Many Gambians like eating meat. Every day hundreds of animals are slaughtered for food.
But not for Harouna Samba, who claims he has never eaten red meat since he was born.
The 20-year-old fears something severe could happen to him if he eats beef, lamb or mutton.
“Even during tobaski, I try my best to stay away and avoid anything that could tempt me to bite a piece of meat,” he said.
According to Harouna, it is a difficult condition to manage because his family always cooks special meals for him.
Could it be an allergy?
He responded: “I don’t know. I think it is something in my family. One of my cousin sisters does not also eat red meat.”
But Russian-trained Gambian doctor, Mbemba Drammeh said: “Someone can of course be allergic to meat, especially meat from mammals. And they may with symptoms like nausea, vomiting, skin rashes etc.”