Before I begin, let me say this clearly and respectfully. I am “Mustian.” I am a Muslim, married to a Christian woman, and our home, like many Gambian homes, is a place where faiths coexist with love, humor, and mutual respect. In The Gambia, religion is not a battlefield; it is a shared space of tolerance, family, and community. That is why, every Easter, I join my wife and our Christian relatives in reflection, celebration, and laughter.

This essay is written in that same spirit—a light-hearted satire about our economic hardships, not about religion itself. In a country where faith is sacred and deeply personal, it is important to say this upfront. 

The humour that follows is not aimed at Christianity, Islam, or any belief. It is aimed at the rising cost of living, the global economic squeeze, and the daily struggles that unite all Gambian Muslims and Christians alike.

Whether you pray in a mosque or a church, the price of rice does not discriminate.

Fuel does not ask for your denomination. Hardship does not check your religion before entering your home. So let us laugh together, reflect together, and pray together for better days, for economic relief, and for a resurrection of hope in every Gambian household.

As Easter approaches, I am reminded of a message I received two years ago, one so hilarious, so painfully accurate, that it has refused to expire. It read: 

“Happy Easter to you and your family. This year, thanks to the President and his government, I am really feeling the death of Jesus (economy) in my house. I hope his resurrection will come before 2021, or we shall do a Judas on the President and his government.”

—Joe

At the time, I laughed. Today, I understand it differently. Because in 2026, the message has matured like fermented palm wine, stronger, sharper, and more prophetic than ever. Easter is a season of reflection, sacrifice, and renewal. But for many Gambian households, it has also become a season of economic crucifixion. The cost of living has risen so sharply that even the most devout Christians are whispering, “Lord, if You could resurrect the economy along with Yourself, we would be grateful.”

The cost of living has become a national sermon. Let us speak plainly. The hardship in this country has reached a level where even Judas Iscariot would be willing to renegotiate his 30 pieces of silver. The price of fuel alone has turned every Gambian into a philosopher. 

People now calculate their movements like military operations. A simple taxi ride requires strategic planning, budget approval, and emotional preparation. Essential commodities have become luxury items. Rice behaves as if it had a university degree. Oil is treated like an inheritance. 

Onions are sold with the seriousness of gold. Bread is now a delicacy reserved for special occasions. Families no longer ask, “What are we cooking today?” They ask, “What can we afford to imagine today?”

Global inflation has turned Third World countries into prayer warriors. The global economic storm has hit small nations like 

The Gambia with disproportionate force. Inflation is no longer a statistic—it is a daily visitor in every home. The dalasi wakes up weaker than it slept. Salaries remain at their old levels, refusing to rise, even out of sympathy. Meanwhile, prices climb like they are training for the Olympics.

We are living in a country where.  You need faith to enter the market. You need hope to return home.  And you need charity to cook dinner. Even the IMF is confused. Even the World Bank is sweating. Even the prophets are asking for clarification.

Easter reminds us: Something must die before it rises again. This Easter, Gambians are not only remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus—they are remembering the death of their purchasing power, the crucifixion of their savings, and the burial of their financial stability.

We are all waiting for resurrection:

 Resurrection of affordable fuel

 Resurrection of stable prices

Resurrection of the dalasi

 Resurrection of dignity at the market

 Resurrection of hope in the kitchen.

Because right now, even tomatoes are behaving like they have diplomatic passports. 

If the economy does not rise, the people will. Joe’s message was meant as a joke, but it carried a truth that has only grown sharper with time. Gambians do not need to “do a Judas” on anyone. They will simply vote with their pockets. Hunger has no political party. Poverty has no tribe. Hardship does not ask for voters’ cards.

When the cost of living becomes unbearable, the people themselves become the resurrection.

A prayer for Easter 2026. As we enter this holy season, may this Easter bring. A resurrection of salaries. A crucifixion of corruption.A burial of incompetence. A redemption of the dalasi. And a miracle in the price of rice. 

Because if things continue like this, even Jesus may request a cost-of-living adjustment before resurrecting. Easter is a reminder that darkness does not last forever. May the nation rise again economically, morally, and spiritually. Happy Easter to all Gambians. May your pockets rise again.

By Alagi Yorro Jallow