Senegal:)

PRE-COLONIAL:

Senegal was founded by the Tukulor in the middle valley of the Senegal River. The first kingdoms were created in Senegal around the 7th century including the Tekrour Kingdom, the Namandirou Kingdom and the Djolof Kingdom. The dominant religion of Senegal, Islam, was introduced in the area in the 8th and 9th centuries by Berber merchants. These merchants converted many people to Islam but this created alot of chaos. European missionaries introduced Christianity to Senegal in the 19th century. Between 1300 and 1900 about one-third of the population was enslaved. 

COLONIAL:

Many European powers, like Portugal, the Netherlands and Great Britain, all competed for trade in the area of Senegal in the 15th century. This continued up until 1677 when France took control. At this time Senegal was an important slave trade departure point, (it was also a destination to purchase slaves.) About 200 years later, in the 1850s, the French began to expand off the small islands and onto the mainland of Senegal. By now, the slave trade was beginning to die down thanks to a man by the name of Lat-Dior, Damel of Cayor. 

INDEPENDENCE:

In January of 1959, the French Sudan and Senegal merged to form the Mali Federation. The Mali Federation became fully independent a year later on June 20, 1960. This was the result of the independence Senegal gained from France by an agreement signed on April 4, 1960 which also granted Senegal a transfer of power. The Mali Federation broke apart on August 20 of that same year. Leopold Senghor was elected as Senegal’s first president in September of 1960. After becoming independent, Senegal and Gambia formed the nominal confederation of Senegambia which took place on February 1, 1982. The union ended in 1989. Senegal has had a good history with participating in international peacekeeping.

PRESENT DAY:

The 40-year rule of the Socialist Party in Senegal ended in 2000; this was claimed as a rare democratic power transfer. Currently, the economy is based upon agriculture. The money that the Senegalese people living abroad send home is a large source of the country’s revenue.

Senegal has one of the more unrestricted press climates in Africa. Although, journalists are “regularly threatened and their media is banned or vandalized,” stated Reporters without Borders in their 2010 report. The Senegal constitution guarantees media freedom. The news is not censored by the government, but they are often criticized by small media groups. There are about 20 daily newspapers in Senegal while foreign publications are widely known and always available. By June 2009, there were over one million people with access to the internet.

INTERESTING FACTS:

• Senegal is the most popular tourist destination in western Africa.
• The country’s population is 94% Muslim.
• If invited to a Senegalese person’s home, it is a custom to bring them a box of chocolates.
• If you ever ate dinner in Senegal, you could only eat food off the table with your right hand.
• It is wrong to write a business card in Senegal, even if it’s your own!
• In Senegal, it is polite to leave a little bit of food on your plate once your done eating.
• The Senegalese will never hand someone a gift with their left hand.

Sources:

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/senegal.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegal

http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sg.html#top

http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_porfiles/1064496.stm

http://goafrica.about.com/od/senegal/a/senegalfacts.htm