Semesters struggling to find a wife are increasingly turning to Facebook.  They‘re not bothered by the stigma associated with online dating.

One of them told What’s On-Gambia: “It is very difficult to find the right partner during a two or three-week holiday in The Gambia. I met a couple of girls on Facebook, and one of them looks like a wife material.”

Former popular actor and now a prominent member of the UK-Gambian community, Ebrima Jawo said young Gambians should stick to the traditional means of finding wives.

“With the development of technology, many are now visiting the internet to find wives. My grand mum used to say soo fooraay niit sii mbedaa mee,  sii mbedaa mee ngen naa mojaa.”

According to Jawo, it is not only men that are using Facebook to search for new partners. He said: “I have had lots of friend requests from women asking about my marital status. It is clearly stated on my Facebook profile that I am married, but some will add you and days later either getting very suggestive or asking for financial help.”

He continued: “Facebook, I don't think should be a forum to pick future partners. We have heard don’t judge a book by its cover. Many who marry for looks later regret doing so as the person's attitude and character is what envelopes the person as a whole.

“I know a particular case where a guy married someone from Facebook and brought her to the UK, but he encountered lots of issues with her. I am not saying that every relationship built on Facebook does not last, of course there may be few successful ones.”

Jawo’s advice to semesters using the internet to find a wife is: “There are lots of gold diggers on Facebook, so be careful if you do not want your heart broken.”