The Gambian people migrated from the Republic of Gambia, a country in West Africa that is surrounded by Senegal except for its coastline, the Atlantic Ocean. A variety of ethnic groups live in the Gambia, each preserving its own language and traditions. The Mandinka ethnicity is the largest.

Gambian people speak English, the official language in the Republic of Gambia. They are friendly and hospitable and life is taken at a very relaxed pace. They also tend to be soft-spoken and gentle in demeanor, seeking to avoid noisy conflicts and striving toward quiet settlement of disputes. Greetings tend to be drawn out while people ask about one another's families.

The primary religion practiced by the Gambian is Sunni Islam, the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims follow the teachings of the Qur'an and consider the first four caliphs to be the rightful successors of Muhammad.