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Alkalo (Alikaloo) - Village
Chief |
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Village |
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The Alkalo is the traditional Gambian village Chief of the founding family
however, today they are elected.
When you visit a small up-country community, it is considered polite to
seek out the Alikaalo in order to greet him. A bag of
kola nuts is
regarded as the appropriate gift. He governs along with a council
composed of other village elders.
Historically in Gambia's Muslim villages, the religious leader (alimamo)
shared some of the leadership responsibilities with the alkalo. The
alkalo governed along with a council composed of other village elders
from the freeborn caste. The alkalo and village council assigned
land
for families to use, recruited age groups for work projects, and
settled disputes.
Each village had a platform where public affairs were debated and
trials were held. During a trial, the he acted as the judge. Both
sides in a dispute presented evidence, witnesses were cross-examined,
and the alkalo made the decision, which almost always reflected the
consensus of the village.
Elections for an Alkalo:
(1) Where the office of Alkalo is to be filled by election, the
election shall be conducted by or under the supervision of the
Independent Electoral Commission in accordance with this Constitution
and any Act of the National Assembly for the regulation of such
election.
(2) All persons who are ordinarily resident within the village in
which an election is to be held for the office of Alkalo and who are
registered as voters for National Assembly elections within the
constituency in which such village or any part of it is situated shall
be entitled to vote in an election of an Alkalo.
(3) The election of an Alkalo shall be by secret ballot.
(4) A candidate for election as an Alkalo shall require to be
nominated in such manner as the Commission may prescribe.
Gambian Constitution
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