A – France
Q- When did Senegal gain independence?
A – Senegal declared its independence on April 4, 1960
JP and I were supposed to be in Gambia for a conference over the 4th of April, but chose to stay in Niaguis for the promise of a full day of festivities and an opportunity to interact more with the locals. Sadly, due to limited funding, the ‘full-day festivities’ were scaled down to a morning parade. Typically, the celebrations start the evening before and continue late into the night of the 4th complete with traditional dancing and wrestling (think Sumo wrestling with much skinnier wrestlers) and lots of feasting.
The parade was actually a showcase of all the schools from surrounding villages with representing students marching ever so proudly to loud music over an intercom. Also in the parade were the 100+ kids demonstrating their Tae Kwon Doe skills, the military and the local transport vehicles and their drivers - a fleet of 4 or 5 cars that hold almost fame status since there is a terrible vehicle shortage in the Casamance.
In the late 80s, certain Casamance leaders campaigned for independence from the rest of Senegal - the Casamance is separated from the rest of the country by Gambia – which involved an armed rebellion. This rebellion was intense at times and greatly affected the local villagers and tourism. The latest peace agreement reached with the rebel leaders in 2004 seems to have taken effect and by all accounts, the region is starting to return to its former state: a safe, quiet place to live indeed.
Flag of Senegal
From the youngest to oldest, they all strutted their stuff in the same manner...the little ones were especially cute!
One of the gems that travel regularly between our village and the city...
How can you not feel safe when you have a military post in your own town...of course they paraded their whole arsenal...jeep, tank, bazookas and automatics...
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