Jufureh | |
|---|---|
 The Albreda-Juffure archway | |
  Jufureh Location in the Gambia | |
| Coordinates: 13°20?19?N 16°22?57?W / 13.33861°N 16.38250°W | |
| Country | The Gambia |
| Division | North Bank Division |
| District | Upper Niumi |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) |
Jufureh (also spelled Juffureh or Juffure) is a town in the Gambia, 30 kilometers inland on the north bank of the River Gambia in the North Bank Division near James Island. The town is home to a museum and Fort Jillifree.
Jufureh is known for its appearance in Alex Haley's 1976 novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family, as the birthplace of Haley's ancestor Kunta Kinte.[1] After the publication of Roots, Jufureh became a significant tourist destination. This led to economic benefits for the town, including the construction of an elementary school, a new market aimed at tourists, and improved roads.[2]
In 1651 a small plot of land from the village was leased by Jacob Kettler, the Duke of Courland, from the king of Kombo, as part of the Couronian colonization of Africa.[3]
Demographically, the predominant religion in the village is Islam. In 1999, a mosque and school, The Alex Haley Mosque and School Complex, was opened in Jufureh, where Haley traced back his ancestry through genealogical research.[4]
There is a sign at the entrance of the village (sponsored by Gambian government and World Bank) that declares Jufureh a "baby friendly community".
References
- ^ Haley, Alex (1976). Roots: The Saga of an American Family (first ed.). New York, New York: Doubleday. p. 1. ISBN 0385037872.
- ^ Wright, Donald (2010). The World and a Very Small Place in Africa: A History of Globalization in Niumi, The Gambia (third ed.). Armonk, New York: M.E. Sharpe. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-7656-2483-3.
- ^ Hughes, Arnold; Perfect, David (2008). Historical Dictionary of The Gambia. Plymouth, United Kingdom: Scarecrow Press. pp. 43-44. ISBN 0-8108-5825-8.
- ^ "Alex Haley Mosque opens". The Final Call. July 13, 1999.
External links
Coordinates: 13°20?19?N 16°22?57?W / 13.33861°N 16.38250°W
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