Dakar - Culture

Dakar is the nation's capital and its largest city. The climate is as varied as the terrain. There are two seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy season lasts from June through October. Along the coast the weather tends to be breezy and cooler while further inland it is drier in the north and more tropical in the south. Temperatures range from 64 to 86 degrees. The economy of Senegal is relatively diversified. The main agricultural crop is groundnuts. Other crops are maize, millet, beans, rice, sugar and cotton. Industries include textile manufacturing and food processing as well as petroleum and phosphate production. Fishing industries have become the largest export earner. Tourism is also a growing sector of the economy.

About 90% of the people of Senegal are Muslim. The remaining 10% represent Christianity (mostly Catholic) and animistic and various forms of tribal beliefs. Although Muslim beliefs have had a strong impact on the development of the country, and continue to be a part of daily life, most people identify first with their family or ethnic group and then, secondarily, with their religion. As a result, Islam in Senegal has a subtly different character. You will hear the daily calls to prayer, the consumption of alcohol is shunned, but in Senegal, women do not usually wear a veil. Both Muslim and Catholic holidays are officially recognized including Tabaski, Korité, the end of Ramadan, the prophet Muhammad's birthday, Easter, and Christmas

About one third of Senegal's population is Wolof, who not coincidentally have a large foothold in the nation's political and economic scene. While most Wolof live in the areas north of Dakar and Thies, they can be found in all sections of the country. The Sereer, Senegal's second largest ethnic group, are found mainly in the areas directly east and southeast of Dakar. Toucouleur and Peulh peoples can be found along the Senegal River. The Diola reign in the Casamance, the Mandinka in the center of Senegal, and the Soninké in the eastern parts of the country. Dakar, though located in a traditionally Wolof region, is a cosmopolitan city where each major ethnic group is represented

The Paris to Dakar Rally has the reputation of being the most trying off-road race in the world. The object of this event is for man and car to take on the elements and see who wins. Driving everything from specially-built vehicles to Hummers and low- cost cars, teams hit the road in Paris.