Senegal, land of the artist and the Teranga 
For a country that has only slightly more than ten million people, Senegal has quite a lot of famous artists. Even the first president Leopold Sedar Senghor was a poet and member of the Paris Académie Française, and today provide musicians, sculptors and writers of international reputation - or if you never about what of singer Youssou N'Dour, sculptor Ousmane Sow or writer or writers Ken Bugul Abasse Ndione have heard? That would be a gap in knowledge! Martina Zimmermann takes you to Senegal in West Africa, where she interviewed thinkers, poets and artists, but also ordinary people.
"From a small African village in the Paris Sorbonne, Papa Leo is an artist. He was even in the Académie française, Papa Senghor was awarded by universities throughout the world, he is an artist. "Madior Diouf sings under the thatched roof of the African restaurants in the" Safari Club ". The swimming pool is illuminated, a waiter in a suit brings the drinks, the palm trees rustling in the background and the Sea: A reminds us of the holiday catalog. Tourists and locals listen to the Senegalese band that hits all continents from all Times played. Only the song about the first president of Senegal's Leopold Sedar Senghor is an original composition by Madior Diouf: "Senghor was important for Senegal, for Africa and for the whole world You're here in the region of Mbour, Senghor came very close to the world. . Senghor said that in 2000 Africa, the whole world are mixed. Here in Mbour has begun. go see the Toubab, the whites who intermarried. Here in Mbour are available from many races. guard against Senghor.'s Senghor not only a politician but a man of culture. "
How Madior Senghor's concept of Negritude is, is very much reduced. The cultural-philosophical and literary movement in the 1930s Year, the cultural and political independence of African countries. But in one of the singer is right: In Saly live very many Europeans, especially French. For these customers, and for the weekend who had traveled from Dakar Senegal imitates the 54 year old musician, Louis Armstrong.
Saly is the only resort in West Africa, a tourist paradise on the "Petite Côte". The so-called small coast is about 80 kilometers from the capital Dakar away. Long sandy beaches, hotels and so-called residences villas and apartments for holiday makers and permanent residents lined the shore in Saly:
"while in Germany it is cold and people freeze, here it is warm, the sea has 25 degrees every day warranty, the sun is shining, and of course that is worth the trip. The people are very friendly, there is a certain warmth of heart is there. "Walter Auer speaks of the proverbial hospitality of the Senegalese people, the" Teranga. "How many European pensioners spend the German winter in Saly." The prices are adjusted to the small income of the Africans and for us it is of course very cheap. For example, we go into the restaurant, as you can for 3000 so for 4 € 50-7 € 50 because you can have fish, meat and other food and thus can be quite cheap here vacation spend. "Above all, the French charm of African life estimate in the former colony. your most comfortable living in Senegal is in stark contrast to that of most Senegalese people who work here for an average of 75 € per month.
While tourists are chauffeured by the taxi let go, locals in collective taxis that run for a few cents from one place to another. The cars are old and often have breakdowns, sometimes the windshield is cracked. Good Luck Chuck, who commutes into almost any car is not a luxury . On the brightly painted buses is "Alhamdullilah" - thank God: As we know, no matter who you have to thank for it if you safely will reach its target. Elhadj has a new Renault Espace. Such a car secured tourist clientele. Nevertheless, the 40 year old was driving without a license. ... "For a license you must pay each year one million CFA (1500 €) we do not earn much, even if we work all year well if the cops catch us with tourists, they want bribes, we give 1000 - one Euro fifty -.. and the thing is in order This is cheaper than the million, the price of the license would be reasonable, up to 150 euros a year, would operate the system, but the state wants too much..
Elhadj driving through landscapes with acacia and baobab trees mahogany gives way, sent the Roadway crossing from goats. On the road the people walk, as elsewhere in Africa, women, children, old and young.
lined with small shops in the villages to each other, gaily dressed ladies with head covering called Boubou sell fruit and vegetables, the melons are piled up into large clusters. Bougainvillea flowers in deep red, yellow and in radiant in clear blue.
During the break at a coffee stand told the taxi driver Elhadj his story: For 18 years he was a fisherman. He made a good living, "seized" by his two canoes in Sierra Leone by customs officials under death threat were. Destitute beat his time by Elhadj by land to home. Without fishing boats he could not, he built now on millet. But as a farmer, he earned even less than before. His first taxi came by his brother in France, a used car, which spun around as a collective taxi Elhadj his countrymen. As he worked with hotels and residences, Elhadj could afford, thanks to better-paying foreign customers a new car. The car in which he drives today, his fifth Taxi:... "No one helped me I've done it only with my family today, I have a second car, so that leaves another brother, we have several customers who share we are among us. we have a only customers, we work together. Whether he earns 15 000 or 30 000, he gives me 10 000 for petrol. Finally, it is my brother and I will that he deserves what. In the family we must help each other. "Solidarity in the often large families is a fundamental value of the Senegalese society and necessary for survival. To have many children and several women, is still considered a good pension. In Senegal, polygamy is permitted, and the 40-year Elhadj men exercising this prerogative. "I have a daughter married the son of my uncle, we have three children, three caesarean sections. My wife was a little tired, so I married another girl. But the girls immediately wanted to have a room with the same comfort as my first wife. I had them go back to her family. I am now looking for another girl. I want a rich woman. A wealthy woman is not charged on the cash register. I want a woman who is self-sufficient. My wife will work and look after their own problems. I just want to go to bed. "These words bring a young woman with ponytail hairstyle into a rage, which has set the coffee stand next to Elhadj on the wooden bench. Ramatou Ley is a student." And the trust to admit openly! I do not like polygamy. I want a man to me alone. I am loyal, he is true to me, and we are together. I want to work as he, and we share expenditure, each contributes its part. I am looking for a white man A white man would never dare to say what the said. Never! If a white man marries you, he buys a villa, a large house with all the trimmings. This boy here wants to benefit. "(Laughs) More than 90 percent of the population of Senegal is Muslim.
Senegalese Islam allows polygamy, the Senegalese but proud in the particularly high tolerance . their country Muslim brotherhoods are very powerful and rooted in the Sufi tradition of mystics who through self-renunciation, the gap between want to overcome man and God. In their rituals, music plays an important role. Senegal's most famous singer Youssou N'Dour: http://www.youssou.com/ "Islam is a religion of peace, and you have faith in music, maybe even express it in movies, like all religions. minority of people that is extremist and represent the matter differently. But I think that the music can show that teaches us the religion of charity and tolerance. "
"Mbeke Wed means in Wolof as much as act of defiance. I do not know who gave the illegal immigration that name, but everyone here in Senegal, that the clandestine immigration to the Canary Islands says pirogues. My novel tells the story of about 40 to 50 young people, including a woman and a teenager, a student, two human smugglers and 40 villagers who have paid all the equivalent of 600 euros for the trip. "The writer Abasse Ndione is considered the author of" sociological Murder ".. reflecting the Senegalese living His latest work, published in the great Paris publisher, Gallimard, concerns the life in Senegal, the 63 year old Abasse Ndione suggests negative, but also the positive side:" Senegal has developed. In the beginning, with the independence (1960), we only had a single party, a single Radio, one newspaper! And in 2000 there were even political change. You can rant against the President Senghor and Abdou Diouf, but one has given us democratic institutions and the other has consolidated these 40 years. Senegal is the only country in West Africa, which is protected from coup attempts. We have changed the President without any problems. Abdou Diouf was defeated and has Abdoulaye Wade congratulated, even before the final result was known. "
That was in 2000. Abdoulaye had promised a change," sopi "in the local language Wolof. Seven years later, the former lawyer and decades of opposition again selected. Wade's argument for his re-election: He wanted to develop the country further. But since then the discontent is growing, ever louder criticism. Abasse Ndione.. "Our politicians today are not at the level of our brave people We Senegalese are courageous, we bear all the politicians should be ashamed of themselves because they do not care about the problems of people seeing what happened with the flow. . Man the price increased by 50 percent, and still is constantly power failure, the problems of the people must be regulated, each has three times a day to eat properly, can treat his sick child Our children need to learn something at school, the children! Politicians know all abroad! For us, the university is still closed, my daughter is the second year and has not even the results of their audits. Thus, this does not work! "However, there are Senegalese as Boubakar Tall, returning after years abroad to their homeland. The engineer was working in Paris with celebrities. However, he moved back to Senegal.
" Some even said I was crazy to return, but where I worked in France for great shows. But I love Senegal. I am from Senegal. If we wait for that other developing our country, we will never make it. It is our job to go home and tell the truth about what happened in Europe. The people need us here, "Boubakar Tall has his house built on the banks of the river Senegal, in the bush, 20 minutes walk from the nearest village and a few miles from the city of Saint Louis. The house is ideal for people to . do each time make music
on the veranda screw type of speakers and sockets, scaffolding parts bear to a truck: You prepare the material with which they sound in the capital Dakar, a big concert the same time builds Boubakar from home the recording studio. "My dream is that one day the Europeans wonder: Where are the Africans? Let us no more? Because we in Africa so well, that the Africans will prefer to stay in Africa. I have friends and brothers who have studied in France and never come back. You have left long ago. You forget Africa. But if they return, they marvel at how Africa has developed. "The music of the Senegalese artist Khadim Tall, produced by Boubakar, the French actor, musician and director Richard Bohringer liked it so much that he as a film music took. An African Success Story from Saint-Louis in Senegal.
This city lies 264 km north of Dakar, Senegal between the mouth of the river and the sea. An iron bridge leads to the city center, it is the symbol of the city, dating from the period, and the Eiffel Tower was built. Guide Amadou Samanios explains. Say "People, Saint Louis resembles Louisiana in the United States or Havana in its early days throughout at the same architect, France, Senegal, in America that was currently out of Gustave Eiffel Our bridge to the historic center. Saint Louis. According to legend, Eiffel had built them, the Hungarians did not and why they came to Saint Louis. "
Saint Louis in 1895, the capital of former French West Africa. Only with the independence Senegal 1960, the more favorably located to the capital Dakar. The colonial buildings of Saint Louis with their beautiful balconies, in 2000, declared a Unesco World Heritage Site. The most beautiful is not to Saint Louis but the colonial architecture, said guide Amadou Samanios: "The Teranga there throughout Senegal, but she is originally from Saint Louis This tradition of hospitality ensures that people stay here like we are proud of.. our history and our culture to share with others. "
Guests are welcomed in Senegal with "Attaya": "Tea is available in the world, but Attaya is typical Senegalese There are many ingredients. his tea, even peppermint. It takes time until the tea is hot, the timing is important for the taste. The tea is strong. He must not foam necessarily when it pours, but it looks beautiful. "
Jac Keita comes from a family of artists who live in the district of La Padua on the outskirts of Dakar.'s Located around a courtyard in which the sister hand-wash the laundry while the boys tinkering with the sound and the muezzin at the nearby mosque for prayer calls. The oldest brother is 30, the youngest sister 21st you plays the bass in the band "Jac et le Takeifa." All siblings , music, and guitarist Cheikh is also still in demand as a painter, has just been awarded in Monaco for best young artist.
Keita-The music of the Family is a modern African music with sound. After Europe, these young artists would go just for the sake of career: namely, on tour.
"There is peace and joy. We must help each other Africans. We must not think that help comes from somewhere else."
