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 Cape Verde, 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 Islam through contact with the Almoravid dynasty to the north in the 11th century, although one ethnic group, the Serer, who live in the southern Casamance region, refused to accept the faith until much later.
The Portuguese were the first European explorers to visit the region, but dominant power ultimately resided with the 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 Mauritania, but was re-transferred back to Senegal shortly before independence. Contact with the colonial powers brought to the region 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. 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 Mali. It also tried to form a confederation with The Gambia, a tiny country that it completely surrounds to the north, east, and south, in the 1980s, as "Senegambia," but opted out when they felt that the confederation wasn't going anywhere. (The Gambia was a British colony, which caused a bit of a culture clash.)
Senegal is often cited as a success story of African decolonization, lacking a history of coups and, as of present, being a healthy democracy. However, it was a one-party state from independence until 2000, when longtime president Abdou Diouf of the ruling Socialist Party of Senegal conceded the presidential elections to Abdoulaye Wade of the Senegalese Democratic Party.
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. 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.
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 city of Touba, three hours to the east of Dakar, is the birthplace of the Sufi order of Mouridism, and its Grand Mosque is the site of an annual pilgrimage, attracting over 3 million visitors each year.
A notable natural attraction in the country is Lake Retba, a coastal lake that is colored pink
◊ due to a 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 Paris. However, due to security concerns in Mauritania, the rally was moved to South America, and then Saudi Arabia, rendering the rally's name an Artifact Title.
See also Senegalese Media for works from this country.
Other works set in Senegal
- Coup de Torchon, a French film about a colonial policeman in 1938 who snaps and goes on a killing spree.
- Chidi Anagonye from The Good Place 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:
The Senegalese flag
The Senegalese national anthem
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Government
- Unitary dominant-party presidential republic
- President: Bassirou Diomaye Faye
- President of the National Assembly: Amadou Mame Diop
Miscellaneous
- Capital and largest city: Dakar
- Population: 15,854,323
- Area: 196,712 sq km (75,951 sq mi) (86th)
- Currency: West African CFA franc (CFA) (XOF)
- ISO-3166-1 Code: SN
- Country calling code: 221
- Highest point: Nepen Diakha (648 m/2,126 ft) (176th)
- Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean (3,646 m/11,962 ft) (-)
