Portal:Senegal

The Senegal Portal

Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country in West Africa, on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. Senegal is bordered by Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest. Senegal nearly surrounds the Gambia, a country occupying a narrow sliver of land along the banks of the Gambia River, which separates Senegal's southern region of Casamance from the rest of the country. Senegal also shares a maritime border with Cape Verde. Senegal's economic and political capital is Dakar.

Senegal is notably the westernmost country in the mainland of the Old World, or Afro-Eurasia. It owes its name to the Senegal River, which borders it to the east and north. The climate is typically Sahelian, though there is a rainy season. Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres (76,000 sq mi) and has a population of around 17 million.0 The state is a unitary presidential republic; since the country's foundation in 1960, it has been recognized as one of the most stable countries on the African continent.

The state was formed as part of the independence of French West Africa from French colonial rule. Because of this history, French is the official language, but it is understood only by a minority of the population. Over 30 languages are spoken in Senegal, and Wolof is the most widely spoken one, with 80% of the population speaking it as a first or second language, acting as Senegal's lingua franca alongside French. Like other post-colonial African states, the country includes a wide mix of ethnic and linguistic communities, with the largest being the Wolof, Fula, and Serer people. Senegalese people are predominantly Muslim.

Senegal is classified as a heavily indebted poor country, with relatively low HDI ranked 170th in the Human Development index. Most of the population is on the coast and works in agriculture or other food industries; other major industries include mining, tourism, and services. The country does not have notable natural resources, but the basis of its development lies in education, where almost half the state's budget is spent. Senegal is a member state of the African Union, the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Community of Sahel-Saharan States. Internationally, Senegal is best known in the sporting world for the Paris-Dakar Rally. (Full article...)

Location of Senegal

Senegalese life, the well regarded baobab tree, and a lion

The flag of Senegal

The coat of arms of Senegal

Selected article -

The Théodore Monod African Art Museum (Musée Théodore Monod d'Art africain) in Dakar, Senegal is one of the oldest art museums in West Africa. It was promoted by Léopold Senghor, the country's first President.

It was originally called Le Musée d'Art africain de l'Institut fondamental d'Afrique noire Cheikh Anta Diop IFAN/CAD and later renamed Musée de l'Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire or IFAN Museum of African Arts. In December 2007, its official title was changed to The Théodore Monod African Art Museum ("Musée Théodore Monod d'Art africain"), after the French naturalist Théodore André Monod, former director of IFAN. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

Selected images

Image 1The flag of Senegal (French: le drapeau du Sénégal) is a tricolour consisting of three vertical green, yellow and red bands charged with a five-pointed green star at the centre. Adopted in 1960 to replace the flag of the Mali Federation, it has been the flag of the Republic of Senegal since the country gained independence that year. The present and previous flags were inspired by French Tricolour, which flew over Senegal until 1960.
Credit: Atamari
For more about this picture, see Senegambian stone circles, Mummification and Cult of the Upright Stones in Serer religion, and Serer ancient history.
Image 3The star Yoonir, symbol of the Universe in Serer religion and Cosmogony. The Serer people are one of the main ethnic groups of Senegal, and are also found in The Gambia and Mauritania. The peak of the star (top point) represents their Supreme Deity (Roog). The other four points represent the cardinal points of the Universe. The crossing of the lines ("bottom left" and "top right", and "top left" and "bottom right") pinpoints the axis of the Universe that all energies pass. The top point is "the point of departure and conclusion, the origin and the end". Among the Serers who cannot read or write the Latin alphabet, it is very common for them to sign official documents with the star of Yoonir, as the star also represents "good fortune and destiny". Yoonir also represents the Serer people and their precolonial Kingdom of Sine.
Credit: Fawaz.tairou
More about the African Renaissance Monument...
Image 4The Senegambian stone circles (Wassu section) believed by archaeologists and historians to be built by the Serer people of the Senegambia region. The Senegambia stone circles are the largest concentration of stone circles seen anywhere in the world according to UNESCO. They are sacred burial grounds and a place of ritual offerings (kuur in Serer).
Credits: Sarang, AnonMoos, (and Yoonir file by Tamsier)
For more about the pentagram in Serer spirituality, see Yoonir in Serer religion and Serer creation myth.
Image 5The Serer of the Senegambia's representation of the universe. The three worlds : the invisible world, the terrestrial world and the nocturnal world.
Credit: Henry Gravrand - La civilisation sereer : Pangool
For more about this picture, see Serer creation myth and Serer religion (A ƭat Roog).
Image 6The Mbot mask. Symbol of the Serer peoples' Ndut initiation rite.
Credit: Tamsier
More about the Ndut rite of passage....
Image 7Senegal coucal bird.
Credit: Charlesjsharp
More about Senegal coucal...
Image 10The Queen of Waalo - Lingeer Ndaté Yalla Mbodj (1810–1860) in her royal dress, seating and smoking a pipe.
Credit: Llanta. Lithographer, Abbot P. David Boilat, author of text in his book Esquisses sénégalaises (1853). Source: cote : Gallica, bnf.fr - Réserve DT 549.2 B 67 M Atlas - planche n °5 - Notice n° : FRBNF38495418 - (Illustrations de Esquisses sénégalaises). Uploader to Wiki Commons Patricia.fidi
More about Ndaté Yalla Mbodj...

Selected quotation -

“

And so, for outsiders, Africa today tends to conjure up images of nonstop civil wars, impoverished people, diabolical dictators, rampant disease, and seemingly endless despair. To be sure, it's a generalization, but it is nevertheless based on reality in some places. But then there's Senegal.

”

— Debbie Nevins, Elizabeth Berg, and Ruth Wan, Senegal, Cavendish Square Publishing, LLC (2018), p. 6

Recognized content -

Entries here consist of Good and Featured articles, which meet a core set of high editorial standards.

Daara J (pronounced [daːɻa ʄiː], which means "the school" in Wolof) are a Senegalese rap duet that consists of N'Dongo D and Faada Freddy. Their music takes influence from hip hop, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and reggae and is performed in English, French, Spanish, and Wolof.

Daara J was formed in 1997 and quickly became popular in Senegal from the release of their first cassette album, Daara J. They followed in 1999 with a more politically themed recording, Xalima, which integrated numerous musical ideas and instruments from Senegal and other African countries. 2003's Boomerang was critically acclaimed and furthered the combination of various musical and lyrical influences of the previous two recordings. Activism has also been an important aspect of the group's philosophy since it was founded. (Full article...)

List of recognized articles
Carabane Mamadou N'Diaye (basketball, born 1993) Positive Black Soul Faidherbe Bridge Senegal at the 2016 Summer Paralympics Senegal at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Selected biography -

Léopold Sédar Senghor (/sɒŋˈɡɔːr/; French: [sɑ̃ɡɔʁ]; 9 October 1906 – 20 December 2001) was a Senegalese poet, politician and cultural theorist who was the first president of Senegal (1960–80).

Ideologically an African socialist, he was the major theoretician of Négritude. Senghor was a proponent of African culture, black identity and African empowerment within the framework of French-African ties. He advocated for the extension of full civil and political rights for France's African territories while arguing that French Africans would be better off within a federal French structure than as independent nation-states. (Full article...)

List of selected biographies

General images

The following are images from various Senegal-related articles on Wikipedia.

Image 1Aerial view of Yoff Commune, Dakar (from Senegal)
Image 2« Plan de l'isle de Gorée avec ses deux forts et le combat que nous avons rendu le premier du mois de novembre 1677 » (from History of Senegal)
Image 3A map by Guillaume Delisle (1770) (from History of Senegal)
Image 4Senegal's population from 1960 to 2017 (from Senegal)
Image 5The List of Complaints of Saint-Louis du Sénégal (1789) (from History of Senegal)
Image 6Regions of Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 7Fishing boats in Dakar (from Senegal)
Image 8Arrival of Blaise Diagne, Deputy for Senegal, High Commissioner of the Government for the recruitment of black troops in Dakar in March 1918. (from History of Senegal)
Image 9Extension of the Mali Empire at its height (from History of Senegal)
Image 10Senegal map of Köppen climate classification (from Senegal)
Image 11Monument near the Maison des Esclaves on Gorée Island. (from History of Senegal)
Image 12Saint-Louis in 1780. (from History of Senegal)
Image 13A proportional representation of Senegal exports, 2019 (from Senegal)
Image 14The Dutch West India Company at Amsterdam in 1655 (from History of Senegal)
Image 15A ball signares in St. Louis (burning 1890 ) (from History of Senegal)
Image 16Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal (2000–2012) (from Senegal)
Image 17Land mines were widely used in the Casamance conflict between separatist rebels and the central government. (from Senegal)
Image 18Students in Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 19Megalithic alignments in Senegal. (from History of Senegal)
Image 20Senegalese football fans at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia (from Senegal)
Image 21Macky Sall, President of Senegal (2012–present) (from Senegal)
Image 22Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Fa Ndeb Joof. King of Sine. The Royal House of Boureh Gnilane Joof. (from History of Senegal)
Image 23Location of the Ghana Empire (from History of Senegal)
Image 24Historical development of real GDP per capita in Senegal and Gambia, since 1950 (from Senegal)
Image 25French slave traders in Gorée, 18th century (from Senegal)
Image 26Beach at N'Gor (from Senegal)
Image 27The short-lived Fédération du Mali. (from History of Senegal)
Image 28Landscape of Casamance (from Senegal)
Image 29The short-lived Mali Federation (from Senegal)
Image 30Portuguese colonies and posts under the reign of João III, 16th century. (from History of Senegal)
Image 31The Portuguese Empire was the first European power to colonize Senegal, beginning with the arrival of Dinis Dias in 1444 at Gorée Island and ending in 1888, when the Portuguese gave Ziguinchor to the French. (from Senegal)
Image 32Senegalese Wrestling (from Senegal)
Image 33Flag of French Senegal (1958–1959) (from History of Senegal)
Image 34Painting of footballer El Hadji Diouf in Dakar (from Senegal)
Image 35Our Lady of Victories Cathedral, a Catholic church in Dakar (from Senegal)
Image 36Wolof of Waalo, in "war costume" (1846) (from History of Senegal)
Image 37Development of life expectancy (from Senegal)
Image 38French West Africa in 1890. (from History of Senegal)
Image 39Kora player from Senegal (from Senegal)

Did you know -

DYK question mark

... that Soham El Wardini is the first female mayor of post-independence Dakar, Senegal?

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