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 / 13.33861; -16.38250 | |
| Country | The Gambia |
| Division | North Bank Division |
| District | Upper Niumi |
| Elevation | 82 ft (25 m) |
| Population | |
| • Ethnicities | Mandinka |
| • Religions | Islam |
Jufureh (also spelled JuffurehorJuffure) is a town in the Gambia, 30 kilometers inland on the north bank of the River Gambia in the North Bank Division near Kunta Kinteh 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]
Jufureh was a part of the Kingdom of Niumi and by the 18th century the town had become an important center of the Atlantic slave trade.[4] The Tall family of Jufureh traditionally held the position of falifo in the kingdom, and were responsible for collecting customs revenue from passing traders and adjudicating disputes.[5]: 298
The town took part in the Marabout revolt launched in the 1860s against the Niumi king Buntung Jamme and as a result the town was razed by the royal forces.[citation needed]
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.[6]
|
Alex Haley's Roots
| |
|---|---|
| Books |
|
| Television |
|
| Characters |
|
| Related |
|
| |
13°20′19″N 16°22′57″W / 13.33861°N 16.38250°W / 13.33861; -16.38250
 | This Gambian location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
