During my time in Senegal, I learned so many interesting facts about the country and its people. Here are some of the main ones that I really found intriguing. Drop a comment if you have other interesting facts about Senegal or if your country shares some of these unique facts!
GEOGRAPHY
1. The most western point of continental Africa is the capital of Senegal
In Dakar, you can walk to the most western point of continental Africa. In fact Dakar is located on a peninsula ‘Cape Verde Peninsula’, that projects to the Atlantic Ocean, in a triangle shape.
Today, around that western most point, you will find local sea food restaurants and small artisanal shops. You could definitely spend a few hours around that area, and say that you’ve been to the most western point of continental Africa!
2. Senegal has a pink lake!
One of the most popular attractions in Senegal is its pink lake. The lake is pink due to its high concentration of salt, and the presence of a bacteria that can only survive in these conditions and gives this pink color under sunlight.
3. Senegal has Africa’s tallest statue
The statue, a ~50m monument located outside of Dakar, was constructed by North Korean artists in 2010. It serves to commemorate the African renaissance which was an ideology that aimed at providing growth and prosperity to the African continent in the 21h century.
RELIGION
4. Religion is a BIG part of Senegalese people’s life
95% of the population practices Islam, particularly Sufism. Touba, a holy city in Senegal, receives more than a million Muslim pilgrims annually. Senegal is a secular state, with a democratic regime and a strong civil society. Due to the separation of politics and religion, as well as the domination of Islam, the country is known to be an example of peacemaking.
5. Although the country is mostly Muslim, the first president was Catholic
Léopold Sédar Senghor, a Catholic Senegalese poet, politician and cultural theorist, rallied for the country’s independence from France in 1960 and pushed for the formation of the Federal Assembly of West Africa. Although the assembly did not turn out to be very successful, Senghor later became the president of Senegal, ruling from 1960 to 1980.
CULTURE
6. Senegalese sell birds to release their sins
Probably one of my favorite Senegalese facts: selling birds. Going out of a night club once, I was shocked to see a person holding a cage filled with birds stacked on top of each other. Apparently, birds are sold to be released in the sky, as a way for people to release their sins. What better time to release a sin, than after an intense night out;)
7. Senegalese LOVE to take pictures of foreigners
Don’t freak out! Senegalese are very nice and welcoming people. They get excited when they see international people visiting them. When I toured the mosques and other sites, the tour guides would constantly videotape me and my friends. They usually do it because they are proud and want to show their families, friends or leaders that they had visitors. What’s funny is that they also don’t mind getting so close to your face. It definitely was amusing.
8. The official language in Senegal is french
Since Senegal was once colonized by France, french is learned by everyone in school. However, Senegalese also have their own local language called the Wolof. Wolof is nothing life french, I had a hard time understanding what they were saying, but almost everyone can revert to french or even english when speaking to tourists.
ENTERTAINMENT
9. Senegalese people LOVE to dance in front of mirrors
Senegalese are actually very good dancers. Some of their nightclubs have huge mirrors inside, and many people dance in front of the mirror during a night out in order to practice their dance moves. I’ve never seen that many people in front of a mirror, definitely not in a nightclub!
10. Senegalese don’t go to clubs before 2am
They go clubbing very late at night. They are known to have late dinners, and then go back home to rest a bit, before hitting the dance floor. My friends and I were leaving places at 2-3am, when the crowds were starting to arrive!
11. Rapper Akon is aiming to built Akon city in Senegal
Akon the rapper is partly Senegalese. As a way to foster economic and community development in his country, he will build Akon city. A project worth $6Bn. The plan is to develop a hub for business, education, entertainment and technology purposes as well as a place for residents to live. It was announced in 2018 along with the Minister of Tourism of Senegal, but building work is yet to start.
