The Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia. In modern day Senegal, the Serer people live in the west-central part of the country, running from the southern edge of Dakar to The Gambian border. The Serer occupy the ancient Sine and Saloum areas (now part of modern day independent Senegal). In The Gambia, they occupy parts of old Nuimi and Baddibu as well as The Gambian Kombo. The Serer-Noon occupy the ancient area of Thiès in modern day Senegal. The Serer-Ndut are found in southern Cayor and north west of ancient Thiès. The Serer-Njeghen occupy old Baol; the Serer-Palor occupies the west central, west southwest of Thiès and the Serer-Laalaa occupy west central, north of Thiès and the Tambacounda area. The Serer people are the third largest ethnic group in Senegal making up 14.7% of the Senegalese population. In Gambia they make up less than 2% of the population. Along with Senegal and The Gambia, they are also found in small numbers in southern Mauritania. Some notable Gambian Serers include Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice President of The Gambia since 20 March 1997, and the late Senegambian historian, politician and advocate for Gambias independence during the colonial era - Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof. In Senegal they include Leopold Sedar Senghor and Abdou Diouf (first and second president of Senegal respectively). Most people who identify themselves as Serer speak the Serer language. This is spoken in Sine-Saloum, Kaolack, Diourbel, Dakar, and in Gambia, and is part of the national curriculum of Senegal. Historically the Serer people’s unwillingness to trade directly during the colonial era was a double edged sword to the Serer language as well as the Cangin languages. That resulted in the Wolof language being the dominant language in the market place as well as the factories. However, the Serer language among with other local languages are now part of the national curriculum of Senegal. About 200,000 Serer speak various Cangin languages, such as Ndut and Saafi, which are not closely related to Serer proper (Serer-Sine language). There are clear lexical similarities among the Cangin languages. The Serer religion, Fat Rog (the way of the Divine) is the original religious beliefs, practices and teachings of the Serer people. The Serer people believe in a universal Supreme Deity called Rog. The Serer religious beliefs encompasses ancient chants and poems; veneration and offerings to the Serer Gods, Goddesses, ancient Serer Saints and ancestral spirits (Pangool); astronomy; initiation rites; medicine; cosmology and history of the Serer people.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 06:30:30 +0000
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