Zena, 65, from Oxted, Surrey, revealed in a documentary how she met a Gambian waiter while on holiday and a romance blossomed before she began to have doubts about his honesty
A British grandma who has started a romance with a Gambian waiter has told how she found out that he had been lying to her and she suspected his sister is actually his wife.
Zena, 65, from Oxted, Surrey, met Ebrima, 44, while on holiday at a holiday resort in Banjul two years ago and she shrugged off claims on social media that she was a sex tourist while her family were worried that she was being taken advantage of. She adapted to dating a Muslim who didn’t like her drinking alcohol or wearing revealing clothes and she would also lavish him with gifts including an iPhone as well as providing financial support.
Zena said that the 21 year age difference was not a problem and that she didn’t like men of her own age, who she claimed were “bald with big guts”. But she later discovered her partner was not being entirely honest with her.
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The couple shared their story on the programme 90 Day Fiance UK where in one episode, Zena told how she had fallen for Ebrima’s good looks while on holiday. She said: ‘He’s extremely fit and I am so attracted to him.
“When I put a few posts up on my social media, a lot of people said ‘You’re just a visa vagina’ or ‘You’re just a sex tourist’. No, I’m not a sex tourist because if I wanted [to have] sex in England I would, even at my age.”
But during the documentary it told of how she discovered that her partner was not being entirely honest with her and it nearly led to the relationship breaking down. Ebrima had said that he didn’t have a social media account and yet her family found he was on Facebook and had a list of female friends.
On top of this Zena began suspecting that his supposed sister was actually his wife – especially after she heard her son call him “dad”. At the same time Ebrima, who also appeared on the show, told Zena that he “really, really wants to get to England” after speaking about how poorly workers are paid in Gambia.
“The income is very low so it is dependent on tips,” he said. “Everyone is struggling to have English people because English people give tips.”
It was Zena’s granddaughter Tillie who discovered he had a Facebook page. “What a cheek. I’m furious really. He said he never had one,” said Zena, who said she would confront him about it when she returned to Gambia, “I feel sick, he’s totally deceived me.”
And when she arrived in Gambia, the show revealed how Ebrima continued to claim his Facebook page was deleted. When she then showed him his account he replied: “It was a joke, I like joking”.
Zena asked why he had not accepted her friend request and said: “I don’t really think it’s that funny. I’m not going to waste all my time getting over here, buying you things and buying things for your family and then, lo and behold, you’re playing me.”
Further episodes showed the pair continuing to argue and Zena questioning his loyalty to her. On one occasion she said: “You’re miles away here in the Gambia. You could be doing whatever you wanted, couldn’t you?” And he insisted he had “never been unfaithful”.
Ebrima also denied the suggestion that his sister was actually his wife. As the show ended, Zena said that she would give Ebrima “the benefit of the doubt” and the pair agreed to move forward with their relationship.