Sun, beaches and young black people: With these attractions, Gambia, a small country in West Africa, has been consolidating itself as the true Mecca of sex tourism for middle-aged European women, especially British women. The revelation came to light through a documentary shown last week on Channel 4, in England.
Viewers were shocked to see bars packed with women looking for sun, sea and sex, while younger men attracted their attention. When interviewed, a retired woman said that the country was a “paradise”, because “You can have a different man every night”. And they head to Gambia for boundless fun. When faced with the nightlife and main clubs, amidst cigarette and marijuana smoke, they saw a large amount of middle-aged white women, and even ladies, laughing like mischievous teenagers while kissing, dancing, wiggling and rubbing their feet. flabby asses on young black men, to later drag them to the hotel.
English presenter and journalist Prue Leith called The Gambia “a real-life Tinder dream for geriatrics”, after being stunned by the number of “older European women happily strolling hand in hand with handsome young Gambian men” during a holiday with her husband.
“What happens in The Gambia, stays in The Gambia,” says Barbara, an eighty-something from Manchester, with a wink, as her wedding ring glints in the lights of the beach bar. “There are so many sweets here that it’s hard to control yourself. 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 even at my age.” Laughing, she pointed to a small group and said: “They’re my sisters – looks like they got lucky.”
The intentions of each side of this relationship are very clear most of the time. But there are plenty of horror stories about Gambian ‘vagabonds’ – a term used to describe unemployed men who see western women as a travel ticket to the UK. But now there are a growing number of British grandmothers who have turned the scam on its head – indulging in the charms of the African male but keeping their wallets tight.
Experienced Jackie Simpson, 62, tells how she had 15 Gambian lovers in seven years but didn’t give them a penny. “You have to be careful,” she warns. “They’re cute, but you can’t trust them. They believe that ‘old women are like gold’. For me it’s just a little fun, I don’t see them as real relationships.” And she adds “I go out twice a year with my friends. The English are a bit vulgar, but the Gambians I’ve met are romantic.” Jackie tells how she is on a “girls holiday” with her sister Julie Ramsey, 60, a housekeeper, and three other British friends. “We love reggae music” and she continues laughing, “We’ve been partying almost every night until 5am!” Julie adds: “I’ve been seeing a 36-year-old Gambian man for about three years now. But it’s not a proper relationship. He’s not coming to England and we’re not getting married. I tell him I have no savings. 🇧🇷
However, there are many cases of those who got too carried away with their lovers and ended up going into financial ruin, blowing all their savings. Lamin Ceesay, a lawyer with an office in the capital Bajul contacted by several tourists who felt cheated, reveals that many clients, even after several negative experiences, continue to seek a lover, boyfriend or husband. “I have an older British client who has been spurned several times by younger lovers, but she admits she can’t stay away from them.”
Lamin Ceesay continues: “The ‘vagabonds’ are everywhere and are causing a lot of disruption to our tourism industry. The goal with these relationships is to get to England. When they realize that this is not possible, their next goal is to try to take something from them, like a car, a house or an allowance.” And he concludes “Hidden from their wives, they go back to the beach every day and look for someone who can take them to the UK. This is why we have so many divorces in The Gambia, because once a husband finds someone who can get a visa, he will file for divorce.”
Seyi Rhodes, the reporter in charge of the documentary, spoke to the Gambian man named Alka, 32, who said he had married a 68-year-old Belgian woman, although he later revealed she was in her eighties. He said he never asked for money, but that she sent him €60,000. And he added “In The Gambia, we don’t care about ages. It’s just a number, you know, age is just a number.” Speaking about their relationship, Françoise confessed that Alka makes her feel like a ‘newborn baby’ and that he has given her a ‘second life’.
Another philandering Gambian justifies “There are no opportunities here,” he says. “As eldest children we must look after our families and most of us earn less than £50 a month. We are so desperate for a better life that many of my friends have died trying to get to Europe. Two exploded in Libya and another five were on a boat that capsized crossing the Mediterranean to Italy. All of them were 25 or younger.” He adds “We are not exploiting women, it is a transaction. They are being treated like a queen and having good sex and we get money to live on and hopefully a visa. What is wrong with it? 🇧🇷
The love that cost 200k
Margaret Sarr, 71, has squandered £200,000 of her life savings on a Gambian toyboy. The grandma, from Crawley, West Sussex, met her ‘gorgeous’ Samba Sarr, now 48, while on holiday with her British husband in 2002. She began visiting the riding instructor twice a year and their 38-year marriage it ended in 2004. The following year, she married Samba in a “lavish” £2,000 ceremony and in 2006 he moved to the UK. Margaret, retired, has returned to work as an NHS hospital administrative worker to support her new homeless husband – who has denied cheating on her with a woman her age. In 2010, she received photos of him with two children she had with his mistress, but he denied they were hers.
His lies were revealed in 2012 after Margaret helped him secure British citizenship. Now they’re divorced and she’s fighting a legal battle over a property in The Gambia she’s invested £90,000 in – but put in her name. Margaret said: “I was naive. Other women need to be careful.”
Fonte: The Sum
