Senegal
Balancing Tradition and Change in Senegal
June 7 - 18, 2009
Itinerary
This 12-day seminar begins and ends in Dakar and includes excursions to Toubab Dialaw, Sobo Badè and Saint-Louis. Please note that Toubab Dialaw is a fishing village and nearby Sobo Badè, where the group will be spending two nights, is an artists’ colony. This is a unique opportunity, however, the accommodations are limited, basic, and double-occupancy. Click here to see the Summer 2009 Seminar itinerary.
Seminar Fee
CIEE Member: $2,800 Non-Member: $3,000
Academic Content (please note this is tentative and subject to change)
Lectures
- An Overview of Senegal Today
- Religions and Beliefs in Senegal and West Africa
- Family, Health, and Educational Issues in Senegal
- Political Reform and the role of the media in the democratic process
- Contemporary Migration Policies and Realities
- Youth & expressive culture
- Development and the Role of Non-Governmental Organizations
- The Transatlantic Slave Trade in the Senegambian Area
Co-curricular Site Visits & Field Trips
- Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) and the West African Research Center (WARC) in Dakar
- Fishing village of Toubab Dialaw and an overnight stay at the artistic center of Sobo Badè
- Saint-Louis, former French colonial capital from 1673 until independence in 1960
- Sightseeing and market visits in Dakar
- Visit to Gorée Island, an important center of the slave trade; tours of the Maison des Esclaves (Slave House) and the Musée de la Femme (Museum of Women)
- A vist to Touba, the Holy City of Muridism, one of the most vibrant islamic brotherhoods in Senegal
- Senegalese Traditional Arts: Batik, drumming, or dance
Rationale
As a predominantly Muslim, French-speaking nation, Senegal is open to various influences from the Islamic world as well as from the West. This seminar explores the impact of global exchanges and migration on indigenous traditions and the state of democracy in Senegal. The seminar provides an opportunity to absorb the rich historical and cultural traditions of Senegal, learn about contemporary Senegal, and hear about the challenges facing the country from a West African perspective. The seminar incorporates academic lectures and site visits focusing on a variety of topics, including migration, politics, education, health, media, religion, and artistic traditions. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to interact with professionals in their fields of interest to further their understanding of Senegalese society and culture.
The Republic of Senegal, which achieved independence in 1960 after more than a century of French colonial rule, is considered one of the most democratic and developed countries in West Africa. Located on the westernmost coast of West Africa, Senegal has a population of nearly twelve million, with approximately two and a half million living in the capital city of Dakar. Although Wolof and French are the country's official languages, other languages are spoken by members of the numerous groups that make up the country's multiethnic population, which is more than 90% Muslim. Senegal today enjoys political and social stability and has a relatively well-developed infrastructure and tourist industry. Indeed, the Senegalese take great pride in their reputation for hospitality (or "Teranga" in Wolof), as well as their cultural traditions including art, theater, music, and dance, which are actively promoted on the national level. In 1994, Senegal undertook an ambitious reform program to privatize and liberalize the economy and boasts a low inflation rate and increased foreign and domestic investments.
Host Institutions
The seminar will be hosted primarily at Suffolk University's Dakar Campus, also home to the CIEE Study Center in Senegal. Lectures and visits will also be held at various sites including the West African Research Center, Toubab Dialaw, Saint Louis, Touba, and Goree Island.
Seminar Leadership
The faculty leader for this seminar is Dr. Serigne Ndiaye. Dr. Serigne Ndiaye is currently the Resident Director of the CIEE Study Center in Dakar, Senegal. Originally from Senegal, he completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in English and American Literature and Civilization at the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, and his Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at Emory University. His primary research and teaching areas are Francophone African and Caribbean literature and culture and post-colonial theory. Dr. Ndiaye has taught African, Caribbean, and African-American literature courses at both Emory University and the State University of New York at Albany.
Note:
Participants who are flexible and open to new experiences are encouraged to apply for the Senegal seminar. In choosing Senegal, we ask you to keep in mind that along with experiencing culturally rich and engaging encounters in a developing nation, participants should also expect that accommodations, transportation, internet reliability, and general travel-related amenities may be at a more basic level than those to which some American travelers are accustomed. Be assured that CIEE makes transportation and accommodation arrangements with safety and cleanliness as priorities, but there may be instances when amenities are limited. If shared rooms are necessary for part of the seminar, participants will be notified prior to the program.
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