République du Sénégal Republic of Senegal
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Un Peuple, Un But, Une Foi"  (French) "One People, One Goal, One Faith"
Anthem: Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons
Capital (and largest city)		Dakar 14°40′N, 17°25′W
Official languages		French
Recognised regional languages		Wolof (spoken by 94 percent)
Demonym		Senegalese
Government		Semi-presidential republic
-	President	Abdoulaye Wade
-	Prime Minister	Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré
Independence
-	from France	20 August 1960
Area
-	Total	196,723 km² (87th) 76,000 sq mi
-	Water (%)	2. The origins of the flag of Senegal lie in the former Mali Federation, whose Flag was identical spare for a stylized black silhouette in the central section The Coat of arms of Senegal dates from the 1960s and reads Un Peuple Un But Une Foi -- One People One Goal One Faith in the French language. A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's "Pincez tous vos koras frappez les balafons" is the National anthem of Senegal, adopted in 1960. About 70% of Senegal 's population is rural In rural areas density varies from about 77 per square kilometer (200/mile² in the west-central region to 2 per square kilometer (5/mile² For the Dakar Rally see Dakar Rally. For the Israeli submarine see INS Dakar. An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people A regional language is a Language spoken in an area of a Nation state, whether it be a small area a federal State or Province, or A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. The semi-presidential system is a System of government in which a prime minister and a President are both active participants in the day-to-day administration Elections Presidents of Senegal 1960-present Léopold Sédar Senghor: 6 September 1960 - 31 December 1980 Abdoulaye Wade (born May 29 1926 is the third and current President of Senegal, in office since 2000 The Prime Minister of Senegal is the Head of government of Senegal. Cheikh Hadjibou Soumaré (born 1951) has been the Prime Minister of Senegal since June 2007 Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. M^2 redirects here For other uses see M². CM2 redirects here This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" 1
Population
-	2005 estimate	11,658,000 (72nd)
-	Density	59/km² (137th) 153/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2005 estimate
-	Total	$20. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 504 billion (109th)
-	Per capita	$1,759 (149th)
Gini (1995)		41. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Gini coefficient is a measure of statistical dispersion most prominently used as a measure of inequality of income distribution or inequality of wealth 3 (medium)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0. The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 499 (low) (156th)
Currency		CFA franc (XOF)
Time zone		UTC
Internet TLD		.sn
Calling code		+221

Senegal (French: le Sénégal), officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the Sénégal River in western Africa. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The CFA franc (in French: franc CFA, "céfa" or just franc colloquially is a currency used in twelve formerly French -ruled ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The Sénégal River is a 1790 km long River in West Africa, that forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania. West Africa or Western Africa is the Westernmost Region of the African Continent. Senegal is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south. Mauritania (موريتانيا Mūrītāniyā officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country Mali, officially the Republic of Mali (République du Mali is a Landlocked nation in Western Africa. Guinea, officially Republic of Guinea (pronounced /ˈgɪni/ République de Guinée is a country in West Africa, formerly known as French Guinea The Republic of Guinea-Bissau (ˈgɪni bɨˈsaʊ República da Guiné-Bissau ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɐ giˈnɛ biˈsau is a country in Western Africa, and one of the smallest The Gambia lies almost entirely within Senegal, surrounded on the north, east and south; from its western coast, Gambia's territory follows the Gambia River more than 300 kilometres (186 miles) inland. The Gambia River is a major River in Africa, running 1130 km (700 miles from the Fouta Djallon plateau in north Guinea westward to the Dakar is the capital city of Senegal, located on the Cape Verde Peninsula on the country's Atlantic coast. For the Dakar Rally see Dakar Rally. For the Israeli submarine see INS Dakar. Cap-Vert is a Peninsula in Senegal, and the westernmost part of the continent of Africa.

Contents 1 History 2 Politics 3 Geography 3.1 Population of major cities 4 Economy 5 Demographics 5.1 Ethnicity 6 Religion 6.1 Islam 6.2 Christianity 6.3 Other religions 7 Culture 8 Regions, departments, and arrondissements 9 Further reading 10 References 11 External links

History

Main article: History of Senegal

Archaeological findings throughout the area indicate that Senegal was inhabited in prehistoric times. The History of Senegal is commonly divided into a number of periods encompassing the Prehistoric era the precolonial period colonialism and the contemporary era

Eastern Senegal was once part of the Empire of Ghana. The Ghana Empire or Wagadou Empire (existed c 750 - 1076) was located in what is now southeastern Mauritania, Western Mali It was founded by the Tukulor in the middle valley of the Senegal River. The Toucouleurs (or Haalpulaaren) are a Fula agricultural people who live primarily in the north of Senegal (where they comprise 10% of the population The Sénégal River is a 1790 km long River in West Africa, that forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania. Islam, the dominant religion in Senegal, first came to the region in the 11th century. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the area came under the influence of the Mandingo empires to the east; the Jolof Empire of Senegal also was founded during this time.

Various European powers—Portugal, the Netherlands, and Great Britain—competed for trade in the area from the 15th century onward, until in 1677, France ended up in possession of what had become an important slave trade departure point—the infamous island of Gorée next to modern Dakar. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The history of slavery uncovers many different forms of human exploitation across many cultures throughout history Île de Gorée (ie "Gorée Island" (pronounced /goʀe/ is one of the 19 communes d'arrondissement (i Millions of West African people were shipped from here. It was only in the 1850s that the French began to expand their foothold onto the Senegalese mainland, at the expense of native kingdoms such as Waalo, Cayor, Baol, and Jolof. The Kingdom of Waalo ( Oualo) was a kingdom on the lower Senegal River in West Africa in what are now Senegal and Mauritania. The Kingdom of Cayor (1549-1879 was the largest and most powerful kingdom that split off from the Empire of Jolof (Diolof in what is now Senegal. The Kingdom of Baol or Bawol in central Senegal was one of the kingdoms that arose from the split-up of the Empire of Jolof (Diolof in 1555

In January 1959 Senegal and the French Sudan merged to form the Mali Federation, which became fully independent on June 20, 1960, as a result of the independence and the transfer of power agreement signed with France on April 4, 1960. French Sudan (Soudan was a Colony in French West Africa that had two separate periods of existence first from 1890 to 1899 then from 1920 to 1960 when the Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Due to internal political difficulties, the Federation broke up on August 20. Senegal and Sudan (renamed the Republic of Mali) proclaimed independence. Mali, officially the Republic of Mali (République du Mali is a Landlocked nation in Western Africa. Léopold Senghor was elected Senegal's first president in September 1960. Sir Léopold Sédar Senghor ( 9 October 1906 20 December 2001) was a Senegalese Poet, politician and cultural theorist who

After the breakup of the Mali Federation, President Senghor and Prime Minister Mamadou Dia governed together under a parliamentary system. Mamadou Dia (born July 18 1910) was the first prime minister of Senegal. In December 1962 their political rivalry led to an attempted coup by Prime Minister Dia. Although this was put down without bloodshed, Dia was arrested and imprisoned, and Senegal adopted a new constitution that consolidated the president's power. In 1980 President Senghor decided to retire from politics, and he handed power over in 1981 to his handpicked successor, Abdou Diouf. Abdou Diouf (Abdu Juuf (born September 7, 1935) was the second President of Senegal, serving from 1981 to 2000

Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia on February 1 1982. The Senegambia Confederation was a loose Confederation between the West African countries of Senegal and its neighbour The Gambia, which is almost Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen However, the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern separatist group in the Casamance region has clashed sporadically with government forces since 1982. Casamance ( Casamança) is the area of Senegal south of The Gambia including the Casamance River. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping. ^[1]

Abdou Diouf was president between 1981 and 2000. He encouraged broader political participation, reduced government involvement in the economy, and widened Senegal's diplomatic engagements, particularly with other developing nations. Domestic politics on occasion spilled over into street violence, border tensions, and a violent separatist movement in the southern region of the Casamance. Casamance ( Casamança) is the area of Senegal south of The Gambia including the Casamance River. Nevertheless, Senegal's commitment to democracy and human rights strengthened. Diouf served four terms as president.

In the presidential election of 2000, opposition leader Abdoulaye Wade defeated Diouf in an election deemed free and fair by international observers. Abdoulaye Wade (born May 29 1926 is the third and current President of Senegal, in office since 2000 Senegal experienced its second peaceful transition of power, and its first from one political party to another. On December 30, 2004 President Abdoulaye Wade announced that he would sign a peace treaty with the separatist group in the Casamance region. Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Abdoulaye Wade (born May 29 1926 is the third and current President of Senegal, in office since 2000 Casamance ( Casamança) is the area of Senegal south of The Gambia including the Casamance River. This, however, has yet to be implemented. There was a round of talks in 2005, but the results did not yet yield a resolution.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Senegal

Senegal is a republic with a powerful presidency; the president is elected every seven years, amended in 2001 to every five years, by universal adult suffrage. Politics of Senegal takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential, liberal democratic Republic, whereby the President of Senegal is Elections in Senegal gives information on Election and election results in Senegal. Suffrage (from the Latin suffragium, meaning "voting tablet" and figuratively "right to vote" probably from suffrago "hough" and originally The current president is Abdoulaye Wade, re-elected in March 2007. Abdoulaye Wade (born May 29 1926 is the third and current President of Senegal, in office since 2000

Senegal has more than 80 political parties. A political party is a Political organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within Government, usually by participating in electoral The unicameral National Assembly has 120 members elected separately from the president. Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or Parliamentary chamber The National Assembly of Senegal (Assemblée nationale du Sénégal is the lower house of the country's parliament. An independent judiciary also exists in Senegal. The nation's highest courts that deal with business issues are the constitutional council and the court of justice, members of which are named by the president.

Today Senegal has a democratic political culture, being one of the more successful post-colonial democratic transitions in Africa. Postcolonialism ( postcolonial theory, post-colonial theory) is an intellectual discourse that holds together a set of theories found among the texts and Local administrators are appointed by, and responsible to, the president. The marabouts, religious leaders of the various Senegalese Muslim brotherhoods, also exercise a strong political influence in the country, most notably the leader of the Mouride brotherhood, Serigne Mouhamadou Lamine Bara Mbacke. A marabout (مَربوط or مُرابِط, one who is attached/garrisoned) is an Islamic religious leader and teacher in West Africa, and (historically This is a list of Muslim groups in Senegal (and also The Gambia) The Mouride brotherhood ( Muride brotherhood in Wolof الطريقة المريدية Aṭ-Ṭarīqat al-Murīdiyya or simply مريدية Murīdiyya El Hadji Serigne Mouhamadou Lamine Bara Mbacké, or Shaykh Bara Mbacké (born 1925 is the Grand Marabout of the Mouride movement in Senegal

Geography

Main article: Geography of Senegal

Senegal is located on the west of the African continent. Senegal is a coastal West African nation located 14 degrees north of the Equator and 14 degrees west of the Prime Meridian. The Senegalese landscape consists mainly of the rolling sandy plains of the western Sahel which rise to foothills in the southeast. See also Sahel Tunisia, a region of eastern Tunisia. The Sahel or Sahel Belt (from Arabic ساحل sāḥil Here is also found Senegal's highest point, an otherwise unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha at 584 m (1926 ft). The northern border is formed by the Senegal River, other rivers include the Gambia and Casamance Rivers. The Sénégal River is a 1790 km long River in West Africa, that forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania. The Gambia River is a major River in Africa, running 1130 km (700 miles from the Fouta Djallon plateau in north Guinea westward to the The Casamance River flows westward for the most part into the Atlantic Ocean along a path about 200 Miles (320 km in length The capital Dakar lies on the Cap-Vert peninsula, the westernmost point of continental Africa. Cap-Vert is a Peninsula in Senegal, and the westernmost part of the continent of Africa.

The local climate is tropical with well-defined dry and humid seasons that result from northeast winter winds and southwest summer winds. Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of A tropical climate is a kind of Climate typical in the Tropics. Dakar's annual rainfall of about 600 mm (24 in) occurs between June and October when maximum temperatures average 27 °C (81 °F); December to February minimum temperatures are about 17 °C (63°F). Rain is Liquid precipitation. On Earth it is the condensation of atmospheric Water vapor into drops heavy enough to fall often making it to The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 Interior temperatures can be substantially higher than along the coast, and rainfall increases substantially farther south, exceeding 1. 5 m (59. 1 in) annually in some areas. The far interior of the country, in the region of Tambacounda, particularly on the border or Mali, temperatures can reach as high as 130 °F (54 °C).

The Cape Verde islands lie some 560 kilometers (348 mi) off the Senegalese coast, but Cap Vert ("Cape Green") is a maritime placemark, set at the foot of "Les Mammelles" , a 105-metre (344 ft) cliff resting at one end of the Cap Vert peninsula onto which is settled Senegal's capital Dakar, and 1 kilometre (1,100 yd) south of the "Pointe des Almadies", the western-most point in Africa. The Republic of Cape Verde ( Portuguese: Cabo Verde, 'kabu 'veɾdɨ is a Republic located on an Archipelago in the Macaronesia The coast is defined as the part of the land adjoining or near the Ocean. Cap-Vert is a Peninsula in Senegal, and the westernmost part of the continent of Africa. Cap-Vert is a Peninsula in Senegal, and the westernmost part of the continent of Africa.

Population of major cities

City	Population
Dakar	1,998,635
Touba	428,059
Thiès	240,152
Rufisque	187,203
Saint-Louis	178,782
Kaolack	173,782
M'Bour	170,699
Ziguinchor	130,750

Economy

Main article: Economy of Senegal

In January 1994 Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform programme with the support of the international donor community. For the Dakar Rally see Dakar Rally. For the Israeli submarine see INS Dakar. Touba may refer to Touba Côte d'Ivoire Touba Senegal Thiès (pronounced “chess" Wolof: Cès) is the third largest city in Senegal with a population officially estimated at 320000 in 2005 Rufisque is a city in the Dakar region of western Senegal, at the base of the Cap-Vert Peninsula Saint-Louis, or Ndar as it is called in Wolof, is the capital of Senegal 's Saint-Louis Region Kaolack ( Kawlax in Wolof) is a town of 172305 people ( 2002 census on the north bank of the River Saloum and the N1 road in M'Bour or Mbour is a town on the Petite Côte in Senegal, lying approximately 80 km south of Dakar. Ziguinchor is the capital of the Ziguinchor Region, and the chief town of the Casamance area of Senegal, lying at the mouth of the Casamance River Kaolack ( Kawlax in Wolof) is a town of 172305 people ( 2002 census on the north bank of the River Saloum and the N1 road in Predominantly rural and with limited natural resources the Economy of Senegal gains most of its foreign exchange from fish, phosphates groundnuts This reform began with a 50 percent devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to the former French franc and now to the euro. The CFA franc (in French: franc CFA, "céfa" or just franc colloquially is a currency used in twelve formerly French -ruled The franc (represented by the franc sign ₣ or more commonly just F) is a former Currency of France. Please update other articles as well to avoid contradiction within Wikipedia e Government price controls and subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2. 1 percent in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform programme, with real growth in GDP averaging 5 percent annually during the years 1995–2001. Annual inflation had been pushed down to less than 1 percent, but rose to an estimated 3. In economics inflation or price inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over a period of time 3 percent in 2001. Investment rose steadily from 13. 8 percent of GDP in 1993 to 16. 5 percent in 1997.

The main industries include food processing, mining, cement, artificial fertilizer, chemicals, textiles, refining imported petroleum, and tourism. Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw Ingredients into Food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body In the most general sense of the word a cement is a binder a substance which sets and hardens independently and can bind other materials together Fertilizers ( also spelt fertiliser are chemical compounds given to Plants to promote growth they are usually applied either through the soil for uptake by plant The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Refining (also called affining) is the process of Purification of a substance. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Exports include fish, chemicals, cotton, fabrics, groundnuts, and calcium phosphate, and the principal foreign market is India at 26. The peanut, or Groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea) is a species in the Legume family Fabaceae native to South America, Mexico Calcium phosphate is the name given to a family of Minerals containing Calcium Ions (Ca2+ together with orthophosphates (PO43- 7 percent of exports (as of 1998). Other foreign markets include the US, Italy, and the UK.

As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff. The West African Economic and Monetary Union (or UEMOA from its name in French, Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine) is an organization For other uses of this word see Tariff (disambiguation. A tariff is a tax imposed on goods when they are moved across a political boundary Senegal also realized full Internet connectivity in 1996, creating a mini-boom in information technology-based services. The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks Information technology ( IT) as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA is "the study design development implementation support Private activity now accounts for 82 percent of GDP. On the negative side, Senegal faces deep-seeded urban problems of chronic unemployment, socioeconomic disparity, juvenile delinquency, and drug addiction. Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. Income disparity or wage gap is a term used to describe inequities and asymmetry in the distribution of wealth and income between Socio-economic groups within society Juvenile delinquency refers to criminal acts performed by juveniles Most Legal systems prescribe specific procedures for dealing with juveniles such as Drug addiction is widely considered a pathological state. The disorder of addiction involves the progression of acute Drug use to the development of drug-seeking

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Senegal

Senegal has a population of over 11 million, about 70 percent of whom live in rural areas. About 70% of Senegal 's population is rural In rural areas density varies from about 77 per square kilometer (200/mile² in the west-central region to 2 per square kilometer (5/mile² Density in these areas varies from about 77 inhabitants per square kilometre (199/sq mi) in the west-central region to 2 inhabitants per square kilometre (5/sq mi) in the arid eastern section.

Ethnicity

Senegal has a wide variety of ethnic groups and, as in most West African countries, several languages are widely spoken. The Wolof are the largest single ethnic group in Senegal at 43 percent; the Peul and Toucouleur (also known as Halpulaar, Fulbe or Fula) (24 percent) are the second biggest group, followed by others that include the Serer (15 percent), Lebou (10 percent), Jola (4 percent), Mandinka (3 percent), Maures or Naarkajors, Soninke, Bassari and many smaller communities (9 percent). The Fula or Fulbe or Fulani (the latter being an Anglicisation of the word in their language Fulɓe) are an ethnic group of The Toucouleurs (or Haalpulaaren) are a Fula agricultural people who live primarily in the north of Senegal (where they comprise 10% of the population The Lebou ( Lébou) are an ethnic group of Senegal, West Africa, living on the peninsula of Cap-Vert. The Jola ( Diola in French transliteration are an Ethnic group found in Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. The Mandinka (also known as Mandingo) are one of the largest Ethnic groups in West Africa with a population estimated at eleven million. The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of Muslim (and earlier non-Muslim people of Berber and Arab descent The Bassari people are an African people living in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. (See also the Bedick ethnic group. The Bedick are an African minority Ethnic group. They live in villages in the most isolated area of eastern Senegal, in the Arrondissement of Bandafassi ) About 50,000 Europeans (1 percent) (mostly French) as well as smaller numbers of Mauritanians and Lebanese reside in Senegal, mainly in the cities. Mauritania (موريتانيا Mūrītāniyā officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, is a country Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية Also located primarily in urban settings are the minority Vietnamese communities. The Vietnamese people (người Việt or vi ''người Kinh'' are an Ethnic group originating from what is now northern Vietnam and southern China. From the time of earliest contact between Europeans and Africans along the coast of Senegal, particularly after the establishment of coastal trading posts during the fifteenth century, communities of mixed African and European (mostly French and Portuguese) origin have thrived. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Cape Verdeans living in urban areas and in the Casamance region represent another recognized community of mixed African and European background. The Republic of Cape Verde ( Portuguese: Cabo Verde, 'kabu 'veɾdɨ is a Republic located on an Archipelago in the Macaronesia Casamance ( Casamança) is the area of Senegal south of The Gambia including the Casamance River. French is the official language, used regularly by a minority of Senegalese educated in a system styled upon the colonial-era schools of French origin (Koranic schools are even more popular, but Arabic is not widely spoken outside of this context of recitation). French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Most people also speak their own ethnic language while, especially in Dakar, Wolof is the lingua franca. A lingua franca (from Italian, literally meaning Frankish language, see etymology under Sabir and Italian below is any Language widely Pulaar is spoken by the Peuls and Toucouleur. Portuguese Creole is a prominent minority language in Ziguinchor, regional capital of the Casamance, where some residents speak Kriol, primarily spoken in Guinea-Bissau. This article is about Portuguese-based Creole languages See Creole peoples for the Portuguese Creole ethnicity Ziguinchor is the capital of the Ziguinchor Region, and the chief town of the Casamance area of Senegal, lying at the mouth of the Casamance River Casamance ( Casamança) is the area of Senegal south of The Gambia including the Casamance River. The Republic of Guinea-Bissau (ˈgɪni bɨˈsaʊ República da Guiné-Bissau ʁɛˈpublikɐ dɐ giˈnɛ biˈsau is a country in Western Africa, and one of the smallest Cape Verdeans speak their native creole, Cape Verdean Creole, and standard Portuguese. Cape Verdean Creole is a language spoken on the islands of Cape Verde. Portuguese ( or língua portuguesa) is a Romance language that originated in what is now Galicia (Spain and northern Portugal.

See also: Languages of Senegal

Religion

Islam is the predominant religion, practiced by approximately 95 percent of the country's population; the Christian community, at 4 percent of the population, includes Roman Catholics and diverse Protestant denominations. Senegal is a Multilingual country - Ethnologue lists 36 languages French, which was inherited from the colonial era is the Official language A "mosque" in English refers to all types of buildings dedicated for Islamic worship although there is a distinction in Arabic between the smaller privately owned mosque and the larger A ritual is a set of actions often thought to have Symbolic value the performance of which is usually prescribed by a Religion or by the Traditions Kaolack ( Kawlax in Wolof) is a town of 172305 people ( 2002 census on the north bank of the River Saloum and the N1 road in For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. There is also a 1 percent population who maintain animism in their beliefs, particularly in the southeastern region of the country. Animism (from Latin anima ( Soul, Life) commonly refers to a religious belief that Souls or Spirits exist in Animals

Islam

Main article: Islam in Senegal

Islamic communities are generally organized around one of several Islamic Sufi orders or brotherhoods, headed by a khalif (xaliifa in Wolof, from Arabic khalīfa), who is usually a direct descendant of the group’s founder. Islam is the predominant religion in Senegal. Ninety-four percent of the country's population is estimated to be Muslim Sufism ( تصوّف - taṣawwuf, Persian: صوفی‌گری sufigari, Turkish: tasavvuf, Urdu: تصوف A caliphate (from the Arabic خلافة or khilāfa) is the political leadership of the Muslim community in classical and medieval Islamic history Arabic (ar الْعَرَبيّة (informally ar عَرَبيْ) in terms of the number of speakers is the largest living member of the Semitic language The two largest and most prominent Sufi orders in Senegal are the Tijaniyya, whose largest sub-groups are based in the cities of Tivaouane and Kaolack, and the Murīdiyya (Murid), based in the city of Touba. The Tijāniyyah ( Arabic: الطريقة التجانية, Transliterated: Al-Ṭarīqah al-Tijāniyyah, or "The Tijānī Path" is Tivaouane is a city located in the Thiès Region of Senegal. History Tivaouane was part of the Wolof kingdom of Cayor, and was at Kaolack ( Kawlax in Wolof) is a town of 172305 people ( 2002 census on the north bank of the River Saloum and the N1 road in Murid ( مريد) is a Sufi term meaning 'committed one' It refers to a person who is committed to a teacher in the spiritual path of Sufism Touba ( Arabic Ṭūbā "Felicity" is a city in central Senegal The Halpulaar, a widespread ethnic group found along the Sahel from Chad to Senegal, representing 20 percent of the Senegalese population, were the first to be converted to Islam. The Fula or Fulbe or Fulani (the latter being an Anglicisation of the word in their language Fulɓe) are an ethnic group of The Halpulaar, composed of various Fula people groups, named Peuls and Toucouleurs in Senegal. The Fula or Fulbe or Fulani (the latter being an Anglicisation of the word in their language Fulɓe) are an ethnic group of The Toucouleurs (or Haalpulaaren) are a Fula agricultural people who live primarily in the north of Senegal (where they comprise 10% of the population Many of the Toucouleurs, or sedentary Halpulaar of the Senegal River Valley in the north, converted to Islam around a millennium ago and later contributed to Islam's propagation throughout Senegal. Most communities south of the Senegal River Valley, however, were not thoroughly Islamized until the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. During the mid-19th century, Islam became a banner of resistance against the traditional aristocracies and French colonialism, and Tijānī leaders Al-Hajj Umar Tall and Màbba Jaxu Ba established short-lived but influential Islamic states but were both killed in battle and their empires than annexed by the French. El Hadj Umar Tall, also Umar Tal, Umar Taal "Umar Futi" al-Hajj Umar ibn Sa'id Tal, or el-Hadj Omar ibn Sa'id Tal, (ca Maba Diakhou Bâ (also Ma Ba Diakhu, Ma Ba Diakho Ba, Ma Ba Jaaxu, Màbba Jaxu Ba) (1809 - July 1867 born at Tavacaltou.

The spread of formal Quranic school (called daara in Wolof) during the colonial period increased largely through the effort of the Tijaniyya. In Murid communities, which place more emphasis on the work ethic than on literary Quranic studies, the term daara often applies to work groups devoted to working for a religious leader. Other Islamic groups include the much older Qādiriyya order and the Senegalese Laayeen order, which is prominent among the coastal Lebu. Qadiriyyah ( Arabic: القادريه, Turkish: Kadirilik) (also Transliterated Kadri, Elkadry, Kadray The Layene are a politically autonomous religious community of the Lebou people who live in fishing communities on the Cap-Vert peninsula north of Dakar Today, most Senegalese children study at daaras for several years, memorizing as much of the Qur'an as they can. Some of them continue their religious studies at informal Arabic schools (majlis) or at the growing number of private Arabic schools and publicly funded Franco-Arabic schools.

Christianity

Small Roman Catholic communities are mainly found in coastal Serer, Jola, Mankanya and Balant populations, and in eastern Senegal among the Bassari and Coniagui. The Jola ( Diola in French transliteration are an Ethnic group found in Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. The Mankanya people (Fr Mancagnes; self-designed as Ba-hula) form an Ethnic group living in Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Gambia The Bassari people are an African people living in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. In Dakar Catholic and Protestant rites are practiced by the Lebanese, Capeverdian, European, and American immigrant population, and among certain Africans of other countries. Although Islam is Senegal's majority religion, Senegal's first president, Léopold Sédar Senghor, was a Catholic Serer. Sir Léopold Sédar Senghor ( 9 October 1906 20 December 2001) was a Senegalese Poet, politician and cultural theorist who

Other religions

Animism is the other main religion practiced. Animism (from Latin anima ( Soul, Life) commonly refers to a religious belief that Souls or Spirits exist in Animals There are also small numbers of adherents of Judaism and Buddhism. Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Judaism is followed by members of several ethnic groups, while Buddhism is followed by a number of Vietnamese.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Senegal

See also: Cuisine of Senegal, Languages of Senegal, List of Senegalese writers, List of Senegalese, and Music of Senegal

Senegal's musical heritage is better known than that of most African countries, due to the popularity of mbalax, which is a form of Wolof percussive music; it has been popularized by Youssou N'Dour. The cuisine of Senegal is similar to other cuisines found in West Africa, but at the same time has its own unique dishes Senegal is a Multilingual country - Ethnologue lists 36 languages French, which was inherited from the colonial era is the Official language This is a list of prominent Senegalese authors A - G Abdoulaye Sadji (1949-) Christine Adjahi Gnimagnon, also connected with This is a list of famous Senegalese people: Athletes Louis Phal Papa Bouba Diop DeSagana Diop Senegal 's Musical heritage is better known than that of most African countries due to the popularity of Mbalax, which is a form of Wolof Music is an Art form in which the medium is Sound organized in Time. Mbalax (or Mbalakh is the national popular dance music of Senegal and The Gambia. Youssou N'Dour (jusun̩ˈduːʀ (born October 1, 1959 in Dakar) is a Senegalese Singer and Percussionist. Sabar drumming is especially popular. The sabar is traditional Drum from the West African nation of Senegal.

Regions, departments, and arrondissements

Main articles: Regions of Senegal, Departments of Senegal, and Arrondissements of Senegal

Senegal is subdivided into 11 regions, each administered by a Conseil Régional (Regional Council) elected by population weight at the Arrondissement level. |||} Senegal is subdivided into 11 regions ( régions, singular région) each of which is administered by a Conseil Régionaux elected by population The 11 Regions of Senegal are subdivided into 35 departments and 103 arrondissements (neither of which have administrative function and by collectivités locales The departments of Senegal are subdivided into Arrondissements The arrondissements are listed below by department Bakel Bala Diawara The country is further subdivided by 34 Départements, 103 Arrondissements (neither of which have administrative function) and by Collectivités Locales, which elect administrative officers. ^[2]

Regional capitals have the same name as their respective regions:

Dakar Diourbel Fatick Kaolack Kolda Louga

Matam Saint-Louis Tambacounda Thiès Ziguinchor

Further reading

Communications in Senegal Confédération Sénégalaise du Scoutisme Music of Senegal Education in Senegal Foreign relations of Senegal Indigenous cultures et al

Agriculture in Senegal List of Senegal-related topics Military of Senegal Senegal national football team Transport in Senegal University of Dakar

References

External links

Government

• (French) Gouvernement du Sénégal—Official governmental website
• Embassy of the Republic of Senegal in London government information and links
• (French) Observatoire sur les systèmes d'information, réseaux et inforoutes

News

• Newspaper Index - Senegal Online Newspapers in Senegal
• (French) Seneweb Senegal news
• allAfrica.com - Senegal news headline links
• SenActu - Senegal news headline links

Information Technologies (IT)

• (French) Syklon Technologies: Société de Services en Ingenierie Informatique au Sénégal et offshore

Overviews

• BBC News Country Profile - Senegal
• CIA World Factbook - Senegal
• MSN encarta Senegal overview
• Encyclopaedia Britannica's Country Page - "Senegal"
• [2]

Maps

• UN Map on Senegal

Literature

• Senegalese literature at a glance

Music

• Cora Connection West African music resources

Tourism

• Practical information on Senegal with maps, culture, articles ...
• Senegal travel guide from Wikitravel
• Guided Tours of Senegal
• The Lonely Planet travel guide on Senegal

Ethnicity

• (French) Senegals ethnic groups (in french)

Other

• [3]
• (French) L'Afrique - Sénégal Hundreds of photographs and articles
• Senegal shows tolerant face of Islam ...
• Movement of the Democratic Force of Casamance
• Mineral resources of Senegal

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