First Encounters at the Janjanbureh Kankurang Festival for Chris Sylla

Visiting the Janjanbureh Kankurang Festival in 2024  for the first time was both eye-opening and deeply inspiring. As a long-time visitor to The Gambia — and a musician — I arrived with curiosity and left with a new understanding of the depth, organisation, and meaning behind this powerful tradition.

Despite the inevitable “Gambia Maybe Time” moments, the festival unfolded with a relaxed, welcoming energy. The masquerades were extraordinary — not just visually striking, but rich with meaning. Conversations with organisers, community members, and fellow visitors helped me begin to understand Kankurang not as performance, but as living heritage.

One encounter stayed with me in particular: learning how one of the masquerades, known locally as “the green one,”  is believed to offer guidance to communities — even insights into the coming rainy season. These stories reminded me that Kankurang is not confined to the festival space; it is woven into everyday life, knowledge, and belief.

I’m deeply grateful to everyone who took the time to talk, explain, and share. This was not just a visit to a festival, but an invitation to keep learning — and to return.