The revival of the Kankurang Festival in 2018 marked a powerful turning point for Janjanbureh, reawakening a cultural celebration that had been dormant since the 1980s. It was a moment when community memory, cultural pride, and renewed collaboration came together to restore a festival deeply rooted in local identity.
Central to this revival was the commitment of local organisers and the strategic partnership led by Adama Bah with NatureFriends International (NFI). Recognised for its work in environmentally and socially just tourism, NFI chose Senegal and The Gambia as the location for its first-ever “Landscape of the Year” programme on the African continent, arriving in Janjanbureh during the last weekend of January. This visit established the timing that continues to shape the festival calendar today.
The renewed Kankurang Festival quickly became a symbol of cross-border cultural exchange, environmental awareness, and community-driven tourism, strengthening ties, particularly between Janjanbureh, The Gambia and Koungheul, Senegal. The momentum generated by the festival led to a range of initiatives, including environmental projects, school exchanges between the two countries, and the development of community hiking trails.