the smiling coast of africa

the gambia

a small strip of land wrapped around the gambia river in west africa.
it’s one of the smallest countries on the continent, surrounded by senegal and known for its peaceful vibe, colorful culture, and warm-hearted people.
they call it the smiling coast of africa and once you’ve been there, you understand why.

I first visited gambia in 2011, with my mom.
years passed, life moved on but in november 2024, we returned.

time to create

our first drop had just arrived in the netherlands: the creative beanies.
I had some samples with me even as my camera and some film rolls, so the perfect time to make some visuals.
I asked someone I knew if he wanted to do a quick photoshoot.
we started shooting at his family compound and ended up walking around the neighbourhood.

it all flowed naturally like we were just spending time together.
he had never done a shoot before,
you wouldn’t be able to tell, right?

living the life

there’s something about gambia that makes you feel life at its most honest.
it’s the real world without filters.
you live among animals, you eat food that’s fresh from the land, you speak to people who are truly present.
people are grateful without having much.
they laugh, they dance, they work, they rest, without constantly thinking about tomorrow.
and the sun doesn’t hurt either.

we can’t wait to go back.