Portal:Senegal

The Senegal Portal

Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country of mainland 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 semi-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

Selected article -

The Casamance conflict (French: Conflit en Casamance) is an ongoing low-level conflict that has been waged between the Government of Senegal and the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) since 1982. On 1 May 2014, the leader of the MFDC sued for peace and declared a unilateral ceasefire.

The MFDC has called for the independence of the Casamance region, whose population is religiously and ethnically distinct from the rest of Senegal. The bloodiest years of the conflict were during the 1992–2001 period and resulted in over a thousand battle related deaths. (Full article...)

List of selected articles

Selected images

Image 1The 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 2The 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 3The Mbot mask. Symbol of the Serer peoples' Ndut initiation rite.
Credit: Tamsier
More about the Ndut rite of passage...
Image 4The 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 5The 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 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)
More about flag of Senegal...
Image 7Senegal coucal bird.
Credit: Charlesjsharp
More about Senegal coucal...
Image 8Skyline of Dakar, capital of Senegal.
Credit: Initsogan
More about Dakar...
Image 9The 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 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...

Selected quotation -

“

Dakar — The United Nations says Senegal leads Africa in combating AIDS on the continent and is one of only three nations worldwide to successfully contain the pandemic.

”

— Ofeibea Quist-Arcton of allAfrica.com quoting the United Nations (2001), allAfrica.com A Beacon of Hope in Africa's Fight Against AIDS (26 June 2011). By Ofeibea Quist-Arcton (Retrieved 13 July 2019)

Recognized content -

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

Positive Black Soul performing in Vienna, Austria (2003)

Positive Black Soul (also known as PBS) is a hip-hop group based in Dakar, Senegal, one of the first such collectives in the country. Founded in 1989, the group is composed of Didier Sourou Awadi (alias DJ Awadi) and Amadou Barry (alias Doug E. Tee or Duggy-Tee), both of whom had previously been in other hip hop groups. They perform in the English, French, and Wolof languages and use traditional Senegalese instruments as part of their songs. Political and social activism have played important roles in the group since it was founded. (Full article...)

List of recognized articles

Selected biography -

Awa Marie Coll-Seck in 2019

Awa Marie Coll-Seck (born 1951 in Dakar, Senegal) is a Senegalese infectious diseases specialist and politician who served as Minister of Health of Senegal from 2001 to 2003 and again from 2012 to 2017. She also served as former Executive Director of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership and is on the board of directors of several notable global health organizations. She is an agenda contributor of the World Economic Forum. (Full article...)

List of selected biographies

General images

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

Image 1The 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 2The Prince of Joinville arriving at Gorée in 1842 (from History of Senegal)
Image 3Landscape of Casamance (from Senegal)
Image 4Monument near the Maison des Esclaves on Gorée Island (from History of Senegal)
Image 5Development of life expectancy (from Senegal)
Image 6Senegalese President Macky Sall with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia, 3 June 2022 (from Senegal)
Image 7Arrival 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 8Women at the street market in Kolda (from Senegal)
Image 9Our Lady of Victories Cathedral, a Catholic Church in Dakar. (from Senegal)
Image 10The African Renaissance Monument was a $27 million project by Abdoulaye Wade that triggered popular protests. (from Senegal)
Image 11Macky Sall, President of Senegal (2012–2024) (from Senegal)
Image 12A map by Guillaume Delisle (1770) (from History of Senegal)
Image 13A ball signares in St. Louis (burning 1890) (from History of Senegal)
Image 14Abdoulaye Wade, President of Senegal (2000–2012) (from Senegal)
Image 15Senegal map of Köppen climate classification (from Senegal)
Image 16French and local slave traders in Gorée, 18th century (from Senegal)
Image 17Students in Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 18The Mouride brotherhood in Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 19The short-lived Mali Federation (from Senegal)
Image 20Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Fa Ndeb Joof. King of Sine. The Royal House of Boureh Gnilane Joof. (from History of Senegal)
Image 21Senegalese football fans at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia (from Senegal)
Image 22An imam in Senegal leading a prayer (from Senegal)
Image 23Regions of Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 24The List of Complaints of Saint-Louis du Sénégal (1789) (from History of Senegal)
Image 25Flag of French Senegal (1958–1959) (from History of Senegal)
Image 26Fishing boats in Dakar (from Senegal)
Image 27Megalithic alignments in Senegal (from History of Senegal)
Image 28Ethnolinguistic map of Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 29Beach at N'Gor (from Senegal)
Image 30Senegal's population from 1960 to 2017 (in millions) (from Senegal)
Image 31Saint-Louis in 1780 (from History of Senegal)
Image 32Senegalese patrol vessel Poponquine training with a United States Coast Guard vessel off the coast of Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 33« 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 34Aerial view of Yoff Commune, Dakar (from Senegal)
Image 35Extension of the Mali Empire at its height (from History of Senegal)
Image 36Historical development of real GDP per capita in Senegal and Gambia, since 1950 (from Senegal)
Image 37Land mines were widely used in the Casamance conflict between separatist rebels and the central government. (from Senegal)
Image 38The short-lived Mali Federation (from History of Senegal)
Image 39A mosque in Saint-Louis. (from Senegal)
Image 40Ngor Island (from Senegal)
Image 41Location of the Ghana Empire (from History of Senegal)
Image 42Landscape near Kaolack (from Senegal)
Image 43Wolof of Waalo, in "war costume" (1846) (from History of Senegal)
Image 44Kora player from Senegal (from Senegal)
Image 45The Dutch West India Company at Amsterdam in 1655 (from History of Senegal)
Image 46Portuguese colonies and posts under the reign of João III, 16th century (from History of Senegal)
Image 47Senegalese Wrestling (from Senegal)