COMING BACK TO SENEGAL
More and more people are heeding the call of going back home to Africa from all over the world. A lot of people throughout the globe trace their recent and distance lineage to Senegal, and they feel connected to the country and are making the trip back home. The idea of repatriation might seem easy, but once in Senegal everything will seem foreign, new and daunting. A good starting point for expats is the language, ‘Wolof’.
Wolof is the national language of Senegal, spoken by approximately 12.4 million people. 4.6 million people speak it as their first language, and approximately 7.8 million use it as a second language, a lingua franca; a language used as the form of communication between people whose native languages are different. This language is not only important in Senegal but in other West African countries such as Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia and Guinea where it is an important Lingua Franca.
In Senegal, French is the official language, with significant impact on the country’s economic and political sectors. Although French is the official language, Wolof is the language that transcends the diversity and differences of Senegalese society. It is a way in which Senegalese express their individuality and identity as a society. For expats, French is important in Senegal, but to truly connect with the people, then a mastery of Wolof is essential.
The Exodus club is a group that is run by African Americans whose aim is to assist those who intend to move back to Africa; ‘The Motherland’. For those willing and planning to relocate back to Africa, getting assistance from those who have navigated through that process will help in absorbing some of the culture shock that comes with such a move and help integrate you into your new society much more easily.
More and more people are heeding the call of going back home to Africa from all over the world. A lot of people throughout the globe trace their recent and distance lineage to Senegal, and they feel connected to the country and are making the trip back home. The idea of repatriation might seem easy, but once in Senegal everything will seem foreign, new and daunting. A good starting point for expats is the language, ‘Wolof’.
Wolof is the national language of Senegal, spoken by approximately 12.4 million people. 4.6 million people speak it as their first language, and approximately 7.8 million use it as a second language, a lingua franca; a language used as the form of communication between people whose native languages are different. This language is not only important in Senegal but in other West African countries such as Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia and Guinea where it is an important Lingua Franca.
In Senegal, French is the official language, with significant impact on the country’s economic and political sectors. Although French is the official language, Wolof is the language that transcends the diversity and differences of Senegalese society. It is a way in which Senegalese express their individuality and identity as a society. For expats, French is important in Senegal, but to truly connect with the people, then a mastery of Wolof is essential.
The Exodus club is a group that is run by African Americans whose aim is to assist those who intend to move back to Africa; ‘The Motherland’. For those willing and planning to relocate back to Africa, getting assistance from those who have navigated through that process will help in absorbing some of the culture shock that comes with such a move and help integrate you into your new society much more easily.
For more information on the Exodus Club visit: www.madeinafricaproject.com
Sign up for our Wolof Class which is starting soon: https://resplendencela.com/courses/wolof-beginner-level-1-bl1-section-a/
