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History
This was part of an African cultural area long in contact
with Europe, through the Muslim kingdoms to the north. Part of
it was within the ancient Mali Empire (14th century).
The towns of Gorée and St Louis were once centers of
the slave trade and were occupied by Britain during various wars
with France. However, Britain left in 1817 since when the French
became the major influence.
The French colonial presence began here earlier than in the
rest of Africa, from 1820s onwards. By 1865 there was a settled
colony with a governor at Dakar. From 1880 the French occupied
a large part of the interior. This was the first African territory
where there were a significant number of Africans recognized
as French citizens (by passing tests of education) from the early
20th century. Senegal was the core of the colony of French West
Africa which included Soudan, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Niger,
Dahomey, Togo, Guinea and Upper Volta. The federation was split
on the achievement of self-government in 1958.
In 1958 there was an attempt to link the territory with the
then French Soudan. The united country was to be called Mali.
However the Soudan soon split off and called itself Mali.
Independent in 1960
As the French were building their colony, the British occupied
the Gambia river valley. The two countries have been linked though
did not merge, even though the people are of the same ethnic
group.
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Languages
Various African languages of Niger-Congo family
West Atlantic group
Wolof
Fula (Peulh)
Tukulor
Serer
French
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