Senegal

The Block

A silhouetted woman in typical Senegalese attire, appliquéd by Rosemary Hamlin, is flanked by two women performing customary daily tasks. Her brightly coloured boubou (robe) and matching head tie feature a traditional Senegalese design created through the popular resist-dye technique known as batik. Cottons in variable shades resulting from tie-dye techniques provide the contours of the other women, while bead earrings––typical of the jewelry worn by Senegalese women––complete each ensemble.

Behind the women, in reverse appliqué (a method in which the top fabric is cut through to reveal the coloured material underneath) is a stylized representation of the ancient baobob tree. Senegal has an abundance of these treasured trees, which are valued locally by all the country’s inhabitants, human and otherwise. Creatures, such as birds, bats, baboons and giraffes rely on baobobs for food and shelter, and Senegalese people gather honey from beehives atop the trees, pick the fruit for candy and drinks, strip the bark for baskets and rope and use the roots for medicine.

Cultural Profile

Senegal––a former French colony in West Africa and once part of the Senegambia, a confederation between Senegal and The Gambia––is mainly a low-lying country, with a semi-desert in the north and northeast, and forests in the southwest. It is primarily an agricultural nation in which cotton and peanuts form the economy’s foundation. The country is the most biologically diverse in the Sahel, the semi-arid region south of the Sahara and is home to over 550 animal species. It is also the world’s largest exporter of exotic birds. Dakar, Senegal’s capital city, is perched on a rocky peninsula that forms the westernmost point of Africa, and is the site of much fine French colonial architecture. Senegal’s population incorporates a diversity of ethnic groups, including the Wolof, Fulani, Tukulor, Serer, Diola and Mandinka. French is the official language although each ethnic group speaks its own tongue, such as Wolof, Mandingo and Pulaar.

Teranga, or hospitality, is a cardinal value in Senegal, so much so that extra food is almost always prepared at mealtimes to accommodate surprise guests, or even strangers who might visit. It is customary to serve these large meals in one communal plate, where everybody helps himself with his own spoon.

Like many African tribes, Senegal’s indigenous people have a highly stratified society in which status is determined by birth. The highest positions are held by noble and warrior families, followed by farmers, traders, and people of caste. The lowest position is assigned to griots (pronounced GREE-oh) or praise-singers who are in charge of passing on oral traditions and stories. Griots give tribes their strong sense of history and identity, and for this reason they are highly respected.

As part of their performances, griots often play a variety of traditional instruments, including the tama (talking drum), tabala (wooden kettle drum), kora (21-stringed harp lute) and xalam (the most common stringed instrument). The most beloved instrument is the sabra, a drum made from the baobob tree, which has become a fundamental part of Senegalese daily life. It is present at almost all social gatherings in Wolof and Sereer societies and is thought to be the first means of communication between villages.

Some of the textile arts in Senegal include the weaving of tapestries in Thiès. These tapestries, made of wool, can reach a width of many meters and display abstract designs and vivid colours. Weaving is also an art with roots going back many generations. The pano is the most common fabric produced by the traditionally male weavers. This narrow and long fabric is widely used in household items, though some patterns are reserved for specific events such as funerals and baptisms. Senegal’s national crafts also include basketry, brightly decorated pottery, woodcarving and gold and silver work.

People coming to Canada from Senegal have been listed on immigration records since 1974, although prior to that they were most likely included under the blanket heading of ‘Africans.’ Many went to Québec because of their fluency in French. The 2011 census indicates that there are less than 6,400 Senegalese currently in the country. Even though their numbers are small, many Quebecers are familiar with the Senegalese accent and humour through the work of television host and writer Boucar Diouf. One Senegalese Canadian even founded a village back in his homeland and named it Montréal-au-Sénégal after the Canadian city that he now calls home.

Sponsor: Gary Bryan in memoriam Kenneth Bryan