This land on the edge of the Atlanitc ocean is made up of 20 ethnic groups including Wolof, Fula, Serer and Mandinka.
Official name: Republic of Senegal
Number of people in Senegal: 17.8 million
Currency: West African CFA franc (XOF)
Official languages of Senegal: French is the main language, with other languages like Wolof, Pulaar, Serer, Diola, and Mandingo being spoken.
Independence date from the France: April 4, 1960
What does the Senegal flag look like: It has three colourful stripes: green, yellow, and red. In the middle of the yellow stripe, there’s a green star. Each colour has a special meaning: green represents hope and Senegal’s major religions, yellow stands for the country’s natural riches and hard work, and red reminds everyone of Senegal’s fight for independence, the gift of life, and the importance of socialism.
The capital city of Senegal is: Dakar. The name comes from the trading settlement of “Ndakaaru”, which the French colonialists called “Dakar.”
Meaning of the word Senegal: It comes from the Senegal River, which forms the country’s northern border. There are many ideas about where the name of the river comes from, but one popular theory is that it’s from “Azenegue,” the Portuguese name for the Berber Zenaga people who lived north of the river.
Fun fact: Senegal used to be joined with The Gambia and the country was called the Senegambia. This joint country only lasted for 7 years.