Kachikally Museum and Crocodile Pool

Kachikally ( spelling variant: Katchikally ), or more precisely the holy crocodile pool of Kachikally, is a place of worship in the West African state of Gambia and is located in the village of Bakau.

Myth

An animal with mythological significance in Gambia is the crocodile. It serves as a sacred animal and symbol of fertility. So do not see the West Africans, for example, in the full moon the man in the moon, but - known in the Mandinka language Bambo - a crocodile. In the Dalasi notes this animal is incorporated as a watermark. Also, there is a proverb which says:

" You're seeing a white crocodile in the river, you get a lot of children. "

The basin and the legend of Kachikally

The sacred crocodile pool of Kachikally is located on the southeastern outskirts of Bakau and is privately run by the family Bojang.

The pool is fed by a stream that later after one and a half kilometers joins the small mangrove forest on the Cape Creek and flows along the Atlantic Ocean. The basin, greatly overgrown with water hyacinths, is surrounded by a wall and has a lower dry season water level. Then the source is a special rite further excavated, the same bulls are slaughtered and they will have the crocodiles that would otherwise feed on frogs and other small animals. The crocodiles, whose number is estimated at seventy, are sacred - they are allowed to multiply freely. The place of worship has been for generations of the Bojang family, perhaps even since the 13th century. According to a legend, was Ncooping Bojang moved in today Bakau, and one day a woman named Kachikally and told the family of the mystery of the pond:

" The supernatural powers of its waters help with infertility and against disease, but they also have a positive effect on the attainment of wealth and political power from. "

Kachikally ordered the Bojangs make this holy place accessible to all, and all his life to take care of the pool and they sent the sons of Ncooping from fishing. The first thing they started, they should then move to the pool. There were two small crocodiles that proliferate after the announcement until today. The water of the pool is to work miracles, so the old women of the Bojang family take on there holy ablutions. They "treat" women, for example, do not have children or whose children have allegedly died by a curse. Also, coins are placed on the crocodiles and then pushed into the water.

Tourism

There are three well-known in Gambia sacred crocodile pools that are operated inter alia for tourism. The most visited is the sacred crocodile pool of Kachikally. There is also the facility of the Holy crocodile pool of Berending near the village of Barra and one at Kartung in the south of the country. The sanctuary has evolved into an experience for the tourists, they can not - if they 're brave - touch the crocodiles. This touching good luck.

Museums

2004, the museum was opened, displaying approximately a thousand historical objects of Gambian history and culture.