In Janjanbureh, in eastern Gambia, the Kankurang festival celebrates a mythic figure from the Mandingo society every year. For three days, several hundred spectators attend parades and performances to help preserve an age-old tradition that is in danger of disappearing. "It's incredible, it's unifying, it's cultural, and it's something that belongs to Gambia and Senegal, so it's important that we organise this every year," says a festival visitor, Lamin Jarjou. This emanation of the forest spirits bearing the name of Kanurang, is charged with keeping the evil spirits away from the young initiated men, to bring order and justice and to strengthen the cohesion of the community. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES