Portal:Senegal

The Senegal Portal

Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated along the Atlantic Ocean coast. It borders 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 strip of land along the banks of the Gambia River, which separates Senegal's southern region of Casamance from the rest of the country. It also shares a maritime border with Cape Verde. The capital and largest city of Senegal is Dakar.

Senegal is 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 north and east. The climate is typically Sahelian, with a rainy 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 a presidential 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 2024 V-Dem Democracy Indices, Senegal is ranked 68th in electoral democracy worldwide and 10th in electoral democracy in Africa.

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 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's lingua franca alongside French. Arabic and Pulaar also remain popular among certain communities. Like other African nations, 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.

As a developing nation, Senegal is classified as a heavily indebted poor country, with a relatively low ranking on the Human Development Index (169th out of 193). Most of the population lives on the coast and works in agriculture or other food industries; other major industries include mining, tourism, and services. The historic lack of natural resources in Senegal has redirected efforts towards increasing literacy and educational attainment. 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. (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

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Religion and beliefs occupy an important place in the daily life of the nation of Senegal. The majority of citizens follow Islam (mainly Sunni Islam). In 2013, 6% of the population followed indigenous beliefs (mainly Serer), while 2% followed Christianity (principally Catholicism).

The constitution provides for freedom of religious beliefs and self-governance by religious groups without outside interference. (Full article...)

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Image 1Skyline of Dakar, capital of Senegal.
Credit: Initsogan
More about Dakar...
Image 2The 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).
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 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...
Image 4Senegal coucal bird.
Credit: Charlesjsharp
More about Senegal coucal...
Image 5The 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: Tamsier (and Yoonir file by Tamsier)
For more about the pentagram in Serer spirituality, see Yoonir in Serer religion and Serer creation myth.
Image 6The 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: Nightstallion (original uploader, 2005) and Tcfc2349 (latest uploader to Wikimedia Commons, 2016)
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Image 7The African Renaissance Monument (French: Le Monument de la Renaissance Africaine) is a 49 meter tall bronze statue located on top of one of the twin hills known as Collines des Mamelles, outside Dakar, Senegal. Built overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in the Ouakam suburb, the statue was designed by the Senegalese architect Pierre Goudiaby after an idea presented by president Abdoulaye Wade and built by Mansudae Overseas Projects, a company from North 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 the country's independence from France. It is the tallest statue in Africa.
Credit: Fawaz.tairou
More about the African Renaissance Monument...
Image 8The Mbot mask. Symbol of the Serer peoples' Ndut initiation rite.
Credit: Tamsier
More about the Ndut rite of passage...
Image 9The 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
(uploaded by Tamsier in 2012)
For more about this picture, see Serer creation myth and Serer religion (A ƭat Roog).
Image 10The Great Mosque of Touba; home of the Mouride Sufi brotherhood, it is also one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture in Africa.
Credit: Zivax
More about Great Mosque of Touba...

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“

First, Senegal has been ranked by some authorities as the leading democracy in the Islamic world since 2000. The country has been brilliantly written about by anthropologists and historians, but many of Senegal's experiences and creations have not been sufficiently incorporated into modern democratization theory.

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— Mamadou Diouf, Tolerance, Democracy, and Sufis in Senegal, Columbia University Press (2013), p. 205, ISBN 9780231162623 [1]

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

Senegal sent a delegation to compete at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 to 18 September 2016. This was the fourth successive appearance for the nation in a Summer Paralympic Games after it debuted at the 2004 Summer Paralympics. Youssouphua Diouf, a javelin thrower, and shot put and discus thrower Daque Diop were the two athletes sent to Rio de Janeiro by Senegal. The delegation failed to win the country's first medal at the Summer Paralympics as its best performance in these Games was Diouf's seventh position in the men's javelin F56-57 event. (Full article...)

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Dia in 1962

Mamadou Dia (18 July 1910 – 25 January 2009) was a Senegalese politician who served as the first Prime Minister of Senegal from 1957 until 1962, when he was forced to resign and was subsequently imprisoned amidst allegations that he was planning to stage a military coup to overthrow President Léopold Sédar Senghor. (Full article...)

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General images

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

Image 1The List of Complaints of Saint-Louis du Sénégal (1789) (from History of Senegal)
Image 2The 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 3Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal (2000–2012) (from Senegal)
Image 4Arrival 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 5Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Fa Ndeb Joof. King of Sine. The Royal House of Boureh Gnilane Joof. (from History of Senegal)
Image 6Senegalese football fans at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia (from Senegal)
Image 7Monument near the Maison des Esclaves on Gorée Island (from History of Senegal)
Image 8Macky Sall, President of Senegal (2012–2024) (from Senegal)
Image 9Portuguese colonies and posts under the reign of João III, 16th century (from History of Senegal)
Image 10Regions of Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 11Senegalese President Macky Sall with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia, 3 June 2022 (from Senegal)
Image 12Aerial view of Yoff Commune, Dakar (from Senegal)
Image 13The short-lived Mali Federation (from History of Senegal)
Image 14Senegalese Wrestling (from Senegal)
Image 15Extension of the Mali Empire at its height (from History of Senegal)
Image 16Historical development of real GDP per capita in Senegal and Gambia, since 1950 (from Senegal)
Image 17Saint-Louis in 1780 (from History of Senegal)
Image 18Wolof of Waalo, in "war costume" (1846) (from History of Senegal)
Image 19The short-lived Mali Federation (from Senegal)
Image 20A ball signares in St. Louis (burning 1890) (from History of Senegal)
Image 21An imam in Senegal leading a prayer (from Senegal)
Image 22Kora player from Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 23Our Lady of Victories Cathedral, a Catholic Church in Dakar (from Senegal)
Image 24Landscape of Casamance (from Senegal)
Image 25Beach at N'Gor (from Senegal)
Image 26Development of life expectancy (from Senegal)
Image 27Students in Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 28A mosque in Saint-Louis. (from Senegal)
Image 29Location of the Ghana Empire (from History of Senegal)
Image 30Painting of footballer El Hadji Diouf in Dakar (from Senegal)
Image 31Women at the street market in Kolda (from Senegal)
Image 32Flag of French Senegal (1958–1959) (from History of Senegal)
Image 33Senegal's population from 1960 to 2017 (in millions) (from Senegal)
Image 34Senegal map of Köppen climate classification (from Senegal)
Image 35The African Renaissance Monument was a $27 million project by Abdoulaye Wade that triggered popular protests (from Senegal)
Image 36A map by Guillaume Delisle (1770) (from History of Senegal)
Image 37The Dutch West India Company at Amsterdam in 1655 (from History of Senegal)
Image 38Fishing boats in Dakar (from Senegal)
Image 39Megalithic alignments in Senegal (from History of Senegal)
Image 40Ethnolinguistic map of Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 41Land mines were widely used in the Casamance conflict between separatist rebels and the central government. (from Senegal)
Image 42« 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 43The Mouride brotherhood in Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 44The Prince of Joinville arriving at Gorée in 1842 (from History of Senegal)
Image 45French and local slave traders in Gorée, 18th century (from Senegal)