Genieri

Genieri is a village in mid-central Gambia. It is located in Kiang East District in the Lower River Division. As of 2009, it has an estimated population of 694.^[1] Located around 110 km from the capital of Banjul, Genieri is predominantly Mandinka.^[2] According to the founding story of the village, Genieri was founded sometime in the early-to-mid 19th century by a man named Mamba Sanneh.^[3]

Genieri
Genieri Location in the Gambia
Coordinates: 13°24′52.67″N 15°37′5.24″W
Country	The Gambia
Division	Lower River Division
District	Kiang East
Population  (2009)
• Total	694 (est.)

Genieri is twinned with Yate, a town in the United Kingdom, a link that arose in 1986 as an initiative by a group of students. Yate has been active in funding development in Genieri.^[4] In November 2018, the people of Genieri financed the development of a self-sufficient water source.^[5] Genieri is home to a “Youth Skill Tailoring Centre”, opened in 2014.^[6]

In 2018, Genieri was struck by a malaria epidemic, which killed an 18-year-old boy.^[7] Genieri was able to afford treatment for all cases of Malaria thanks to a donation from Yate, though the village was still severely affected by it and was still recovering as of February 2019.^[8] As of October 2020, Genieri had not been directly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, but lockdowns imposed by the Gambian government had negatively impacted the town's economy by preventing villagers from commuting to nearby towns for work.^[9] The lockdown had also caused a severe food shortage.^[10]