This time around of year, when you take a walk in this new streets out-of Dakar-the capital city of Senegal, that is 92%-95% Muslim in one of the top parts of the world, your stumble upon decorated snowmen, Christmas woods that have thread snowballs, old-fashioned goggles protected during the Christmas bulbs. They raises the spirits and gives you vow the end of the world is almost certainly not as near because appears.
You will find always been embarrassing into the identity “endurance.” One thing regarding it naturally mode there’s something completely wrong concerning the other-it needs to be “accepted.” It’s like the method that you must endure your own kleptomaniac friend otherwise the hypochondriac relative. The term ‘tolerance’ provides an impression that we is in some way a great deal more premium somehow, however, elegant enough to perhaps not dislike all of our target out-of threshold-even when we think we have most of the to.
Teranga-that’s the cornerstone out of Senegalese people. Senegalese people are often proves to be really loving and you may appealing so you’re able to one another and visitors. It is something that they very value once the a people. In addition to that, it value other people’s countries and way of living regardless if it’s contrary to theirs. Throughout the roads from Dakar, you will notice ladies in short shorts otherwise small-skirts near to almost every other women in Hijab. Nobody usually bat an enthusiastic eyelid. Your chosen lifestyle will be known and as a result you must also esteem the way of life.
I’ve pondered exactly how which seeming contradictions came to exist and exactly how a good community that’s essentially traditional, also can at the same time become accepting from other’s ways of life. I think it stems from a few issues; the original-a contributed society you to definitely Senegalese people of all of the religions possess during the preferred you to definitely predates monotheistic religions, next-a personal contract you to existed ranging from more cultural organizations till the advent of progressive religions “Cousinage a great plainsanterie” across French Western Africa and also the third a leading degree of comfort that have ambiguities and you can religious combining (syncretism). Teranga cuts across the each one of these situations. This homegrown hospitality is the towel about what society is made.
Getaways is actually a chance to express and also to remember to reinforce family matchmaking
Teranga, a good Wolof word having hospitality, boasts the idea of revealing. Even though you getting they in every day relationships during the Senegal, it is really highly considered during the festivals. That is where anybody display crucial lifetime minutes together.
All of the Senegalese some body commemorate Muslim and you may Christian holidays to each other. Throughout the for each Muslim festival, you will find special foods out-of gifts which might be provided to its Religious natives and you will vice versa. Throughout Easter, Christians build Ngalakh (a breakfast snack) on their own and their Muslim natives. The fresh Christians makes a few batches off Ngalakh – a little batch that have wines because of their very own consumption and you can a enlace ventajoso great huge that versus wines for all their Muslim neighbors. From the Tabaski (Eid Al Adha, the latest Sacrifice Banquet), Muslims invite their Religious family members so you can banquet into the mutton.
Senegal’s fourteen-odd cultural communities express a familiar community regardless of the more languages verbal. This mutual lifestyle predates Christianity or Islam in Senegal. Ergo in the really core – Senegalese see by themselves because the Senegalese basic just before enjoying by themselves while the Christians otherwise Muslims. Once the a pal said, “Both Christians and Muslims see demand a similar old-fashioned spiritual doctors [Animists].”
Cousinage a great plainsanterie was a personal contract who’s got lived anywhere between different ethnic groups for centuries which enables groups making fun of each almost every other but all in jest. They broadly results in “pleasantries ranging from cousins” reminding more cultural organizations and you can religions that they’re all of the area of the identical family unit members.
In a comparable family, people might have additional religions however, because of the “cousinage good plaisanterie”, faith will not be divisive. This could including give an explanation for reason spiritual extremism have a tendency to challenge to acquire a home when you look at the Senegal. Town is quite smaller than average interlinked.
The last basis is actually religious syncretism in the Senegal in addition to large amount of comfort with ambiguity and you will contradictions. A few months straight back, Tamkharit (the start of the new Islamic season) are known inside the Senegal. Inside the festivals, one to will find males clothed since women, particular female outfitted given that men, students will go cure-or-fooling so you’re able to locals home and start to become given grain given that gifts. Area of the meal of the event is a kind of couscous. Children are motivated to eat a lot during the festival or exposure getting beaten from the a malicious angel titled Abdou Diambar.
Yes, there’s a corner-putting on a costume Halloween-esque spiritual festival in Senegal. While in the Eid, one another Christians and you may Muslims rating the new attire generated, visit each other and request forgiveness out-of those he has got wronged.
When you look at the 2004, whenever Cardinal Hyacinthe Thiandoum passed away-the original archbishop of Dakar, almost all brand new procession whom decided to go to check their body and you will spend their last respects was basically Muslims. My Muslim friend’s friends still has a poster out of him during the their property-they adored him to be good religious leader. Inside the Joal, the city that birthed Senegal’s basic Chairman Leopold Sedar Senghor-there is certainly a good cemetery where both Muslims and Christians try tucked. During the Senegal, the brand new intersections ranging from community and you may religion was fuzzy and you will phenomenal.
Last week We told people here Everyone loves the new spiritual tolerance inside the Senegal
This holiday season, the country you may learn a lot regarding Senegal. It is rather unusual to locate places that the point that we do not have the same philosophy (or shortage of philosophy) doesn’t give you reduced or higher person. This will be things we truly need around the world-where whether or not you’re a good Religious, a great Muslim, a beneficial Hindu, a great Buddhist, an atheist or a keen animist.
Where I don’t have so you’re able to concur or display the values, but simply regard your as an individual are that is worthwhile of experiencing their own selection and you will way of living her lifetime from inside the the way works best for them. In the a scene in which men and women are are slain for everybody forms out-of distinctions-spiritual, racial, tribal, sexual direction an such like., we need to commemorate one news one to reminds all of us exactly what humanity indeed form.
