From attending Gambia High School, to winning a scholarship to study abroad, Hon. Ousainou Darboe has numerous pieces of his past that you’ve not heard about.

Here are ten things you probably didn’t know about the leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP).

He was born in Bansang, Lower River Region, but his father, who was a member of parliament in the Jawara era, was from Dobo in Sami District.

Darboe later moved to Banjul for his secondary and high school education. In a recent interview with GRTS, he disclosed that he attended St Augustine’s and later went to Gambia High School for his A ‘Levels.

His guardian in Banjul was Pierre Sarr N'Jie (1909 – 1993) – the founder and leader of the United Party (UP) who once served as Chief Minister shortly before The Gambia gained independence from Great Britain.

The UDP leader got his Bachelor’s Degree in Nigeria and later went to Canada for his Master’s Degree at the University of Ottawa.

After completing his university education, he worked at the Judiciary for nearly two years before starting his own law firm. It is widely believed that Darboe is the first Mandinka lawyer in the country.

Before joining politics, he was a sports enthusiast who attended sporting events in different parts of the world. Darboe once served as Vice President for the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC).

He contributed a lot in promoting wrestling in The Gambia. Darboe was an executive member of the Gambia Wrestling Federation.

His favourite Gambian food is durango (peanut stew). According to him, he can eat it anytime, day and night.

He entered politics in 1996 after he was approached to lead the United Democratic Party.

Both of his wives are from Banjul and they speak both Wollof and Mandinka at home. All his children live abroad, except the youngest, Nafisatou who works at the Gambia Revenue Authority.