REPUBLIC OF SENEGAL

"Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi""One People, One Goal, One Faith"

Official Language ?French

Wolof; 43.3

Fula; 23.8

Serer; 14.7

European / Lebanese; 1

Jola; 3.7

Soninke; 1.1Mandinka; 3

Others; 9.4

Ethnic Groups in Senegal

WolofFulaSererEuropean / LebaneseJolaSoninkeMandinkaOthers

1186 - The Waalo kingdom was founded in the northern plains of what later became known as Senegal, where  communities began to choose their leaders.

1471 - The Portuguese arrived in Ghana as intermediaries.

1891 - French Guinea was established in 1891. Prior to 1882, the coastal portions of French Guinea were part of the French colony of Senegal.

1946 - Leopold Sedar Senghor was elected as the French deputy from Senegal and served until 1958.

1960 - Aug 20, Senegal broke from Mali federation and declared independence.

1960 - Sep 5, Senegal became independent from France. Leopold Sedar Senghor was elected president of Senegal, Africa.  

Djembe Kora Sabar

TABALA XALAM BALAFON

Senegalese Culture in Music

Senegalese Culture in Food

a beef version of thiéboudienne

Ceebu Yapp

Marinated fish with parsley, lemon, garlic, cooked with tomato

paste and a variety of vegetables such as

lettuce, cabbage, and carrots.

Thiéboudienne

Yassa is either chicken or fish that is first

marinated with spices, and then simmered in

a pan with onion, garlic, mustard, and

lemon juice.

Yassa Poulet

Senegalese Culture in Food

Millet granules mixed with milk,

sweetened condensed milk, or yogurt, as well

as dried fruits.

Thiakry

Groundnut Stew

Tigadèguèna

A stew of beans, beef, and pork.

Feijoada

Senegalese Culture in FestivalsAbéné Festivalo

• The annual 10-day drumming festival in the Casamance community of Abéné begins at the end of December and extends into the New Year.

Dak’Art Biennale

• The festival displays their paintings, sculptures, and other masterpieces in galleries and venues across Senegal’s capital.

Kaay Fecc• This Dakar festival held between late May and early June is a celebration

of traditional and contemporary dance from across Africa and the rest of the worl

Gorée Diaspora Festival

• This artistic festival was established to promote links between Senegal and the descendants of the slaves forced to leave Africa from Gorée Island

Senegalese Culture in Symbolism

Coat OF Arms

National symbol of Senegal. It was a symbol of power for kings

alludes to Islam, the

religion practiced by 94% of Senegal's

population.

epitomises the Senegal River

Symbolises the Baobab tree, which originated from Senegal

Laurel wreath

Senegalese Culture in DanceSabar Dance

Sabar is a traditional West African dance from Senegal that is performed to the beats

of the Sabar drum. Sabar dancing incorporates feelings of feminine sensuality

and flirtatiousness. It is a dance of expression that uses every part of the body,

from the arms and legs to the eyes.

Senegalese Culture in CustomsMarriage

In rural areas, parents often arrange marriages for their children

A young man may want a young woman, but his father decides whether she is suitable

A go-between often is appointed to investigate the woman's family background.

If the father finds the family satisfactory, he sends the kola nuts to the woman's parents.

The parents accept the kola nuts if they approve of the young man.

Senegalese Culture in CustomsDeath and the Afterlife.

Death is considered a path by which one joins one's ancestors.

When a person dies, loud mourning echoes from the house of the bereaved. 

Others sing and dance to celebrate the dead person and to send his or her spirit to heaven. 

Among the rural Wolof, household water jars are seldom cleaned because the spirit of an ancestor could come to drink at that moment and find no water.

Senegalese Culture in CustomsBeliefs

Do not buy or sell soap, needles, or charcoal, etc. at night.

A widow should not go out of her home during her mourning period.

Houses should not be swept at night.

People should not put their heads in their hands.

Whistling is forbidden at night.

If a very beaufiful woman finds it hard to find a husband, or when the men who date her die a

short time after the wedding, she is said to have a spirit lover.

Senegalese Culture in CustomsBeliefs – Dreams

Dream seeing raw fish or snake is a child or sign of pregnancy.

Dream seeing a horse or car, for a man is a new wife.

Dream seeing white cloth you will see a dead person.

Dream seeing a monkey means downfall to you.

Dream laughing means you will experience trouble.