REPUBLIC OF

SENEGAL

"Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi"

"One People, One Goal, One Faith"

Frenc

fficial Language

Ethnic Groups in Senegal

Others; 9.4
Mandinka; 3
Soninke; 1.1
Jola; 3.7
European / Lebanese; 1
Wolof; 43.3
Serer; 14.7

Fula; 23.8

Wolof
Fula
Serer
European / Lebanese
Jola
Soninke
Mandinka
Others

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.

Senegalese Culture in
Music
Djembe

Kora

Sabar

TABALA

XALAM

BALAFON

Senegalese Culture in
Thiboudienn
Food
Ceebu Yapp
Yassa Poulet
e

a beef version of
thiboudienne

Marinated fish
with parsley,
lemon, garlic,
cooked with
tomato paste and
a variety of
vegetables such
as lettuce,
cabbage, and

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.

Senegalese Culture in
Food
Thiakry
Tigadguna
Feijoada

Millet
granules
mixed with
milk,
sweetened
condensed

Groundnut
Stew

A stew of
beans, beef,
and pork.

Senegalese Culture in
Festivals
Abn Festivalo

The annual 10-day drumming festival in the Casamance community of

Abn begins at the end of December and extends into the New Year.

DakArt Biennale
The festival displays their paintings, sculptures, and other masterpieces in
galleries and venues across Senegals 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

Gore Diaspora Festival

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

Senegalese Culture in
Symbolism

alludes
toIslam, the
religionpractice
d by 94% of
Senegal's
population.

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

Symbolises
the Baobab
tree, which
originated
from
Senegal

Laurel wreath

Coat OF Arms

epitomises
theSeneg
al River

Senegalese Culture in
Sabar
Dance
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,

Senegalese Culture in
Marriage
Customs
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
Death Customs
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
Beliefs
Customs

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

Senegalese Culture in
Beliefs
Dreams
Customs
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.