Gambians' Adoration for Bamboo Furniture

Bamboo, a giant woody grass grown mostly in tropics, its long life makes it a Chinese symbol of uprightness, while in India it is a symbol of friendship. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth, with reported growth rates of 250 cm (98 in) in 24 hours. Experts say the growth rate is dependent on local soil and climatic conditions, as well as species, and a more typical growth rate for many commonly cultivated bamboos in temperate climates is in the range of 3–10 centimetres (1.2–3.9 in) per day during the growing period. Varied uses and applications in building construction have established bamboo as an environment-friendly, energy-efficient and cost-effective construction material. The commonly used species in construction are Bambusa balcooa, Bambusa bambos, Bambusa tulda, Dendrocalamus giganteous, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Dendrocalamus asper and so on. According to UNESCO, 70 hectares of bamboo produce enough of the material to build 1000 bamboo houses. If timber was used instead, it would require the felling of trees from an already diminishing forest. Today, over one billion people in the world live in bamboo houses. In a study conducted by T. Gutu in 2013 in Zimbabwe, it was found that the strength properties of bamboo are higher than most of the soft and hard woods. The study also indicated that different species of solid bamboo is available in the country, and that solid and hollow bamboo can equally be utilized for both furniture products and construction works. In the past, bamboo has been considered by people living in urban areas as tree meant for making different furniture such as door, window frames, bed, chair, table, and so on for people living in the rural areas. This perception is mostly exhibited in developing continents, especially Africa and Asia. Before the arrival of westerners, who taught Africans how to use wood for modern furniture making, African local carpenters have been using Bamboo for beautiful and intricately crafted beds, chairs and tables. Bamboo furniture in The Gambia

In recognition of the immeasurable uses of the tree, Bamboo College, an international organisation based in Norway, established Bamboo College Gambia, Kartong and Bamboo College Senegal to cater for highly demanding technical know-how for total utilization of bamboo in building construction and furniture industry, and sustainable environment-cum-culture in Senegambia region. The college is also meant serve as a means where awareness will be created on abound job opportunities in bamboo furniture. Since the emergence of the college, Gambians and foreign nationals have learnt and still learning varied techniques of turning different species of bamboo into attractive indoor and outdoor furniture for the people. Peoples' trend in terms of furniture choice is now shifted to bamboo furniture.