History of Senegal

Senegal is located on the west coast of Africa and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Mali, Mauritania, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. The region of Senegal, like much of Africa, was inhabited very early.  During the 11th century, Islam took hold and is still the dominant religion.  During the early 17th century, various nations influenced much of the trade with Senegal.  In 1677, France took possession of the region.  The slave trade, which mainly took place out of the island of Gorée, was appealing to French merchants as a profitable business.  The slave trade ended in Senegal in 1848.  In April of 1960, Senegal and French Sudan combined to form the Mali Federation, which gained independence from the French.  In August 1960, the Mali Federation broke down and two countries, Senegal and Soudan (later called the Republic of Mali), became independent, sovereign nations.  The first president of Senegal, Léopold Senghor, was elected the same year. 

St. Louis is the ex-capital of Senegal and has been important in its history.  French traders established St. Louis in 1659.  It was the first permanent settlement in the region.  Senegal was home to a large Métis population, a merchant community characterized by the famous “signares,” or bourgeois women entrepreneurs.  The Métis community added much to the culture to the city during the 17th and 18th centuries, and the French influence is retained in the architecture throughout the city.  Over time, Dakar became a more appealing city for traders and merchants, due to its attractive port.  In 1960, when Dakar became the capital of Senegal, St. Louis slipped into a state of indolence.  The population decreased dramatically.  Today, St. Louis is a vibrant city and the beautiful European architecture that lines the streets attracts many tourists each year.  The culture of St. Louis brings the city alive, but the people, especially the talibé, are still very poor.  Today, Senegal has a population approximately 12.5 million people, 49% of whom live under the poverty level.  About 96 % of the population is Muslim, and the rest practice Christianity or other traditional animalistic religions.