Contemporary Gambian Art

Lemonfish Art gallery is hosting exhibitions on Contemporary African Art, painting, sculpture and objects.

The first exhibition featured 28 artists from West Africa. Contacts have been made to work with artists and institutions in other African countries and in Europe.

We intend to run workshops for students and artists that include video and media presentations to provide inspiration and broaden views.

Special holiday workshops for guests are also available.

We hope to contribute to the cultural understanding of our visitors by giving them the chance to appreciate original works of art in undisturbed surroundings and engage in dialogue with local artists.

We are looking forward to receiving you here and sharing ideas with you.

Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.  
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!

Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
www.gayaartcafe.com/

Benachin

Cooking Ingredients:
1. 2 lbs fresh fish
2. 2 cups of vegetable oil
3. 6 cups of water
4. 1 medium fresh tomato
5. 4 tbsp tomato paste
6. 2 large onions
7. 1 small cabbage
8. 2 medium carrots
9. 1 bay leaf
10. 4 cups of rice
11. Salt and pepper to taste
 


Cooking Method:
1. Clean and cut fish in halves.
      
2. Fry the fish in the vegetable oil until both sides are brown.
      
3. Remove fish and add onions, fresh tomato and paste to the hot oil and fry until brown.
      
4. Pour water and bring to boil, then include cabbage, carrots, bay leaf, and seasonings, reduce heat and simmer for 20 mins.
      
5. Remove vegetables and add the rice while continuously stirring.
      
6. Reduce heat and cover the pot. Simmer for 10 mins.
      
• Benachin is sometimes referred to as cheebu / chebu jen in Senegalese.

Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.  
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!

Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
www.gayaartcafe.com/

Gambian Spinach Stew - Plasas

Cooking Ingredients:
1.     2 packages frozen chopped spinach
2.     1 pound meat stewing beef
3.     1/2 pound smoked fish, flaked
4.     2 hot chili peppers
5.     1 large onion, chopped
6.     1/4 cup groundnut paste (peanut butter)
7.     3 cups water
8.     1-1/2 cups palm oil

    Cooking Method:
1. Cut meat into bit-size portions.
      
2. Put in saucepan with two cups of water, salt, chopped onions and peppers.
      
3. Bring to boil and add palm oil.
      
4. Continue cooking partly covered. Cook for 1-1/2 hours over medium heat.
      
5. Add spinach (previously thawed and drained), flaked fish and groundnut paste mixed with water.
      
6. Stir, cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
      
The recipe is served with steamed rice.

Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.  
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!

Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
www.gayaartcafe.com/

Gambia Food Dishes

Traditional Gambian dishesJollof Rice, Benachin cooked in homes are mostly rice, the staple food, with a covering of various spicy sauces as on the right. However, steamed millet, couscous, cassava is also eaten.

The defining ingredients for these various dishes are either peanut butter paste (Domoda), ladies fingers (Okra), palm oil (chew deu terr) or edible leaves such as spinach or cassava leaves. Very popular among poor families is Mbahal which is rice mixed with grated peanuts, dried fish such as bonga. Many of these dishes are also common to Senegalese cooking as both countries have common cultural ties.

Some of the best known dishes are 'Domoda' (peanut butter sauce), 'supakanja' (okra stew), 'benachin' (Jolof Rice), 'Chere' (couscous type millet), chicken 'Yassa' (fried chicken in onions). Lunch is usually cooked for a couple of hours until the meat is well cooked - though for fish dishes, the fish may be removed after a short cooking time and replaced towards the end of the cooking time.

Most urban Gambians eat bread, butter and/or jam for breakfast. People may also have 'Chura Gerrte' (rice and peanuts - boiled) or 'ruy' (pap), with added yoghurt or tinned milk. For the majority of Gambians afternoon lunch is the most important meal of the day.

The main staple dish in The Gambia is rice with a choice of stew - made with either fish, chicken, beef, lamb or goat - usually cooked with vegetables, spices and sometimes peanut butter. Pork is NOT on the menu for 90 percent of Gambians who are Muslims, though it is available for Christians in many supermarkets and from specialised pig breeders.

Lunch is served in a large, common food bowl next to which the diners sit on the floor or a wooden stool. When eating you use your right-hand (washed), though many urban men (and some women) may use a spoon.

For dinner people eat either fried fish, oysters, shrimps, chicken and fried beef with onions. These may then be served with salad and / or bread or couscous. Others may have 'Chura Gerrte' or 'Ruy' (Coos porridge).

Increasingly Gambians are eating more convenience foods, particularly in the evenings, and this has begun to lead to health problems associated with high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

Jumbo and Maggi cubes are similar to bouillon cubes, and are widely used to season all types of Gambian dishes and fare, from sauces to sandwiches.
Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.  
A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.
Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!

Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market
220 4464022
220 6664022
gaya@qanet.gm
gayagambia@gmail.com
www.gayaartcafe.com/

Gaya Cafe Art Review

The art scene in The Gambia is vibrant, colourful and always fascinating, there is a wide pool of artists representing different disciplines, here are a taste of Gambia's creative talent.

 

Papa Alassane Gueye

A Gambian painter working with plastic art, oil and canvas.

Buba Drammeh

Original Gambian batik and tie dye work by one of the leading proponents of this African craft.

Njogu Touray 

Enjoys depicting his surroundings with elements important to his culture such as cowry shells, sand, and pigments that he creates from tree bark and plants.

Pepe Goma

Paintings, sculptures and art made in Gambia by Pepe Gomà. Son of Torrelameu. 

Momodou Ceesay

Momodou describes his artwork as an exploration of images that inculcate a system of values that are consistent with his culture and heritage. His objective is to take the viewer on a spiritrual odyssey that suggests unseen dimensions.

Akin Toyinbo

A locally based artist living in Bakau.

Fine dining whenever you want to eat out in Senegambia.

A unique Gambia restaurant for both Gambian and global cuisine.

Come and enjoy our restaurant in The Gambia!

Directions Bertil Harding Highway, next to Senegambia Craft Market

220 4464022

220 6664022

gaya@qanet.gm

gayagambia@gmail.com

http://www.gayaartcafe.com/