History UsefulNotes / Senegal

There are a couple of sore problems affecting the country, though. The Serers of Casamance are traditionally rebellious against the central government and have attempted several separatist movements. This despite the fact that the first president, Léopold Sédar Senghor, was a native Serer, and the current president, Macky Sall, has Serer connections by way of his wife. The country also has a historical bad blood with Mauritania, whose Arab ruling elite often discriminate against sub-Saharan Africans. The two countries fought a war in the late 1980s over grazing rights in the lands adjoining their border, which resulted in the displacement of a quarter million people, mostly black Mauritanians, to Senegal.

** President: Macky Sall

* '''Area:''' 196,712 km
(75,951 sq mi) (86th)

** President of the National Assembly: Moustapha Niasse

The Republic of Senegal ('''French:''' ''République du Sénégal'') is a country located at the westernmost tip of West Africa. The country contains the Cap-Vert ("Green Cape," not to be confused with UsefulNotes/CapeVerde, which also means Green Cape, but in Portuguese) Peninsula, officially the westernmost point of continental Afro-Eurasia.

The [[UsefulNotes/{{Portugal}} Portuguese]] were the first European explorers to visit the region, but dominant power ultimately resided with the [[UsefulNotes/{{France}} French]]. The colonial powers designated Gorée, a small island nearby the capital Dakar, as a transit point for the slaves about to be transported as part of the Atlantic slave trade; today, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though the French at first only established coastal posts, they slowly colonized the interior, albeit with much local resistance, until the entire region was subjugated in the 19th century. The territory was dubbed the "Sénégal Colony," a part of French West Africa. For several centuries, the capital was located not in Dakar but in the northern city of Saint-Louis, at the mouth of the Senegal River. After 1902, Saint-Louis was transferred to the Colony of UsefulNotes/{{Mauritania}}, but was re-transferred back to Senegal shortly before independence. Contact with the colonial powers brought to the region UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}}, which was mainly accepted by the half of the Serers who did not convert to Islam.

!!Famous Senegalese:
* Music/{{Akon}}'s parents are Toucouleurs from Kaolack. He spent a significant part of his childhood in Senegal and considers it his "hometown."
* Creator/OmarSy was born in France to a Senegalese father and Mauritanian mother.
* Music/{{Estelle}} is of Senegalese descent on her mother's side.
* Creator/GaboureySidibe is of Senegalese descent on her father's side.
* Creator/IssaRae was born to a Senegalese father, and lived in Senegal for a short time.
* Creator/AnnaDiop was born in Senegal but moved to the United States when she was six.

!!Senegalese Media

[[AC: Film]]

* ''Film/{{Atlantics}}''
* ''Film/{{Ceddo}}''
* ''Film/{{Hyenas}}''

[[AC: Literature]]

* ''Literature/{{Xala}}''

!!Other works set in Senegal

* ''Film/CoupDeTorchon'', a French film about a colonial policeman in 1938 who snaps and goes on a killing spree.
* Chidi Anagonye from ''Series/TheGoodPlace'' was born in Senegal and lived there for a time when he was alive, though he also taught as a college professor of ethics in Australia.

!! Related works include:
* Myth/MandeMythology
* Myth/FulaniMythology
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[[AC:The Senegalese flag]]
https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/320px_flag_of_senegalsvg.png
->The flag uses the pan-African tricolor which includes green, yellow, and red colors, each representing agriculture, wealth, and the blood of fallen fighters, respectively, plus a green star at the center representing humanity. Alternatively, the tricolor may also represent the colors of the three political parties which merged to form the Senegalese Progressive Union, the party from where the first president Senghor came. The flag is nearly identical to the flag of Mali Federation (which the country was a part of), except the latter has a stylized human figure instead of a green star at the center, though it symbolized the same thing.
----

The Republic of Senegal ('''French:''' ''République du Sénégal'') is a country located at the westernmost tip of West Africa. The country contains the Cap-Vert ("Green Cape", not to be confused with UsefulNotes/CapeVerde, which also means Green Cape, but in Portuguese) Peninsula, officially the westernmost point of continental Afro-Eurasia.

The region was originally ruled by various indigenous ethnic groups of Western Africa, including the Wolof, who established the Jolof Empire in the 14th century, and the Ghana Empire, who ruled the eastern part of the country. Toucouleurs (a subgroup of the historically-nomadic Fula people who are sedentary) and Soninke peoples make up the rest of the region's demographic makeup. While previously animist or followers of traditional religions, the people began converting to UsefulNotes/{{Islam}} through contact with the Almoravid dynasty to the north in the 11th century, although one ethnic group, the Serer, who lived in the southern Casamance region, refused to accept the faith until much later.

The [[UsefulNotes/{{Portugal}} Portuguese]] were the first European explorers to visit the region, although dominant power ultimately resided within the [[UsefulNotes/{{France}} French]]. The colonial powers designated Gorée, a small island nearby the capital Dakar, as a transit point for the slaves about to be transported as part of the Atlantic slave trade; today, it's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though the French at first only established coastal posts, they slowly colonized the interior, albeit with much local resistance, until the entire region was subjugated in the 19th century. The territory was dubbed the "Sénégal Colony", a part of French West Africa. For several centuries, the capital was located not in Dakar but in the northern city of Saint-Louis, on the mouth of the Senegal River. After 1902, Saint-Louis was transferred to the Colony of UsefulNotes/{{Mauritania}}, but was re-transferred back to Senegal shortly before independence. Contact with the colonial powers brought to the region UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}}, which was mainly accepted by the half of the Serers who did not convert to Islam.

Independence was granted by the French in 1960, in which Senegal and the nearby French Sudan colony merged to form the "Mali Federation". However, Senegal quickly lost interest and eventually opted out just two months later, with French Sudan becoming known as just UsefulNotes/{{Mali}}. It also tried to form a confederation with UsefulNotes/TheGambia, a tiny country that it completely surrounds to the north, east, and south, in the 1980s, as "[[PortmanteauCoupleName Senegambia]]", but opted out when they felt that the confederation wasn't going anywhere.

There are a couple of sore problems affecting the country, though. The Serers of Casamance are traditionally rebellious against the central government and have attempted several separatist movements. This despite the fact that the first president Senghor was a native Serer and the current president (Macky Sall) has Serer connections by way of his wife. The country also has a historical bad blood with Mauritania, whose Arab ruling elite traditionally discriminate against the sub-Saharan Africans. The two countries fought a war in the late 1980s over grazing rights in the lands adjoining their border, which resulted in the displacement of a quarter million people, mostly black Mauritanians, to Senegal.

The major ethnic groups of the country are the Wolof, Fula, Serer, Soninke, and Mandinka. Some French people reside here as a legacy of colonialism, and recently, Lebanese and Chinese people also immigrated as workforce. 94% of the total population subscribe to Islam. The Islam practiced here is infused with traditions and Sufism.

The Republic of Senegal ('''French:''' ''République du Sénégal'') is a medium-sized country located at the westernmost tip of West Africa. The country contains the Cap-Vert ("Green Cape", not to be confused with UsefulNotes/CapeVerde, which also means Green Cape, but in Portuguese) Peninsula, officially the westernmost point of the Eurafrasia; Senegal is thus the westernmost inhabited territory in the Old World ([[SincerityMode seriously]], it's even more western than UsefulNotes/{{Iceland}}, even though half of that country is above the North American Plate). Today, it's mostly known for being one of the few OnlySaneMan among the many-troubled countries in Africa by having neither a (1) leader that's unbelievably self-serving, (2) sectarianism, nor (3) fundamentalism.

The region was originally ruled by various indigenous ethnic groups of Western Africa, including the Wolof, who established the Jolof Empire in the 14th century, and the Ghana Empire, who ruled the eastern part of the country. Toucouleurs (a subgroup of the historically-nomadic Fula people who are sedentary) and Soninke peoples made up the rest of the region's demography. While previously animist or followers of traditional religions, the people began converting to UsefulNotes/{{Islam}} through contact with the Almoravid dynasty to the north in the 11th century, although one ethnic group, the Serer, who lived in the southern Casamance region, refused to accept the faith until much later.

The [[UsefulNotes/{{Portugal}} Portuguese]] were the first European explorers to visit the region, although dominant power ultimately resided within the [[UsefulNotes/{{France}} French]]. The colonial powers established Gorée, a small island nearby the capital Dakar, as a transit point for the slaves about to be transported as part of the Atlantic slave trade; today, it's a UNESCO World Heritage. Though the French at first only established coastal posts, they began to encroach to the interior, albeit with much local resistance, until the entire region was subjugated in the 19th century. It was established as the "Sénégal Colony" as part of French West Africa. Contact with the colonial powers brought to the region UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}}, which was mainly accepted by the half of the Serers who did not convert to Islam.

Independence was finally granted by the French in 1960, in which Senegal and French Sudan merged to form the "Mali Federation". However, Senegal quickly lost interest and eventually opted out just two months later, with French Sudan becoming known as just Mali. It also tried to form a confederation with The Gambia, the very tiny country that it completely surrounded to the north, east, and south, in the 1980s, as "[[PortmanteauCoupleName Senegambia]]", but opted out when they felt that the confederation wasn't going anywhere.

Nevertheless, Senegal has been one of the success stories of African post-colonial democracies by having, y'know, ''actual'' democracy; the country was ruled as an autocracy from independence until 1999 when the country adopted a multi-party democracy system, and it hasn't worn out since. Even if the first 30+ were autocracy, the presidents (Léopold Sédar Senghor and Abdou Diouf) really had the country's best interests in mind (unlike, say, UsefulNotes/EquatorialGuinea's Nguema); Senghor was a CulturedBadass who composed the country's national anthem, while Diouf extended bilateral relationships with other countries. Notably, there is no coup/coup attempt since independence, both military or civilian, suggesting that a large part is contented with whoever-in-power.

There ''are'' several sore problems still affecting the country, though: the Serers of Casamance traditionally are rebellious against their masters and have attempted several separatist movements from time to time, one of which is apparently supported by UsefulNotes/{{Iran}}, which Senegal responded by temporarily suspending their relationship. This despite the fact that the first president Senghor was a native Serer and the current president (Macky Sall)'s wife is also a Serer. The second problem is a historical bad blood with neighboring UsefulNotes/{{Mauritania}}. The lighter-skinned Moors who rule over Mauritania have long been discriminating against the darker-skinned sub-Saharan Africans, whom they ruled and still rule as slaves (showing that racism towards blacks isn't confined to the Western world alone). The slaves tried to revolt and Mauritania responded by throwing them to Room101, all the while banishing the rest as potential fifth columns of Senegal, even those that aren't Senegalese in the slightest. Senegal in turn held suspicion on the Moors in their country and expelled them too.

Demographically, Senegal is as diverse as other West African countries, with the Wolof, Fula, Serer, Soninke, Mandinka, and many others having pluralities in the country. Some French people reside here as a legacy of colonialism, and recently, Lebanese and Chinese people also immigrated as workforce. 94% of the total population subscribe to Islam, while the rest are mainly Christians and Buddhists; atheism is very rare, as in other parts of Africa (though you won't be a dead man walking if you are, unlike in neighboring Mauritania). The Islam practiced here is infused with traditions and Sufism; consequently Sufi saints and folk religious teachers are highly regarded, yet ''[[RunningGag another]]'' contentious thing that sometimes gets the country into argument with the orthodox-Mauritania. The country is neutral, albeit west-lining, in world politics; contrary to what you might think, the country has a healthy relationship with UsefulNotes/{{Israel}}, and it in fact holds one of Israel's few embassies in Africa.

Tourists usually visit the country to see Lake Retba, a natural coastal lake that is colored ''[[http://tripfreakz.com/uploads/lr01.jpg pink]]'' due to certain strain of algae that inhabit it. The country's former tourist attraction was the Dakar Rally, which the country held from 1979 to 2007 with an end goal at UsefulNotes/{{Paris}}. However, due to security concerns in Mauritania, the rally was moved to South America, more or less rendering the rally's name an ArtifactTitle.

* '''Highest point:''' Nepen Diakha (648 m/2,126 ft) (186th)

* '''Highest point:''' Nepen Diakha (648 m/2,126 ft) (171st)

* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' SN

->Rend-nous, oh ! rends-nous l'honneur de nos ancêtres,

->La mort, oui ! Nous disons la mort, mais pas la honte.

* ''Film/CoupDeTorchon'', a French film about a colonial policeman in 1938 who snaps and goes on a killing spree

----

!! Related works include:
* Myth/MandeMythology

The [[UsefulNotes/{{Portugal}} Portuguese]] were the first European explorers to visit the island, although dominant power ultimately resided within the [[UsefulNotes/{{France}} French]]. The colonial powers established Gorée, a small island nearby the capital Dakar, as a transit point for the slaves about to be transported as part of the Atlantic slave trade; today, it's a UNESCO World Heritage. Though the French at first only established coastal posts, they began to encroach to the interior, albeit with much local resistance, until the entire region was subjugated in the 19th century. It was established as the "Sénégal Colony" as part of French West Africa. Contact with the colonial powers brought to the region UsefulNotes/{{Christianity}}, which was mainly accepted by the half of the Serers who did not convert to Islam.

Independence was finally granted by the French in 1960, in which Senegal and French Sudan merged to form the "Mali Federation". However, Senegal quickly lost interest and eventually opted out just two months later, with French Sudan becoming known as just Mali. It also tried to form a confederation with The Gambia, the very tiny country that it completely surrounded to the north, west, and south, in the 1980s, as "[[PortmanteauCoupleName Senegambia]]", but opted out when they felt that the confederation wasn't going anywhere.

The Republic of Senegal ('''French:''' ''République du Sénégal'') is a medium-sized country located at the westernmost tip of West Africa. The country contains the Cap-Vert ("Green Cape", not to be confused with UsefulNotes/CapeVerde, which also means Green Cape, but in Portuguese) Peninsula, officially the westernmost point of the Old World; Senegal is thus the westernmost inhabited territory in the Old World ([[SincerityMode seriously]], it's even more western than UsefulNotes/{{Iceland}}, even though half of that country is above the North American Plate). Today, it's mostly known for being one of the few OnlySaneMan among the many-troubled countries in Africa by having neither a (1) leader that's unbelievably self-serving, (2) sectarianism, nor (3) fundamentalism.

The Republic of Senegal ('''French:''' ''République du Sénégal'') is a medium-sized country located at the westernmost tip of West Africa. The country contains the Cap-Vert ("Green Cape", not to be confused with UsefulNotes/CapeVerde, which also means Green Cape, but in Portuguese) Peninsula, officially the westernmost point of the Old World; Senegal is thus the westernmost inhabited territory in the ''entire world'' before the Age of Exploration ([[SincerityMode seriously]], it's even more western than UsefulNotes/{{Iceland}}, even though half of that country is above the North American Plate). Today, it's mostly known for being one of the few OnlySaneMan among the many-troubled countries in Africa by having neither a (1) leader that's unbelievably self-serving, (2) sectarianism, nor (3) fundamentalism.

->The flag uses the pan-African tricolor which includes green, yellow, and red colors, each representing agriculture, wealth, and the blood of fallen fighters, respectively, plus a green star at the center representing humanity. Alternatively, the tricolor may also represent the colors of the three political parties which merged to form the Senegalese Progessist Union, the party from where the first president Senghor came. The flag is nearly identical to the flag of Mali Federation (which the country was a part of), except the latter has a stylized human figure instead of a green star at the center, though it symbolized the same thing.