solo ci wàllu yaxantu ak njiit ci bëj-gànnaaru Afrik. Waaye, bëgg-bëggu askan wi ngir am seen sañ-sañ ci seen suuf, mënul woon a nàmm.
Ci févriye 18, 1965, Gambia am na jote sa boppam bu jëkk. Waaye, loolu jote sa bopp bu mat sëkk nekkoonul. Ci biir atum 1965, Gambia nekk na réew mu am "constitutional monarchy", loolu di tekki ne njiitu réewu Granda-Bretaña (The British Monarch) moo nekkoon njiit ci kaw xalima, te réewu Angalteer moo yore woon wàllu kaarange (defense), politigu biti (foreign affairs), ak wàllu xaalis (financial matters).
Askanu Gambia, ci njiitu Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, wéy nañu di xeex ngir am sañ-sañ bu mat sëkk. Loolu tax na ba ci 24 awril 1970, gannaaw ba ñu defee ab "referendum" (wote bu askan wi yepp bokk), Gambia soppiku nekk "Republic". Ci bés boobu la njiitu réew mi nekk kilifa gu am sañ-sañ bu mat ci mbooleem wàllu réew mi. Waaye, ba tey, 18 févriye moo nekk bés bi ñu tànn ngir màggal jote sa bopp bi, ndaxte keroog la réew mi jëkk a génn ci njiit yu biti.
Nan la ñuy màggale bés bi ci Gambia?
Màggalug Jote sa Bopp ci Gambia, ab xew-xew la bu tàkk, bu bare kàddu ak yëngu-yëngu. Fi xew-xew yi gënë rëyé mooy ci "McCarthy Square" ci dëkkub Banjul, bi di péyu réew mi (capital).
Parat ak Maras yi
Ci subatu bés bi, mbooleem dooley kaarange yi (Gambia Armed Forces), polise yi, ak mbooleem ñi yore kaarangeu réew mi, dañuy def ab "parade" walla maras bu rëy. Dañuy sol seen yéere yu bees te rafet, di dox ci anam bu dëgër ci kanamu Njiitu Réew mi (The President). Loolu day firndéel doole ak taxawayu réew mi.Yéegub raaya bi
Ab tànk bu am solo ci bés bi mooy yéegub raaya bi. Raayayu Gambia (The Gambian Flag) bi am ñenti kuluur (Xonq, Cuub, Wert, ak Weex), dañu koy yéeg ci kaw ngir wone ne réew mi mooy njiitu boppam. Loolu day wuutu raayayu Angalteer bi fi nekkoon. Ci bés bi, mbooleem kuluur yu rafet yii dañuy féeñ ci mbooleem mbedd yi ak kër yi.Xew-xeyi Ndaw yi
Ndaw yi ak jàngat yi (students) dañu am jéego bu rëy ci bés bi. Dañuy génn, sol seen "uniform", di maras tey jàng ay woy yu jëm ci réew mi. Loolu day jàngal goné yi mbégte ak bëgg seen réew (patriotism) ba ñu koy sàmm ba ñuy rëy.Woy, Fécc ak Caxaan
Gambia réewum "Aada ak Cosaan" la. Ci bésu Jote sa Bopp, mbooleem xeet yi (Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Jola, Sarahule, Serer, etc.) dañuy génn ak seeni kuluur. Fécc yu cosaan, sabar, ak woy yu neex dañuy dundal mbedd yi. Ci gox-goxaan yi, nitt yi dañuy dajalo di lekk, di naan, te di bég.Aada ak njuwaat yu bés bi
Gambia "The Smiling Coast of Africa" lañu koy woowe, te ci bésu Jote sa Bopp, muñ boobu day gënë rëy. Am na ay aada yu ñu sàmm ci bés bi:
- Solu Cosaan: Nitt yi dañuy gënë bëgg a sol seeni yéerey cosaan (Grand Boubou, Kaftan, walla yéere yu ñu ñàw ci kuluuru raaya bi).
- Dajalo ci biir kër: Mi ngi mel ni Tabaski walla Korité, nitt yi dañuy sàmm seen mbokk, di indilante ay kado, te di bokk lekk.
- Kàdduy Njiitu Réew mi: Ci télé ak ci ràddyo, Njiitu Réew mi day joxe ab kàddu (National Address) ngir wax ak askan wi, dëgëral leen, te wax leen fi réew mi jëm.
Solo suuf ak jawwu ji
Gambia réew la mu nekk ci tefesu géej bi te am ab dex (River Gambia) bu rëy. Ci bésu Jote sa Bopp, nitt yi dañuy bëgg a dem ci tefesu géej yi (beaches) ngir bég ak seeni xarit. Ndoxu dex bi ak jawwu ju neex ji ci weeru févriye day neexal lool xew-xew yi. Févriye nekk na weer bu sedd (cool season), loolu tax na ba nitt yi mën a génn mbedd yi ci anam bu neex.
Xibaar yu am solo ngir bés bi
Bésu Jote sa Bopp ci Gambia, "Public Holiday" la. Loolu am na ay njeit ci dundu bés bi:
- Biro yi: Mbooleem biroy nguur yi (government offices) dañuy tëj.
- Bank yi: Bank yi ak mbooleem kër xaalis yi dañuy tëj seeni bunt.
- Yaxantu: Magasin yu rëy yi mën nañu tëj, waaye jafe-jafe amul ci am li ngay lekk ndaxte marse yi ak boutique yi dañuy bëgg a dundal bés bi.
- Yoonu dox bi: Ci Banjul, mbedd yu bare mën nañu tëju ndax "parade" bi, kon nitt yi dañuy wàjj lu jiitu.
Luy firndéel "Independence" ci Gambia?
Jote sa Bopp ci Gambia du rekk génn ci loxoy Angalteer, waaye mooy sañ-sañu sàmm dundu ak kàddu askan wi. Gambia jàll na ci ay jamono yu jafe, waaye askan wi wéy nañu di dëgëral seen "Democracy". Bés bi day tax nitt yi sogaat seen jom, xoolat li ñu jàng ci taariix, te xool nan lañu mën a taxawal réew mu gënë dëgër ngir ëlëgu seeni doom.
Ci atum 2026, bés bi dina nekk yone boobu ñuy xoolat anam bi réew mi di doxé. Gambia, doonté mu ngi ci biir réewu Senegal (Sene-Gambia), am na boppam, am na sañ-sañam, te am na taariixam bu mu sàmm.
Ngoné ak mbeekté
Bés bi day jéex ci anam bu neex. Ci ngoné si, am na ay "concert" walla xew-xewu woy yu bare yu am ci dëkk bi. Artiste yu bare ci Gambia dañuy génn di dundal askan wi. Ci biir kër yi, nitt yi dañuy toog di waxtaan ci taariixu réew mi, di jàngal goné yi nan la réew mi amé jote sa boppam.
Ndax bésu liggéey la walla bésu nopi?
Bésu Jote sa Bopp (Independence Day) nekk na bés bu ñu tëj (Official Public Holiday) ci mbooleem réewum Gambia.
- Liggéey: Kenn du liggéey ci biir biroy nguur yi. Loolu day jox askan wi jamono ngir ñu mën a bokk ci xew-xew yi.
- Njàng: École yi yepp dañuy tëj, waaye jàngat yi dañuy am taxaway bu rëy ci "parade" yi.
- Yaxantu biti: Mbooleem bitik yi ak barabu yaxantu yi dañuy am ab rythme bu soppiku.
Gambia, réewum kersa, réewum jom, ak réewum mbax, dina wéy di màggal February 18, 2026 ci atum 2026 ak xol bu sedd. Ci mbooleem gox yi, ba ci dëkk yi gënë sori, kàddu gi benn la: "Gambia am na boppam, te dina wéy di dox ba jot ci nàmm-nàmmam."
Téere ak Seetlu
Taariixu Gambia jàngal na nu ne, jote sa bopp du bés bu ñu la di jox rekk, waaye bés la boobu ñu liggéeyal, xeexal, te sàmm ko. Ci 46 fan yi des, mbooleem Gambian yi ñu ngi waajal seen xol ngir màggal bés bi gënë am solo ci seen réew.Ndaxte Gambia, "The Smiling Coast", du rekk ab tundu, waaye ab askan la bu am yéene, am jom, te bëgg suufam. Ñalumu Jote sa Bopp mu neex ci mbooleem askanu Gambia
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Independence Day in Gambia
Independence Day in The Gambia will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. There are currently 46 days remaining until the nation commemorates this historic milestone. This annual event marks the moment in 1965 when the country officially gained its freedom from British colonial rule, transitioning into a sovereign state. It is a day of immense national pride where citizens reflect on their history and look forward to the future of the nation.
Yes, Independence Day is a major public holiday across the entire nation. On this day, government offices, schools, and many private businesses are closed to allow citizens to participate in the festivities. The holiday is observed with great respect and joy throughout all regions of the country. While essential services may remain open, the general atmosphere is one of celebration, with the streets of Banjul and other major towns filled with people honoring the country's sovereignty.
February 18, 1965, marks the date when The Gambia gained its independence after more than four centuries of British colonial rule. Initially, this independence was partial, as the country remained a constitutional monarchy with the British monarch as the head of state. Britain also maintained some control over defense and foreign affairs during this transition period. It was a crucial first step that set the stage for the country to eventually become a full republic on April 24, 1970, following a national referendum.
The celebrations are vibrant and widespread, featuring a mix of formal ceremonies and cultural festivities. The heart of the celebration is usually at McCarthy Square in the capital city, Banjul. Here, grand parades and marches take place involving the armed forces, school children, and various civil organizations. The President of the Republic typically presides over the event, receiving salutations from dignitaries. Throughout the country, the air is filled with traditional songs, cheers, and celebratory dances that showcase the rich Gambian heritage.
One of the most symbolic traditions is the national flag-raising ceremony, which represents the replacement of the British Union Jack with the Gambian national flag. This act serves as a powerful reminder of the country's self-determination. Families often gather for large meals, and communities organize local festivals. People often dress in their finest traditional attire, displaying the national colors. The day is characterized by a strong sense of unity and national identity, expressed through music, drumming, and communal gatherings.
The most significant and formal celebrations occur in Banjul, specifically at McCarthy Square. This is where the official state ceremonies, military parades, and presidential addresses take place. However, visitors can experience the festive spirit in almost every town and village across the country. Regional governors often host local parades and cultural displays. For those looking for a more relaxed atmosphere, the coastal areas and tourist hubs also feature special events, music performances, and beach celebrations that last late into the night.
Visitors should be aware that because it is a public holiday, many shops, banks, and public services will be closed. Transportation might be more crowded than usual as people travel to attend events or visit family. It is a fantastic time to experience Gambian culture at its most energetic, but it is wise to plan ahead for meals and travel arrangements. Most hotels and tourist-oriented restaurants remain open and often host their own special Independence Day themed dinners or events for guests.
Although independence was celebrated in 1965, The Gambia did not achieve full sovereignty as a republic until April 24, 1970. Between 1965 and 1970, the country was a constitutional monarchy. The transition to a republic followed a successful national referendum, which allowed the country to have its own President as head of state, completely severing the remaining colonial administrative ties with the British monarchy. Independence Day on February 18 remains the primary date for celebrating the nation's journey toward self-governance.
Historical Dates
Independence Day dates in Gambia from 2015 to 2025
| Year | Day of Week | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday | February 18, 2025 |
| 2024 | Sunday | February 18, 2024 |
| 2023 | Saturday | February 18, 2023 |
| 2022 | Friday | February 18, 2022 |
| 2021 | Thursday | February 18, 2021 |
| 2020 | Tuesday | February 18, 2020 |
| 2019 | Monday | February 18, 2019 |
| 2018 | Sunday | February 18, 2018 |
| 2017 | Saturday | February 18, 2017 |
| 2016 | Thursday | February 18, 2016 |
| 2015 | Wednesday | February 18, 2015 |
Note: Holiday dates may vary. Some holidays follow lunar calendars or have different observance dates. Purple indicates weekends.
Quick Actions
About Gambia
- Country Code
- GM
- Continent
- Africa
- Total Holidays
- 8