Ślady kolonializmu we współczesnej przestrzeni miejskiej Bandżulu (Gambia)

Warianty tytułu

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Traces of colonialism in contemporary urban space of Banjul (The Gambia)

• Języki publikacji: PL

Abstrakty

EN

The article addresses the issue of colonial heritage in contemporary urban space of Banjul, the capital of The Gambia. The author analyses source materials that describe functioning and image of the city during British rule as well as documentation collected all along field work carried out in February 2016. In its first part the paper presents colonial and postcolonial history of the city, including main stages and factors that determined spatial development of Banjul. The principal part of the article is the description of contemporary urban space. Firstly, it consists of the analysis of the elements built during colonial period that endured until present day (figure 1 shows the scheme of colonial heritage in urban space of Banjul concerning its material and immaterial aspects), secondly, the elements that emerged after The Gambia’s decolonization in 1965. Both groups of elements are accompanied with pictures taken by the author during the field work. They present the complexity of colonial heritage in the city. Methodist Church in Banjul on Macoumba Jallows Street – formerly Dobson Street (photo 1) as well as St. Mary Catholic Church on Daniel Goddard Street – formerly Hagan Street (photo 2), are typical examples of sacred buildings from colonial period. Service buildings in the center of the Gambian capital city, built in 1890 (photo 3) and colonial buildings on Wilfried Davidson Carrol Street – formerly Picton Street (photo 4), are the instances of residential architecture. Another example of colonial building is the facade of Methodist School on Macoumba Jallows Street with characteristic stairs on both sides of the entrance (photo 6). The monument in the garden of St. Mary Anglican Church on Independence Drive (photo 5) constitutes the example of symbolic heritage. On the other hand, pictures 8 to 10 present objects built after 1965 – during postcolonial period of Gambian history: roundabout with the monument of President Jammeh, King Fahda's Mosque, the biggest port of The Gambia and one of new office buildings. Presented examples demonstrate diversity of Banjul’s urban space, where colonial as well as new elements coexist. Moreover, the analysis shows that in spite of 50 years that have passed since The Gambia’s independence, the elements of material and immaterial colonial heritage still dominate in its capital’s urban space. Figures 2 and 3 present the development of the city between 1916 and 2016. New objects, though well exposed, are seen infrequently. The authorities of independent state are capable of influencing urban space in the way that is significant only in its immaterial manner, for instance by changing urban names and functions of certain buildings. These modifications are motivated mainly politically since authorities use city’s symbolic space to manifest chosen policy lines. Replacement of material elements of colonial heritage by new ones occur less often, mainly with participation of foreign capital.

• Wydawca: -
• Czasopismo: Prace i Studia Geograficzne
• Rocznik: 2017
• Tom: 62
• Numer: 3
• Opis fizyczny: s.31‐62,rys.,fot.,bibliogr.

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