Senegal

Casamance is often called Senegal’s food basket. In years with abundant rainfall the region is overflowing with fruits and vegetables. The rivers and the sea are full of fish, but still, the communities depend on the rice harvest for their prosperity. The last few years the harvest has been good. However, when the harvest is not so good, people sometimes starve. There is a lack of employment outside of agriculture, fisheries and a little industry. Tourism is important, however modest. In gthe village of Niafourang, right by TinTing, young people are working together with the organization Niafourang’s Friends, to create jobs, improve children’s life quality and encourage people to get education and knowledge. Read more about Niafourang here.

In the villages of Abéné and Kafountine there are annual cultural festivals that draw great musicians from all of West Africa, and attract an enthusiastic audience even from Europe. The week long festival in Abéné from December 26th to January 2nd i is a highlight. The atmosphere in Abéné and Kafountine is very relaxed, and the reggae culture and music exist side by side with traditional Africa.

Deep forests, savannas and mangrove swamps make Casamance an eldorado for birdwatchers. In the extreme south are the remains of a rain forest with an abundance of seabirds and also dolphins and rare turtles. The big animals are usually found in the national parks. Casamance river The Casamance River has mangrove swamps on both sides that stretch their networks far into the countryside. It’s a fascinating experience to paddle a narrow pirogue into the mangrove labyrinths, and it’s possible to go all the way to Guinea Bissau along the waterways.

The Jola, the main ethnic group in Casamance, by all accounts came to the area from Egypt in a distant past. Most of them are Muslims, but there is also a Christian minority. Animism is, however, very much a part of spiritual life for Moslems as well as Christians. The different ethnic groups live together in peace. Many speak three or four different African languages; young people speak French and many speak English as well.