Titles & Address Etiquette in Gambia

Use formal titles and surnames when addressing people you do not know well, especially older adults, professionals, and community leaders, and wait to be invited to use first names. In everyday conversation, respectful greetings matter a lot, and people may use honorifics such as Alhaji or Haja for Muslims who have completed the pilgrimage, reflecting the country’s strong Islamic and communal etiquette.