Profile: Dr Ensa Touray – From Gunjur Primary School to the Lecture Halls of Academia

Gunjur continues to produce sons and daughters who make lasting contributions beyond the shores of our coastal town. Among them is Dr Ensa Touray, a respected Gambian historian, senior lecturer, and published author whose academic journey began right here in Gunjur.

Early Life and Education in Gunjur

Born and raised in Gunjur, Dr Touray received his early childhood education at Gunjur Primary School, where his intellectual curiosity first took root. Growing up in a community rich in culture and history, he developed a deep appreciation for the stories of Senegambia and the wider African continent.

Those early foundations would later shape his career path as a historian committed to documenting Africa’s past from an African perspective.

Academic Excellence and Professional Career

Dr Touray pursued higher education at the University of The Gambia, earning both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. He later obtained a PhD in African History from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria).

Today, he served as a senior lecturer in African History at the University of The Gambia, and now as an Associate Professor. His teaching and research focus on:

• Africa in global history

• Nation-building in post-independence Africa

• Pre-colonial West African states and empires

• Colonial governance and boundary-making

He has also taken on leadership roles within the university community and represented Gambian scholarship at international academic forums.

Published Author – A Major Milestone

On 22nd December 2025, Dr Touray achieved another major milestone with the publication of his book:

Economic Change, Islamic Militancy, and the British in Senegambia

The book explores the relationship between economic transformation, Islamic reform movements, and British colonial intervention in nineteenth-century Senegambia. It examines how shifts in trade and production following the decline of the trans-Atlantic slave trade reshaped political authority, religious mobilisation, and regional power structures.

Through rigorous historical analysis, Dr Touray provides deeper insight into how economic forces and religious movements intersected with colonial ambitions to influence the social and political evolution of Senegambia.

This publication stands as a significant contribution to West African historiography and further establishes him as one of The Gambia’s leading academic voices in historical research.

A Source of Pride for Gunjur

From the classrooms of Gunjur Primary School to international academic publication, Dr Ensa Touray’s journey reflects dedication, scholarship, and community pride.

His achievements serve as inspiration to young people in Gunjur and across The Gambia — proof that global academic impact can begin with humble beginnings at home.

Gunjur proudly celebrates its son — a historian preserving our past and shaping the intellectual future of our nation.