Senegal Independence Day

People all across SENEGAL recently celebrated their country's Independence Day on Sunday, April 4th — which happened to coincide with Easter in 2021! Senegal achieved independence from France in 1960. Happy belated Independence Day! To all my blog visitors in all sorts of countries, I hope you had an excellent Easter Sunday!

Senegal is Known for...

●    As a French-speaking nation with multiple native languages
●    Colorful pirogue boats
●    Dakar’s colorful minibuses, or car rapides
●    Football
●    Hospitality
●    Île de Gorée
●    Youssou N’Dour

Most items were listed in The Africa Book; the MLA citation is below. What are other "trademarks" of this African country? Feel free to share your thoughts with a comment!

Phillips et al. The Africa Book: A Journey through Every
          Country in the Continent. Lonely Planet, 2007.

— #AfricaWeek —

Senegal Exports

According to National Geographic MapMaker (mapmaker.nationalgeographic.org), the following items are major exports of SENEGAL: corn (maize), cotton, fertilizer, gold (small amounts), green vegetables, groundnuts (especially peanuts), iron ore, millet, petroleum products, phosphates, rice, seafood, ships, sorghum, tomatoes, and zircon gemstones. According to the International Monetary Fund (data.imf.org), countries and territories buying and importing most of those exports (February 2017 statistics) include Mali (top importer), Switzerland, India, Côte d'Ivoire, Spain, China, Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea, the United Arab Emirates, Burkina Faso, Italy, Guinea-Bissau, the United Kingdom, Republic of the Congo, vietnam, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Togo.

Independence Day in Senegal

Residents in the Republic of SENEGAL — République du Sénégal in the official French language — are celebrating the nation's 57th Independence Day today. Senegal declared its independence from France in 1959 and merged with French Sudan (modern-day Mali) to form the Mali Federation. The first April 4th independence day was subsequently established in 1960 when France agreed to transfer sovereign authority to the Mali Federation. Several months later in August, the Mali Federation separated into Mali and Senegal. Today, Senegal arguably boasts a steadfast independent spirit and proud culture while still maintaining some common roots and heritage — not to mention the language — of France. Happy Independence Day to all the Senegalese people!

Coastal Cities

GeoFact of the Day currently has seven country-by-country posts highlighting towns, cities, and communities located next to massive water bodies:

— BARBADOS (↗)
— DOMINICA (↗)
— GHANA (↗)
— GRENADA (↗)
— GUINEA (↗)
— SÉNÉGAL (↗)
— TUNISIA (↗)

Want to see your country or territory featured in a new blog post — related to the coastal-city topic or something else altogether? Write a post comment below. Thank you for visiting GeoFact of the Day, today and always!

Senegal Endangered Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ for SENEGAL in West Africa lists 1 extinct-in-the-wild species (Scimitar-Horned Oryx antelope), 13 critically endangered species, and 26 endangered species. Senegal's thirteen critically endangered species are the African Slender-Snouted Crocodile, Addra Gazelle, Elattoneura pluotae damselfly, Goliath Grouper, Hooded Vulture, Largetooth Sawfish, two species of Monkfish, Northern Bald Ibis, Rueppell's Griffon, White-Backed Vulture, White-Headed Vulture, and Wide Sawfish. Endangered species include the Blackchin Guitarfish, Cape Hunting Dog, Common Chimpanzee, Conus cloveri and Conus hybridus cone snail species, Dusky Grouper, Egyptian Eagle, Green Turtle, Pygmy Blue Whale, Red Colobus monkey, Saker Falcon, Scalloped Hammerhead shark, Senegalese Hake fish, Spearnose Skate, Spikenose (African) Wedgefish, Undulate Ray, and Violinfish.

Species named after Senegal include the Senegal Batis bird, Senegal Blenny fish, Senegal Chameleon, Senegal Coucal bird, Senegal Flapshell Turtle, Senegal Kingfisher, Senegal Lesser Galago bush baby, Senegal Mahogany tree, Senegal Parrot, Senegal River Crab, Senegal Running Frog, Senegal Sand Skink, Senegal Tateril gerbil, Senegal Thick-Knee bird, Senegalese Sole fish, and Senegalese Scorpionfish.

Coastal Towns of Senegal

Having the designation of being mainland Africa's westernmost country, several towns and cities (including the capital) of SENEGAL straddle the western coast overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean. From north to south, Senegal's coastal communities, towns, and cities include the following: Saint-Louis (Wolof language: Ndar), Sahar, Ndiébèn Gandiol, Sog, Tiougoune, Fas Boye, Mboro (population: >12,600), Kayar (pop. >17,200), Dakar (pop. 2.5 million), Barni Gouddou, Sendou, Yenne-sur-Mer, Ndeyane, Popenguine, Somone, Ngaparou, Mbour (pop. >170,600), Ouoran, Mbodiene, Joal-Fadiout (pop. >36,700), Djifer, Betanti, Bafara, Kafountine, Diogue, Diémbereng, and Kabrousse (pop. 1,350).

Featuring streets lined with pristine French colonial buildings, Saint-Louis is located just south of Mauritania and predominantly on Saint-Louis Island. The city was Senegal's capital from the years 1872 to 1957 and is situated near the Senegal River's mouth. Saint Louis island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With the highest population of any city in Senegal, Dakar is mainly located on the Cap Vert Peninsula but also features several small islands surrounding it and partially within city limits. Located southeast of mainland Dakar, Gorée Island (Île de Gorée) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site just like Saint-Louis Island. Part of the Joal-Fadiout community, the village of Fadiout (Fadiouth) is located on an island (Fadiout Island) known for its many clam shells. Streets are even comprised of shells, as Atlas Obscura notes.

When and How Will Africa Reach Prosperity?

SENEGAL, a French-speaking country that surrounds almost all of Gambia in West Africa, shares with many other African countries a story of unfortunate circumstances. While Senegal is actually considered somewhat prosperous in comparison to extremely poor countries, its people are nevertheless burdened with poverty, malnourishment, and an overall lack of economic opportunities, among other things. About 1/2 of Senegal's total population is not employed, while almost 40% cannot read. LESOTHO, in Southern Africa, has a relatively high literacy rate of over 80%. Unfortunately, the Kingdom in the Sky suffers with poverty, HIV/AIDS, and soil erosion, not to mention a lack of clean water partially due to the Highlands Water Project distributing a vast water supply to South Africa's industrial and population centers. Lesotho and Senegal are far away, but share similar hopes and dreams. Bringing about improvements in the economy, food/water situation, and employment is possible if governments invest in the important causes that will truly benefit the people and non-profit organizations continue to act out their gracious service. Statues and monuments would not be part of this, but organizing government-sponsored career fairs, donating bottled water or building wells, and investing in start-up businesses would be important and great strides towards prosperity and well-being. The possibilities are endless with a little bit of organization and creativity. The government of Lesotho started a positive initiative in which patients with AIDS/HIV can receive necessary treatment/shots at little to no cost. It is enlightening to notice that the people themselves are trying to make beneficial change, and that is important. In Senegal, hip hop artists and rappers joined together in a movement called Y'en A Marre to express their concerns for their country through powerful means. They influence fellow Senegalese citizens to vote, support each other, voice their concerns, and be willing to make changes for a better future. With glimmers of hope that do indeed shine across the continent of Africa, I am optimistic that the people of Africa will one day obtain prosperity!

Senegal

Officially known as the République du Sénégal in French and Republic of Senegal in English, SENEGAL is a predominantly French-speaking country located in West Africa. There are 5 bordering countries: Gambia (surrounded by Senegal on three sides), Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Mauritania. The capital is Dakar, a city with over a million residents. Other cities and communities include Diourbel, Kaolack, Kédougou, Kolda, Linguère, Louga, Ndioum, Pikine, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thiès, and Ziguinchor. Senegal's currency is the West African Franc, and its ISO 4217 currency code is XOF.