A young African studying in Paris shortly

after World War II, reflecting on who the

Sahelians were, wrote the following. 

 

“------who else will teach rhythm to the world

deadened by machines and cannons?

Who will sound the shout of joy at daybreak --?

Tell me, who will bring back the memory of life

To the man of gutted hopes?

They call us men of cotton, coffee, oil.

----- But we are men of dance, whose feet grow

 stronger as we pound upon firm ground.”

 

            From Les Masque

            Louis Sedar Senghor

             First President of Senegal

              (Written as a Student in Paris)

 

The Sahel, geographically, is the area

 immediately below the Sahara desert. 

By country definition, it is Mauritania, 

Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger

and Chad.  It remained isolated from

direct contact with European people

and countries until the early 1800's

when the exploration for Timbuktu was

underway.  Its contact with Arabian influence

 dates back many more years and is reflected

 in the strong presence of Islam.  The Sahelians

 retain their own strong identity illustrated

in the following pictures.