In this post Emma B. and Gabe reflect on our week of music and the arts in Senegal. On Monday, June 6, our group met up with a griot and his drumming group. Griots were part of the traditional caste structure of many West African cultures. They play the role…
On June 6, our group stopped by Village Artisanal de Thiès, where local artisans make and sell their crafts. The village is in an older part of the city and is surrounded by large, beautiful trees. The village itself consists of several buildings, each housing shops and workspaces for multiple…
Suzanna My name is Suzanna Yoder, and I’m an upcoming senior, social work major. Coming into SST, I was hoping for a host family with many kids. Looking back, I’m thankful that my host family only has one child, as this means bonding time for me. Ndeye Maguette In my…
by Samuel Stoner-Eby and Sam Scheele In our fifth week, we visited two development projects to the southeast of Thiès . The Beer Sheba Project is a Christian agricultural education project. Ndem is a community NGO. Ndem has a variety of projects including weaving, gardens, and other small income generating…
On Friday night we celebrated our host families with a small program and party. Adama opened the meeting and translated when necessary. David gave a small thank you from Goshen College. The heart of the program was statements of gratitude and a song from the students. This was followed…
In this post, Ryan and Olivia reflect on their experience with food in Senegal. Food and Culture Food and cooking are a central part of culture and over these last four weeks, our group has enjoyed cooking and eating local foods. Learning about the norms surrounding meals provides a window…
In this post, Emma Zehr and Caleb Gingerich reflect on their experience with language in Senegal. French and Colonialism My host family does not speak any English. I took a semester of elementary French prior to arriving in Senegal, a country whose official language remains that of its colonizers. Despite…
After two busy day trips, we spent Saturday in the village of Ngollar. Adama, our local coordinator, and his extended family invited us to visit their village to get a sense of rural life in Senegal. We knew that there would be special food and music, but none of us…
Our third week focused on the religious context of Senegal, particularly on the role of Sufi Islam and the different brotherhoods. We had two lectures to start the week. On Monday we heard from Moïse Diémé, who spoke with us broadly about the history and influence of the three main…
On Thursday and Friday of our second week of study we visited Saint-Louis. Saint-Louis is located at the mouth of the Senegal River a few kilometers from Mauritania. It is the site of West Africa’s first French settlement and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival we Gaston Berger…
