Senegal is named after the Senegal river, a 1,086 km (675 mi) long river in West Africa that forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania.
The name "Senegal" comes from the Wolof "Sunuu Gaal", which means "Our Boat."
Portuguese explorers first arrived in the area which is now Senegal when they came to Gorée Island off the coast of Dakar in the 15th century.
Various European powers—Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Portugal—competed for trade in the area from the 15th century onward. These European countries used Gorée Island as a trading post in slaves from the mainland, controlled by the Muslim Wolof Empires. In 1677, France gained control of the island.
In the 1850s the French began to expand onto the Senegalese mainland after they abolished slavery and began promoting an abolitionist doctrine. The French started to conquer the Wolof and by 1854 Senegal had a French governor. In 1902 it became a part of the French colony French West Africa.
In January 1959, Senegal and the French Sudan became one to form the Mali Federation, which became fully independent on June 20, 1960, as a result of the independence and transfer of power agreement signed with France on April 4, 1960.
This did not last long and due to internal political difficulties, the Federation broke up on August 20, when Senegal and French Sudan (renamed the Republic of Mali) each broke apart into separate nations.
The flag of Senegal 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.
Leopold Sedar Senghor (October 9, 1906 – December 20, 2001), leader of the Sengalese Progressive Union, was the country's first president. Senghor was also Prime Minister between 1962 and 70. Pro-African, he advocated a brand of African socialism.
Educated in France, Senghor was a poet and he personally drafted the Senegalese national anthem, "Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons".
The Sengalese Progressive Union was the only legal party from 1966 until in December 1976 it was reconstituted as PS (Socialist Party) and two opposition parties were legally registered.
In 1978 Senghor was decisively re-elected. He retired at the end of 1980 was succeeded by his handpicked successor Abdul Diouf who declared an amnesty for political offenders and permitted more parties to register.
Between 1982 and 1989 Senegal and The Gambia joined together to make Senegambia.
President Abdul Diouf began an anti-AIDS program in Senegal, before the virus was able to take off. He used media and schools to promote safe-sex messages and required prostitutes to be registered. While AIDS was decimating much of Africa, the infection rate for Senegal stayed below 2 percent
The African Renaissance Monument built in 2010 in Dakar is the tallest statue in Africa.
Today, Senegal is a republic with a presidency; the president has been elected every five years since 2001.
Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres (76,000 sq mi) and has an estimated population of about 15 million. The population density is 64 people/km2.
Senegal's economic and political capital is Dakar. It is by far the largest city in Senegal, with over two million residents.
Senegal is the westernmost country in the mainland of the Old World, or Afro-Eurasia.
The climate is tropical with two seasons: the dry season and the rainy cold season. The rainy season is between June and October. The average temperature on the coast is about 24° C, and inland about 27° C.
Lake Retba or Lac Rose (meaning Pink Lake) lies north of the Cap Vert peninsula of Senegal, some 30 km (18 miles) north-east of Dakar. It is named for its pink waters caused by Dunaliella salina algae and is known for its high salt content, up to 40% in some areas.
The Senegalese landscape consists mainly of the rolling sandy plains of the western Sahel which rise to foothills in the southeast. The highest peak is Nepen Diakha, which is 581 m above sea level.
Senegal is a secular state. The main religion is Islam, practiced by approximately 94% of the country's population; the Christian community, at 5% of the population, are mostly Roman Catholics.
The motto of the country is “One people, one goal, one faith”.
Hospitality is given such importance in Senegalese culture that it is widely considered to be part of the national identity. The Wolof word for hospitality is "teranga" and it is so identified with the pride of Senegal that the national football team is known as the Lions of Teranga.
Senegal is known across Africa for its musical heritage, due to the popularity of mbalax, which has been popularized by Youssou N'Dour, Omar Pene and others.
In Senegal, xylophones have been used as part of initiation ceremonies, played by young girls and boys. Among other practical uses, it was also used to scare birds, monkeys, and other pests out of the gardens.
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| The Senegal River estuary near Saint Louis, Senegal. By Radosław Botev |
The name "Senegal" comes from the Wolof "Sunuu Gaal", which means "Our Boat."
HISTORY
Portuguese explorers first arrived in the area which is now Senegal when they came to Gorée Island off the coast of Dakar in the 15th century.
Various European powers—Great Britain, the Netherlands, and Portugal—competed for trade in the area from the 15th century onward. These European countries used Gorée Island as a trading post in slaves from the mainland, controlled by the Muslim Wolof Empires. In 1677, France gained control of the island.
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| Slave traders in Gorée, 18th century. |
In January 1959, Senegal and the French Sudan became one to form the Mali Federation, which became fully independent on June 20, 1960, as a result of the independence and transfer of power agreement signed with France on April 4, 1960.
This did not last long and due to internal political difficulties, the Federation broke up on August 20, when Senegal and French Sudan (renamed the Republic of Mali) each broke apart into separate nations.
The flag of Senegal 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.
Leopold Sedar Senghor (October 9, 1906 – December 20, 2001), leader of the Sengalese Progressive Union, was the country's first president. Senghor was also Prime Minister between 1962 and 70. Pro-African, he advocated a brand of African socialism.
Educated in France, Senghor was a poet and he personally drafted the Senegalese national anthem, "Pincez tous vos koras, frappez les balafons".
The Sengalese Progressive Union was the only legal party from 1966 until in December 1976 it was reconstituted as PS (Socialist Party) and two opposition parties were legally registered.
In 1978 Senghor was decisively re-elected. He retired at the end of 1980 was succeeded by his handpicked successor Abdul Diouf who declared an amnesty for political offenders and permitted more parties to register.
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| Leopold Sedar Senghor By Bundesarchiv |
Between 1982 and 1989 Senegal and The Gambia joined together to make Senegambia.
President Abdul Diouf began an anti-AIDS program in Senegal, before the virus was able to take off. He used media and schools to promote safe-sex messages and required prostitutes to be registered. While AIDS was decimating much of Africa, the infection rate for Senegal stayed below 2 percent
The African Renaissance Monument built in 2010 in Dakar is the tallest statue in Africa.
Today, Senegal is a republic with a presidency; the president has been elected every five years since 2001.
FUN SENEGAL FACTS
Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres (76,000 sq mi) and has an estimated population of about 15 million. The population density is 64 people/km2.
Senegal's economic and political capital is Dakar. It is by far the largest city in Senegal, with over two million residents.
Senegal is the westernmost country in the mainland of the Old World, or Afro-Eurasia.
The climate is tropical with two seasons: the dry season and the rainy cold season. The rainy season is between June and October. The average temperature on the coast is about 24° C, and inland about 27° C.
 |
| Boats on Lake Retba. By Bernard bill5 |
The Senegalese landscape consists mainly of the rolling sandy plains of the western Sahel which rise to foothills in the southeast. The highest peak is Nepen Diakha, which is 581 m above sea level.
Senegal is a secular state. The main religion is Islam, practiced by approximately 94% of the country's population; the Christian community, at 5% of the population, are mostly Roman Catholics.
The motto of the country is “One people, one goal, one faith”.
Hospitality is given such importance in Senegalese culture that it is widely considered to be part of the national identity. The Wolof word for hospitality is "teranga" and it is so identified with the pride of Senegal that the national football team is known as the Lions of Teranga.
Senegal is known across Africa for its musical heritage, due to the popularity of mbalax, which has been popularized by Youssou N'Dour, Omar Pene and others.
In Senegal, xylophones have been used as part of initiation ceremonies, played by young girls and boys. Among other practical uses, it was also used to scare birds, monkeys, and other pests out of the gardens.
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