Senegal is the westernmost country in the mainland of theOld World, orAfro-Eurasia. It owes its name to theSenegal River, which borders it to the north and east. The climate is typicallySahelian, with arainy season. Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres (76,000 sq mi) and has a population of around 18 million.0 The state is apresidential republic; since the country's foundation in 1960, it has been recognized as one of the most stable countries on the African continent. On the 2024V-Dem Democracy Indices, Senegal is ranked 68th in electoral democracy worldwide and 10th inelectoral democracy in Africa.
The state was formed as part of the independence ofFrench West Africa fromFrench colonial rule. Because of this history, French is the official language, but it is understood by only a small minority of the population.Over 30 languages are spoken in Senegal.Wolof is the most widely spoken, with 80% of the population speaking it as a first or second language, acting as Senegal'slingua franca alongside French.Arabic andPulaar also remain popular among certain communities. Like other African nations, the country includes a widemix of ethnic and linguistic communities, with the largest being theWolof,Fula, andSerer people. Senegalese people are predominantlyMuslim.
Prostitution in Senegal is legal and regulated.Senegal has the distinction of being one of the few countries inAfrica to legalize prostitution, and the only one to legally regulate it. The only condition that it is done discreetly. Prostitution was first legalised in 1966.UNAIDS estimate that there are over 20,000prostitutes in the country. The average age for a sex worker in Senegal is 28 years old and female.
There are reports of police and security forces extorting money in return for overlooking infringements of prostitution regulations. Sex workers report that they are targeted by police for bribes or free sex whether they are registered or not. (Full article...)
Image 1TheSenegambian stone circles (Wassu section) believed by archaeologists and historians to be built by theSerer people of theSenegambia 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 ofritual offerings (kuur inSerer).
Image 4TheAfrican Renaissance Monument (French:Le Monument de la Renaissance Africaine) is a 49 meter tallbronze statue located on top of one of the twin hills known asCollines des Mamelles, outsideDakar,Senegal. Built overlooking theAtlantic Ocean in theOuakam suburb, the statue was designed by the Senegalese architect Pierre Goudiaby after an idea presented by presidentAbdoulaye Wade and built byMansudae Overseas Projects, a company fromNorth Korea. Site preparation on top of the 100-meter high hill began in 2006, and construction of the bronze statue began 3 April 2008. Originally scheduled for completion in December 2009, delays stretched into early 2010, and the formal dedication occurred on 4 April 2010, Senegal's "National Day", commemorating the 50th anniversary of thecountry's independence fromFrance. It is thetallest statue in Africa.
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 CommonsPatricia.fidi More about Ndaté Yalla Mbodj...
Image 6Theflag of Senegal (French:le drapeau du Sénégal) is atricolour consisting of three vertical green, yellow and red bandscharged with afive-pointed green star at the centre. Adopted in 1960 to replace the flag of theMali Federation, it has been the flag of the Republic ofSenegal since the country gained independence that year. The present and previous flags were inspired byFrench Tricolour, whichflew over Senegal until 1960.
Image 7TheSerer of theSenegambia's representation of theuniverse. The three worlds: the invisible world, the terrestrial world and the nocturnal world.
Image 9The starYoonir, symbol of the Universe inSerer religion andCosmogony. TheSerer people are one of the main ethnic groups of Senegal, and are also found inThe Gambia andMauritania. The peak of the star (top point) represents their Supreme Deity (Roog). The other four points represent thecardinal points of the Universe. The crossing of the lines ("bottom left" and "top right", and "top left" and "bottom right") pinpoints theaxis of theUniverse 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 ofYoonir, as the star also represents "good fortune and destiny". Yoonir also represents the Serer people and their precolonialKingdom of Sine.
The gracefulness of the slender fishing boats that glided into the harbor inDakar was equaled only by the elegance of the Senegalese women who sailed through the city in flowing robes and turbaned heads. I wandered through the nearby marketplace, intoxicated by the exotic spices and perfumes. The Senegalese are a handsome people and I enjoyed the brief time that Oliver and I spent in their country. The society showed how disparate elements-- French, Islamic, and African-- can mingle to create a unique and distinctive culture.
The Marabouts prevailed in the early hours of the battle, but the Serer army held firm. In the latter parts of the battle, the Marabouts were defeated.Maba Diakhou Bâ was killed and his body decapitated.Damel-Teigne Lat Dior Ngoné Latyr Diop and Bourba Jolof Alboury Sainabou Njie fled. Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak was injured. Mama Gaolo Nyang was held prisoner. (Full article...)
Safi Faye (November 22, 1943 – February 22, 2023) was aSenegalesefilm director andethnologist. She was the firstAfrican woman to direct a commercially distributed feature film,Kaddu Beykat, which was released in 1975. She has directed several documentary and fiction films focusing on rural life in Senegal. (Full article...)
Image 15ThePortuguese Empire was the first European power to colonize Senegal, beginning with the arrival ofDinis Dias in 1444 atGorée Island and ending in 1888, when the Portuguese gaveZiguinchor to the French. (fromSenegal)
Image 37Arrival ofBlaise Diagne, Deputy for Senegal, High Commissioner of the Government for the recruitment of black troops inDakar in March 1918 (fromHistory of Senegal)
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