Art and Culture
Music, dance, craftsmanship, literature, cinema and heritage: the cultural vitality of the land of Teranga.
A melting pot of Sahelian and Atlantic civilizations, Senegal holds a singular place in African cultural life. From the academies of Dakar to the villages of Casamance, creativity is everywhere: in music, dance, visual arts, literature and cinema.
Teranga, a way of life
More than a word, Teranga — hospitality in Wolof — is a founding value of Senegalese society. It lives in the welcome given to strangers, meals shared around a communal dish, the three teas served to guests, respect for elders and everyday solidarity. It has earned the country its nickname, 'the land of Teranga'.
Music and dance
Home of the mbalax made famous by Youssou N'Dour, Senegal moves to the rhythm of the sabar, the tama and the kora of the griots, keepers of oral memory. Galsen hip-hop, afro-pop and the jazz of Saint-Louis complete one of the continent's most creative music scenes, while sabar dances and the simb enliven popular celebrations.
Craftsmanship
Weavers, jewellers, leatherworkers, sculptors and dyers keep centuries-old skills alive: woven fabrics, gold and silver filigree, basketry, pottery and the famous batik. The craft markets of Soumbédioune in Dakar and the villages of the Niayes are living showcases of this creativity.
Literature
A land of letters, Senegal gave the French-speaking world Léopold Sédar Senghor, poet-president and academician, Cheikh Anta Diop, Mariama Bâ, Aminata Sow Fall, Boubacar Boris Diop and Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, winner of the 2021 Prix Goncourt. The oral tradition of the griots remains the bedrock of this literary vitality.
Cinema
The cradle of African cinema with Ousmane Sembène and Djibril Diop Mambéty, Senegal continues to shine on the world's screens, carried by a new generation of filmmakers such as Mati Diop, Grand Prix winner at Cannes 2019 and Golden Bear 2024.
Historical heritage
Gorée Island, memorial of the Atlantic slave trade, the island of Saint-Louis with its colonial architecture, the Saloum delta, the Senegambian stone circles and Bassari country are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The Museum of Black Civilisations in Dakar and the African Renaissance Monument complete this landscape of memory.
Festivals and major events
The Dak'Art biennale of contemporary African art, the Saint-Louis Jazz Festival, the Grand Magal of Touba, the Gamou of Tivaouane and many regional festivals punctuate the year and draw visitors from around the world.
