Wednesday, October 24, 2012

A Photographic Study in "Terranga" [sic]

The Wolof word for hospitality is teranga and it is given such importance in Senegalese culture that it is widely considered to be part of the national identity.  In fact, the national soccer team is nicknamed the Lions of Teranga.  Occasionally I have seen it misspelled "terranga", and it is interesting that the misspelling occurs on terra-, which of course in Latin means Earth.

Interestingly there is a strong connection between the Earth and the fortunes and well-being of the people that inhabit it.  A nation and its people are ultimately defined by the land - its bounty (eg. diamonds, oil, etc.) often times, as we've see in other parts of Africa and around the world, leads to corruption and strains on society through domestic violence, alcohol abuse and other violent crimes.  Here in Senegal, the land in places is harsh but it does provide enough for its people.  It seems the Senegalese recognize this, and despite the far-reaching poverty, I have not seen happier, more welcoming people willing to share with family, friends and strangers equally.  They are not driven by greed and there is deep respect for the land and for all people.

What follows is a photographic study of this fascinating notion of "terranga": the land, the people, and how that all comes together to define way of life here in Senegal.  Without a doubt, teranga is what has so far made our experience with IBM Corporate Service Corps so wonderful. #ibmcsc

The Land

A majestic coastline makes Senegal a welcoming gateway for Western Africa to the rest of the world

The bounty of the ocean feeds the people of Senegal

The soil of this land is sandy but fertile

The sun shines bright to give life, but can be too intense for life as well 


The People

The women work hard and are strong, making Senegal a matriarchal society
The children are playful
The family unit is strong
And the people are proud


The Way of Life


Beautiful tree-lined city streets are currently blighted by nature - left dusty by the sediment from the recent floods

96% of the population is Muslim (this week preparing for Eid al-Adha) and live in perfect harmony with Christians 

It is a vibrant society with streets always bustling with people of all ages

But still struggling to catch up with the Western World


The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies or opinions.

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