|
|
Article: National Day of the Republic of Senegal.(Opinion & Editorial)
- Article from:
- Manila Bulletin
- Article date:
- April 4, 2004
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
SENEGAL celebrates its National Day today. Dakar, the capital and the principal port and commercial center, is home to 18 percent of the population. Other major urban centers are Thies, Kaolack, and Saint-Louis, all of which are in western Senegal. The population of Senegal is made up of diverse ethnic groups, the largest of which are the Wolof, Fulani and Tukulor, Serer, Diola, and Mandinka.
Like most countries in the African continent, Senegal is a former European colony. Portuguese settlers arrived in the 15th century, but the French eventually gained control in the 17th century. In 1895, Senegal was officially made a French colony, administered from ...