Ethnic groups in Senegal

Map of the ethnic groups of Senegal drawn by David Boilat (1853)

Ethnic groups in Senegal are numerous for such a small area, and subgroups can be distinguished within several of them. According to one 2005 estimate, there are twenty groups of varying size.[1]

The origin of these ethnic groups was studied extensively by Cheikh Anta Diop, although his findings remain controversial and disputed to this day.

Major groups

Wolof of Cayor (1890 engraving)
On the way to a boukout in Baïla in Jola country
Bedick girls in Iwol
Senegalese boy in Gore Island

A few Bassari and Bedick live in the hills in eastern Senegal around Kédougou. These are subgroups of the Tenda, same as the Coniagui and the Badiaranké.

Europeans and descendants of Lebanese migrants are fairly numerous in urban centres in Senegal, about 50,000.

Minor groups

There are also many other smaller representations of other ethnic groups in Senegal, including the Khassonké, the Lawbe and the Papel.

There are also small Chinese and Vietnamese migrant communities.

Commonality

The predominant ethnic groups in Senegal share a common cultural background so that, apart from their languages that also have many similarities, there are no effective cultural barriers between them. This is why marriage between ethnic groups in Senegal is so common.

See also

Related articles

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ethnic groups of Senegal.

References

  1. Atlas du Sénégal (in French). Paris: Éditions J. A. 2007. pp. 72–73.
  2. "The World Factbook:Senegal". CIA. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  3. Peuples du Sénégal (in French). Éditions Sépia. 1996. p. 182.
  4. Donal Cruise O'Brien (1979). "Langues et nationalité au Sénégal. L'enjeu politique de la wolofisation". Année africaine (in French) (Pédone): 319–335.
  5. "The World Factbook:Senegal". CIA. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  6. "The World Factbook:Senegal". CIA. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
  7. Christian Roche (2000). Histoire de la Casamance : Conquête et résistance 1850-1920 (in French). Karthala. p. 408. ISBN 2-86537-125-5.
  8. Jean-Claude Marut (2002). "Le problème casamançais est-il soluble dans l’Etat-nation?". Le Sénégal contemporain (in French) (Paris: Karthala): 425–458. ISBN 2-84586-236-9.