The community of Essau in the north bank of The Gambia on Tuesday observed the Eid-ul-Fitr prayer in large numbers.

Essau lies next to Barra – a commercial town used by people of the north of the country and those coming from Senegal before reaching to Banjul city.

Essau is among the biggest community in the rural Gambia home to over 5000 people.

Historians say Essau was established by the Sonko family and that the pioneer of the town was the late warrior of Nuimi, Mansa Burungai Sonko of Barra.

In 2007, the community benefitted from the rural electrification and has been having its primary school since 1941.

It’s also a nature community having a river on its west-north side which many use for fishing.

But it was also affected by the migration crisis as many of the town’s youth embarked on the perilous journey to Europe through the Sahara desert and the Mediterranean.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba