THE LAND OF TERANGA
Senegal is known as the “Land of Teranga.” The word teranga loosely translates to “hospitality.” However, it means much more than that. teranga means sharing your home and belongings with anyone who needs it. It means lending a helping hand to friends, family, or strangers in their time of need. It means giving guests the best seat at the lunch bowl and plenty of meat and vegetables. It means warmly greeting everyone you encounter. It means not turning a blind eye to anyone. No other word encompasses the spirit of community in Senegal like teranga does. We welcome you to explore how teranga has impacted our lives below.
The Scenery
“The baobab tree is the most spectacular tree in the Senegalese landscape. It produces a delicious fruit that is used to make a very popular sweet drink. Some Senegalese from the animist tradition believe these trees are sacred and hold the spirits of the dead within them.”
- Quentin
“The world famous Lake Retba, or Lac Rose as it is known in Senegal, is a beautiful salt water lake in northwest Senegal that turns pink from algae.”
- Quentin
Family
“I will be forever grateful for the kindness and generosity of my Senegalese family. Locally, I am known as Moustapha Ba. Moustapha is another name for the prophet Muhamad, so it is a great honor. Ba is a Pulaar family name, but we spoke Wolof in our household. My host father Boubacar Ba, has the most wonderful smile. He is a retired tourist guide who speaks many languages. Before working each day, I used to sit together with him for a long time chatting and drinking kinkiliba tea. After lunch, I joined him for attaya. We talked about everything, including politics, religion, culture, and sports. He taught me many Wolof idioms which were crucial to my language and cultural learning. He also helped me facilitate trainings in the community on many occasions. My host mother Astou Faye is a strong, funny, and hardworking woman. She is from another ethnicity, the Sereers. An enterprising woman, every day she wakes up early to go to the market and purchase fish and vegetables. She brings the goods back to our neighborhood where she sells them to women in the neighborhood. Our front porch was always a lively spot for morning gossip! And thanks to her, we always had plenty of fish and vegetables in our bowl. She is also hands down, the best cook in Senegal. The Ba family is smaller than many Senegalese families. They have four children, Mamadou, Cheikh, Ibrahim, and Koura. They also take care of a grandson, Muhamad, and a niece, Astou Ndao (little Astou). They didn’t have much, but they accepted me as family and cared for me as if I were their own while I was in their home. I could never repay them for all that they did for me!”
- Quentin
The Kids
“One of my favorite parts about Senegal is the speeches. In my town, the kids at the Quranic school were shy at first but quickly became eager to work on their public speaking skills. There was always enthusiastic applause after each speech.”
- Owen
“My counterpart led activities in our market space for International Women’s Day. The majority of our audience ended up being talibés. They were all eager participants and thoughtful listeners throughout the entire activity.”
- Katelynn
The Food
“I love how food brings people together in Senegal. All of the cooking, eating, and cleaning is a group effort. Learning how to make Senegal’s national dish, Thieboudienne, was the last thing I did with my family before being evacuated.”
- Katelynn
“Lunchtime in Senegal is a family affair, with everyone generally eating out of communal bowls. The matron tosses the food that you love best into your part of the bowl. To keep the kids’ hands away from your side, you just use lots of pimé, or hot pepper!”
- Moriah
The Colors
“Senegalese clothing is known for its vibrant colors and patterns. While there are many types of fabrics, the most common and affordable kind is called “Wax.” Typically, you buy your fabric separately and take it a tailor to make a one-of-a-kind outfit. Because it’s always in high demand for events and holidays, fabric makes an excellent gift!”
- Quentin
“One of the first places I visited at my site was the massive fish market on the coast. I will never forget the almost overwhelming sights, smells, and sensations of the beach. Soon, it became one of my favorite places to go for fresh grilled ‘Chicken of the Sea,’ served with salt and red pepper for about $0.25.”
- Quentin
The Music
“The Fulani people are known for their verbal art, expressed through song and poetry. This is a snapshot of my family welcoming me into the fold in 2016.” - Moriah
