Skip to main content

Senegalese Music and Media

Integrating into any culture requires some level of learning the pop culture.  The following are some of my favorites that I hope y'all will appreciate:

Music:


 TV:

  • Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown - Season 7, Episode 6, Senegal. A tip of the hat to the late Anthony Bourdain. Prior to coming to Senegal, this episode made me excited for what was to come. He generally stays in touristy areas, but still gives a pretty good take on the culture and the beauty of Senegal. Thanks, Anthony.
  • Wari Wari. The Wolof soap opera that has taken Senegal by storm. I'm not saying you should watch it. I am not even saying I enjoy it haha. But to know Wari Wari is to know pop culture in Senegal. If you're bored, watch an episode online and let me know what you think.
Books:
  • So Long A Letter by Mariama Ba.  Available in French and English, this quick read is a wonderful dive into Senegalese culture that touches upon many social topics that are still relevant today such as polygamy, gender roles, and gender equality. Told by a women in mourning for her late husband (for four months and ten days, as is the Islamic tradition), the story unfolds through a letter being written to a dear friend and reveals many of the intricacies and trials women undergo in a male dominant society.  Not only is it a great read, but it's a well written taste of the culture I have the pleasure of being a part.
Other Resources:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Evacuation

I've been trying to collect my thoughts and explain to family friends how crazy these last several weeks have been. Losing a job, leaving a family, entering reverse culture shock, all within an unprecedented and unexpected timeline. Fortunate for me, my friend and fellow volunteer explained it more eloquently than I could, complete with time stamps and email correspondence with staff. See link below (thank you, Claire). https://hotmangoes.home.blog/2020/03/26/what-in-the-world/?blogsub=confirming#subscribe-blog The big difference between her experience and mine is I was in site a during the last few correspondences. I was battling internally with the decision to take an interrupted service while faking a smile on the outside. Then packing my bags and all my belonging but keeping my shutters closed so none of the kids would yet know I'm leaving for an unknown amount of time. The phrase "dead man walking" kept running through my head as I floated through town with t...
1 comment
Read more

December into March: I’ve been here a year!(?!?)

It’s official. I have been in Senegal for over a year now.  The language feels proficient and the hair is long enough to be put in a proper bun (albeit the language could be better and I could probably use a maintenance haircut haha). So much has happened in the last three months, where do I start…. Portugal (That's not Senegal...?): In my last post, I left y’all mid-month after my training in Tambacounda and a last minute decision to spend the holidays in Portugal. If you did not read my thanksgiving catastrophe in the last blog post, I would implore you to do so; It’s a good laugh, but good reason to not want to spend the holidays at site.   Portugal has been on my list of places to go since study abroad in 2014, but I never had the time or money.   It was worth the wait.   For any foodie and/or history buff, there is no shortage of fun.   Actually, for anyone there is something to do. Even the sidewalks are beautiful.   Not being able to go hom...
Post a Comment
Read more

Pre-Intermediate Service Training (IST)

Pre-IST (4 May - 14 July 2019) Install:     After feeling on top of the world, we packed our lives into sept-places and headed off to our respective regions first thing in the morning, lacking sleep and proper hydration after celebrating swear-in. And reality set in. In Kounghuel, my road town a few of us bought all of our furniture over a couple days with the help of nearby, older, volunteers. And then I was dropped off in my new site, with my new hut, and my new family, and it was all very real. Wolof Rekk.     Here I received my new and final Senegalese name: Babacar Sy . For better or worse, this is also the name of a well-renowned religious leader and I sometimes get called Serigne Babacar Sy. It took a couple days to adjust, but I am blessed to have some key people in this town that have made my integration as smooth as possible. They are: Marie Ndaiye – Selected by the village to come to Thies and learn about Peace Corps and help me integr...
Post a Comment
Read more