Recent News

Senegal is working harder than ever to promote tourism in their country. To accomplish this, Senegal is building an airport in Dakar (the capital of Senegal), making luxury resorts, and making hotels. Last year, 1 million people went to visit Senegal, but Abdoulaye Wade (the president) predicted 1.5 million by 2010 with all of the new things Senegal is making to attract people.

I think this will be great for Senegal because it will help their economy and make Senegal a stronger country. If the people who visit have a good time, they might return for their next trip or recommend it to other people which would also be good. Making a 50% increase on how many people come to visit Senegal is a HUGE increase for one year and will be good for everyone who lives there.

Culture

Art

Senegal is known for its glass paintings. The artists usually paint a native animal or a place in Senegal on the glass. It is really pretty and good for souvenirs. They also make handbags, shoes, and belts out of leather iguana, crocodile, and snake skins. A lot of their clothing comes from animal skins. Senegal is also known for its talented artists who sell their hand crafted jewelry in markets.

Sports

Many Senegalese love to watch their two national sports: wrestling and canoe racing. They paint their canoes in bright colors and many people watch the races from the shores. Their canoes are often named after a satin or a local hero who gives them money or protection during the race. Often many different villages will have wrestling competitions with each other. Wrestling helps pass the time during the dry season in Senegal. If I were a parent I do not think I would want my children to wrestle because then they could get hurt.

Customs

In Senegal, you never eat with your left hand (unless you are holding a fruit in your left hand and peeling it with your right hand). Also, people eat in separate groups depending on their age and gender. Sometimes they even eat in seperate rooms. Several people eat from the same bowl using the fingers (on their right hand) or a spoon. In Senegal, you are supposed to avoid eye contact with persons still eating.

Marriage

People usually get married at young ages, but if they go to a college then they get married afterwards. In rural areas in Senegal, parents are the matchmakers for their children. Once the father finds a girl he likes for his son, he sends her parents kola nuts and money. If the parents accept the items then their kids get married to each other. The husband gets his new wife many new things like pretty clothes, jewelery, a television set, or a sewing machine. It is very different from how people get married in America because people usually decide for themselves who they are going to marry.

Fauna (Native Wildlife)

Large mammals have disappeared from the western part of the country because of human development like elephants, antelopes, lions, panthers, cheetahs, and jackals. They can still be found in Niokolo Koba National Park in the eastern part of the country. Warthogs, bunnies, and monkeys can also be found in Senegal. There are many reptiles in Senegal like pythons and cobras. Crocodiles, hippopotamuses, and turtles are found in the rivers.

Flora (Native Plants)

There are many different kinds of trees in Senegal. There are the baobab trees (Senegal's national tree), acacia trees, arabic trees, mangrove trees, oil palms, teak trees, and silk cotton trees. In addition to trees there are also thorn bushes.

Climate

Senegal has two weather seasons. The rainy season is from May to November and the dry season is from December to April. It is tropical and hot in Senegal. The temperature varies from about 72 degrees to 86. Its average rainfall is 24 inches, but it can reach up to 60 inches in some areas.

Geography

Senegal is the most western landlocked country in Africa. Its neighboring countries are Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, and the Gambia. It is also bordering the North Atlantic Ocean. Senegal is a little smaller than South Dakota. It is the closest African Country to the United States.

Senegal History

Intro
Senegal has a long and interesting history. Since it goes back to the prehistoric times, I decided to start at the 11th century and go up to 2007.

Before 20th Century
In the 11th century, Islam was started in the Senegal River Valley by the Toucouleur people. In the 13th and 14th centuries the area was ruled by Mandingo empires to the east. (The Jolof Empire of Senegal was also was made during this time.) In the 15th century the Portuguese had some stations on the banks of the Senegal River.

Gorée Island became a major center for the Atlantic slave trade through the 1700’s when millions of Africans were shipped from there to the New World. The British took parts of Senegal at different times, but the French got it in 1840 and made it part of French West Africa in 1895.

20th Century
In 1946 Senegal belonged to France together with other parts of French West Africa. On June 20, 1960, Senegal formed a country with Mali, but it collapsed in less than four months. Leopold Sedar Senghor was elected Senegal's first President in August 1960. The president and the Prime Minister governed together using the parliamentary system. In 1973, Senegal and six other nations created the West African Economic Community. When rising oil prices and changes in the price of peanuts (a major export crop) ruined the economy in the 1970s, Senghor changed it by encouraging people to think about new industries such as tourism and fishing. The economy kept getting worse and nobody liked Senghor.

In 1980, President Senghor retired and gave his power to Abdou Diouf in 1981 after ruling for 20 years. Diouf was President from 1981-2000 (4 terms). He encouraged broader political participation, decreased government involvement in the economy, gave more political freedom, permitted the existence of political parties, and made relationships with other developing nations. He also replaced democracy with a government that made the decisions for them.

Senegal Joined with Gambia to form Senegambia in 1982 but the idea of combining the two counties was not accomplished and the union was dissolved in 1989.

21st Century
In the election of 2000 he lost the election to Abdoulaye Wade who won 60% of the votes. Senegal had its second peaceful transition of power, and its first from one political party to another. It was a rare and smooth transition of power in Africa.

Important 21st Century Dates
In January 2001, the Senegalese voted in a new constitution that made it legal for women to have equal property rights as men. In September 2002, 1863 passengers were killed when the state-owned Joola ferry sank (which the government took full responsibility for). The president removed Prime Minister Seck in April 2004. Wade was elected a second term in February 2007. He got 56% of the votes.

Fun Facts!
95% of Senegalese today are Muslims
Although Senegal is neither a large nor a strategically located country, it has played a big role in African politics since its independence.
Senegal has one of the most stable democracies in Africa.
Senegal has been a political and cultural bridge between the Islamic and black African worlds.
Senegal has kept closer economic, political, and cultural ties to France than any other former French African colony.
Senegal's first president, Léopold Sédar Senghor, had a great influence in the country's political life until his voluntary retirement in 1981. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.