7 Things You Should Know About Gambia’s New President, Adama Barrow

Family

Adama Barrow is 51 years old and married to two women. Both Barrow’s wives are from the Fula ethnic group. He has four children. His fifth son, died less than a week to his inauguration after being bitten by a dog.

Job

Barrow is the CEO of a real estate company called Majum Real Estate in Gambia.

Ethnicity

Adama Barrow associated with multiple tribes. His mother is a member of the Fula ethnic group while his father is from Mandika ethnic group. Barrow however associates more with his mother’s tribe, Fula. He grew up speaking the Fula language.

Religion

Barrow is a devotee of Sunni Islam. He often invokes the name of Allah in his speeches. He has also referred to himself on several occasions as a very religious person.

Sports

Barrow is an ardent lover of football. He is a devoted supporter of Arsenal football club.

Education

He first attended the local Koba Kunda primary school and then Crab Island secondary school in Banjul, Gambia before receiving a scholarship for Muslim High School. After secondary school he worked as a sales manager for a while. He has a degree in real estate from a British university.

Migration

He migrated to London in the early 2000. When he was in London, he worked as a security guard at Argos catalog store for several years while financing his university education.

Barrow is probably on exile at the moment. Because of Gambia’s Yahya Jammeh’s refusal to leave power, Barrow’s inauguration will be held in Senegal Today, January 19. It is not sure yet if Barrow will return to Gambia to face Jammeh.