Dakar Fashion Week 2012 Schedule

Dakar Fashion Week 2012 Schedule

More information on Dakar Fashion Week

Oumou SY - Senegalese Fashion Designer

Ounou SY - Senegalese Fashion Designer

Portrait of Oumou Sy
The Senegal Blog
Oumou Sy from Senegal belongs to the most significant personalities in the African world of fashion. The self-taught designer lives and works in Dakar. She expresses her artistic versatility in the creative textile and jewelry designs that she produces using traditional as well as modern techniques. As well as directing theater productions, designing costumes for local and foreign film productions, Haute Couture remains her favored field, where she has also made an international name for herself as a fashion designer. She founded the association Metissacana, that supports the cultural and economic exchange between the continents and in which she also produces designs for the carnival in Dakar with her students.
In the last few years, Oumou Sy presented her collections in a variety of self-directed fashion shows in Europe and Africa. She owns her own stores in Geneva and Paris. She initiated the international yearly fashion sales week SIMOD in Dakar in which designers from all over the world have the opportunity to meet each other. Read the rest of the story....

Read about Dakar Fashion Week

Please visit our page for African Fabric 

Dakar Fashion Week 2012

Photograph by: Finbarr O'Reilly, Reuters

The 10th Annual Dakar Fashion Week  - June 11 - 17th , 2012
The Senegal Blog
For all you fashionetta's out there who love color and soul in their design. This show organized by African  fashion designer Adama Ndiaye is a must.

Dakar is on its way to becoming the fashion capitol of Africa. This African fashion show is a meeting between the wisdom of traditional Africa and innovation and dynamism of modern Africa. DAKAR FASHION WEEK is an opportunity to promote African fashion by collecting and partnering with all areas of fashion but also with music. Ankara fabrics, bold exotic prints, pop colors with modern silhouettes and shapes all mixed together for a contemporary feeling.

Dakar Fashion Week is a chance not only to see, but also to support young designers and models in their ambitions to open the international market of fashion. This fashion show is a cultural mix of African chic fashion and sounds.

Dakar Fashion Week 2010 (Photos Alexis Peskine)

Please visit our page for African Fabric


The Senegal Blog

Senegals Youssou N'Dour

Youssou N'Dour

Bio Youssou N'Dour

Youssou N'Dour was born in Dakar to a Serer father. At the age of 12, he began to perform and within a few more years he was performing regularly with the Star Band, Dakar's most popular group during the early 1970s. Several members of the Star Band joined Orchestra Baobab about that time.

Despite N’Dour's maternal connections to the traditional griot caste, he was not raised in that tradition, which he learned, instead, from his siblings. His parents' world view encouraged a modern outlook, leaving him open to two cultures and thereby inspiring Youssou's identity as a modern griot.In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Étoile de 

Youssou N'Dour

Dakar. His early work with Étoile de Dakar was in the typical Latin style popular all over Africa during that time, but in the 1980s he developed a unique sound when he started his current group, Super Étoile de Dakar featuring Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye, and Tama (talking drum) player Assane Thiam. Despite N’Dour's maternal connections to the traditional griot caste, he was not raised in that tradition, which he learned, instead, from his siblings. His parents' world view encouraged a modern outlook, leaving him open to two cultures and thereby inspiring Youssou's identity as a modern griot.

Youssou N'Dour is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history. His mix of traditional Senegalese mbalax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban sambato hip hop, jazz and soul has won him an international fan base of millions. In the West, Youssou has collaborated with musicians Peter Gabriel, Axelle Red, Sting,Alan Stivell, Bran Van 3000,Neneh Cherry, Wyclef Jean,Paul Simon,Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Branford Marsalis, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Dido and others.

Despite N’Dour's maternal connections to the traditional griot caste, he was not raised in that tradition, which he learned, instead, from his siblings. His parents' world view encouraged a modern outlook, leaving him open to two cultures and thereby inspiring Youssou's identity as a modern griot.

Youssou N'Dour

In 1979, he formed his own ensemble, the Étoile de Dakar. His early work with Étoile de Dakar was in the typical Latin style popular all over Africa during that time, but in the 1980s he developed a unique sound when he started his current group, Super Étoile de Dakar featuring Jimi Mbaye on guitar, bassist Habib Faye, and Tama (talking drum) player Assane Thiam. Despite N’Dour's maternal connections to the traditional griot caste, he was not raised in that tradition, which he learned, instead, from his siblings. His parents' world view encouraged a modern outlook, leaving him open to two cultures and thereby inspiring Youssou's identity as a modern griot.

Youssou N'Dour is one of the most celebrated African musicians in history. His mix of traditional Senegalese mbalax with eclectic influences ranging from Cuban sambato hip hop, jazz and soul has won him an international fan base of millions. In the West, Youssou has collaborated with musicians Peter Gabriel, Axelle Red, Sting,Alan Stivell, Bran Van 3000,Neneh Cherry, Wyclef Jean,Paul Simon,Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Branford Marsalis, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Dido and others.

In Senegal, Youssou has become a powerful cultural icon and is actively involved in social issues.N'Dour's work absorbs the entire Senegalese musical spectrum, often filtered through the lens of genre-defying rock or pop music from outside Senegalese culture.

In July 1993, an African opera composed by N'Dour premiered at the Opéra Garnier for the French Festival Paris quartier d'été.He wrote and performed the official anthem of the 1998 FIFA World Cup with Axelle Red "La Cour des Grands"Youssou N'Dour was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on 16 October 2000.

N'Dour's major asset is his strong cultural grounding. Even as he explores other cultures, his roots are well established. Some have gone so far as to describe him as the African Artist of the Century (Folk Roots magazine). He has toured internationally for thirty years. He won his first American Grammy Award (best contemporary world music album) for his CD Egypt in 2005.

By 1991 he had opened his own recording studio, Xippi, and, by 1995, his own record label, Jololi.
In addition, he is the proprietor of L'Observateur, one of the widest-circulation newspapers in Senegal, the radio station RFM (Radio Future Medias) and the TV channel TFM. N'Dour has supported several social and political causes. In 1985, he organized a concert for the release of Nelson Mandela. He was a featured performer in the 1988 worldwide Amnesty International Human Rights Now! Tour collaborating 

Youssou N'Dour

with Lou Reed on a version of the Peter Gabriel song Biko which was produced by Richard James Burgess and featured on the Amnesty International benefit album The Secret Policeman's Third Ball. He has worked with the United Nations and [[UNICEF], and he started Project Joko to open internet cafés in Africa and to connect Senegalese communities around the world. He performed in three of theLive 8 concerts (in Live 8 concert, London, Live 8 concert, Paris and at the Live 8 concert, Eden Project in Cornwall) on 2 July 2005, with Dido

In 2006, N'Dour played the role of the African-British abolitionist Olaudah Equiano in the movie Amazing Grace, which chronicles the efforts of William Wilberforce to end slavery in the British Empire.[12]

He covered John Lennon's "Jealous Guy" for the 2007 CD Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. He appeared in a joint Spain-Senegal ad campaign against illegal immigrants.
Youssou N'Dour participated in the Stock Exchange of Visions project in 2007. Since 2007 he has been a council member of the World Future Council.

In 2008, Youssou N'dour offered one of his compositions : Bébé, for the French singer Cynthia Brown.In 2009, he released his song "Wake Up (It's Africa Calling)" under a Creative Commons license to help IntraHealth International in their IntraHealth Open campaign to bring open source health applications to Africa. The song was remixed by a variety of artists including Nas, Peter Buck of R.E.M., and Duncan Sheik to help raise money for the campaign.In 2011, N'Dour was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in Music from Yale University.

At the beginning of 2012, he announced his entrance into the race for the presidency of Senegal for the 2012 presidential election, competing against Abdoulaye Wade.

Albums

•  Bitim Rew (1984)
• Nelson Mandela (1986)
• Immigrés (1988)
• The Lion (1989)
• Set (1990)
• Eyes Open (1992)
• The Guide (Wommat) (1994)
• Djamil (1996)
• Inedits 84-85 (1997)
• Special Fin D'annee Plus (1999)
• Lii (2000)
• Joko: From Village To Town (2000)
• Joko: The Link (2000)
• Rewmi (2000)
• Le Grand Bal (2000)
• St. Louis (2000)
• Le Grand Bal a Bercy (2001)
• Ba Tay (2002)
• Nothing's In Vain (2002)
• Youssou N'Dour and His Friends (2002)
• Kirikou (2004)
• Egypt (2004)
• Alsaama Day (2007)
• Rokku Mi Rokka (2007) — #30 in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Albums of 2007
• Special Fin D'annee : Salegne-Salegne (2009)
• Dakar - Kingston (2010)
• Mbalakh Dafay Wakh (2011)

Compilation albums

• The Best of Youssou N'Dour (1995)
• Euleek Sibir with Omar (You et Pene) (1996)
• Immigrés/Bitim Rew (1997)
• Best of the 80's (1998)
• Hey You: The Essential Collection 1988–1990 (1998)
• Birth of a Star (2001)
• Rough Guide to Youssou N'Dour & Etoile de Dakar (2002)
• 7 Seconds: The Best of Youssou N'Dour (Remastered) (2004)
• Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur — 

  Click here to Visit Youssou N'Douf official website


Brief History of Senegal Music

Senegal Music

The Senegal Blog

Senegal Music

Senegalese folk music is distinct from ancient Mande music, or its purer expression in modern Malian music, by the influence of Serer polyphony. In addition, Senegalese folk music is more uptempo and lively than the sedate, classical sounds of Malian griots.

Modern history

The first President of Senegal, Léopold Sédar Senghor (also a poet) was one of the primary exponents of negritude, which espoused the idea that the griot traditions of Senegal were as valid, classical and meaningful as French classical music.

1970s-1980s

I launched the careers of El Hadji Faye and Youssou N'Dour. Faye and N'Dour were Senegal's first pop stars, 

N'DourHe was soon by far the most popular performer in the country, and perhaps in all of West Africa. He introduced more traditional elements to his Senegalized Cuban music, including traditional rapping (tassou), bakou (a kind of trilling that accompanies Wolof wrestling) and instruments like the sabar.

Youssou N'Dour

While N'Dour Africanized Cuban music, another influential band, Xalam, was doing the same with American funk and jazz. Xalam toured with groups like Rolling Stones and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, finally achieving success in Senegal with 1988's Xarit.

In the latter part of the 1970s, the band Super Diamono formed, fusing mbalax rhythms and militant populism with jazz and reggae influences. Their 1982 Jigenu Ndakaru was especially the popular. By the middle of the 1980s, Super Diamono was one of the top bands in Senegal, in close and fierce competition with Super Étoile de Dakar. 

90s to the present

Into the 1990s, Thione Seck, a griot descended from those of Lat Dior, the king of Kayor, arose to solo stardome from Baobab, eventually forming his own band called Raam Daan (crawl slowly towards your goal).He is from Podor and won a scholarship to study music in Paris. After returning, he studied traditional music with his blind guitarist and family griot, Mansour Seck, and began performing with the band Daande Lenol. 

Woman

Though female performers were achieving popular breakthroughs elsewhere in West Africa, especially Mali, Senegalese women had few opportunities before the 1990s. The first international release by a woman was "Cheikh Anta Mbacke" (1989) byKiné Lam

 . 

The new century has seen the rise of Viviane Ndour, who got her first break as a backing vocalist to Youssou Ndour with Super Etoile. She is incredibly popular in Senegal and the diaspora,

Hip Hop and Rap

The biggest trend in 1990s Senegal, however, was hip hop. Traditional culture includes rapping traditions, such as the formal tassou, performed by women of the Laobe woodworking class the morning after marriages. Modern Senegalese hip hop is mostly in Wolof, alongside some English and French. Positive Black Soul is the best-known group in the country, Daara j and Gokh-Bi System too. Senegalese-French rapper MC Solaar is a very well known musician. Senegalese born Akon has risen to world fame.
The Senegal Blog

Accrobaobab Adventure Park - Senegal

Accrobaobab Adventure Park - Great Day Trip from Dakar or Saly

Accrobaobab Adventure Senegal

Accrobaobab Adventure Park  is the only park in the world built exclusively on baobabs.Located in the bush in the Senegalese sole baobab forest of our planet, this park welcomes you 5 to 77 years for unforgettable adventures safely.

Accorbaobab Adventure Park Map

A 65 km south of Dakar and 15 km from the resort of Saly, the park is easily accessible for all types of vehicles. To get there, take National 1: track to right across the reserve Bandia, 5 km from Sindia.

IFAN Museum of African Arts - Dakar Senegal

IFAN Museum of African Arts 

The Musée de l'Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire or IFAN Museum of African Arts in Dakar, Senegal is one of the oldest art museums in West Africa. It was promoted by Léopold Senghor, the country's first President.

 In December 2007, its official title was changed to The Théodore Monod African Art Museum ("Musée Théodore Monod d'Art africain"), after the French naturalist Théodore André Monod, former director of IFAN.[1] Previously its official name had been "Le Musée d'Art africain de l'Institut fondamental d'Afrique noire Cheikh Anta Diop IFAN/CAD".

IFAN Museum of African Arts 

The museum is part of the Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire (IFAN) institute, founded 1936 under the Popular Front government in France. When IFAN was transferred to Cheikh Anta Diop University in 1960, the building at Place Soweto near the National Assembly of Senegal was converted into a museum. 

It is today one of the most prestigious centers for the study of African culture and part of the Cheikh Anta Diop University. As the main cultural research center of the colonies of French West Africa, it contains important collections from across Francophone Africa.

The museum is one of the regular locations used in the Dakar Biennale exhibition, showing art by contemporary African and diaspora artists.

Contact information:

Place Soweto, Plateau

Dakar, Senegal

Senegal Passport ,Visa, Malaria and Shots (inoculations)

Passports are required

Citizens of countries member of the European Union (EU) do not need visa to travel to Senegal for up to three months stay.

Visa also not required for the following European and American countries for up to three months stay.

•  Canada
• Israel
• Japan
• Taiwan
• United States

 Visa's must be valid for at least 3 months after your date of arrival back in the UK.

For more information please visit the Senegal Embassy Website

 Recommended inoculations: Yellow Fever  

Malaria is a risk to travelers in Senegal. Travelers should consult their physician to discuss the benefits and risks of taking anti-malarial medication. Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area, and up to one year after returning home, should seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician their travel history and what anti-malarial medications they have been taking. For additional information on malaria, protection from insect bites, and anti-malarial drugs, visit the CDC Travelers' Health online.

Driving in Senegal -Renting a car

Here are a few of the company's that offer rentals in the airport. Alamo, National, Avis, Europcar,  and Hertz
 

DRIVING IN SENEGAL

Driving in Senegal can be difficult since many drivers do not follow the regulations.  Senegal uses right-hand drive.  Vehicles should give priority to traffic coming from the right, except at traffic circles, where vehicles already in the circle have the right of way.

Senegalese law prohibits the use of cell phones while driving, unless the driver is using “hands-free” equipment.  Protective helmets are mandatory for all bicycle, moped, scooter and motorcycle drivers/riders and passengers.
When police officers stop a vehicle for a traffic violation, the police officer will generally confiscate the driver’s license or i.d. card until the fine is paid.

Required Documents

All drivers in Senegal are required to have the following documents in the vehicle: 

• Carte Grise: This is the vehicle registration and is a trifold paper about 3 ½ x 8 inches.  In the upper left corner it states No. Immat Vehicle and lists the license plate number.
• Declaration en Douane: This is the customs declaration if you imported your vehicle into Senegal. 
• Attestation D’Assurance: This is a yellow insurance card that is placed in a small plastic shield on the inside front windshield of the car.  This card must be renewed annually. 
• Vignette: Tax disc for the current year.
• Valid driver’s license: Drivers must either obtain a Senegalese drivers license or present their U.S. driver’s license.
• Copy of your passport: Make a copy of the front of the passport, the biographic page, and the page with your Senegalese visa.

Police officers have the authority to detain individuals who do not have these required documents.

Accidents

Drivers are required to purchase third-party insurance, which will cover damages resulting in injuries where the driver is not at fault.  If a driver is found to have caused an accident, the penalty ranges from five months to two years in prison, with a possible fine.  If a driver causes an accident that results in a death, the penalty can be as high as five years in prison. 

You are encouraged to take the following actions if involved in an automobile accident:

• Do not move the vehicle unless it is causing a traffic hazard.
• If a crowd forms and you feel you are in jeopardy, move immediately to a safe area.
• In the case of a minor accident with minimal damage and no injuries, you may wish to attempt to settle the incident.  Involving the authorities will likely take a minimum of four hours.  If you need to contact the authorities, the Central Police Station in downtown Dakar has a mobile accident investigation unit.  If you call the Police Station at 823-2529 or 823-2333, they will give you the cell phone number of the officer on duty with the mobile unit.  Most police officers in Senegal do not speak English.
• Remain calm. Avoid aggravating or inciting the other driver, the victim, or observers.
• Do not challenge a police officer or withhold documents or information.

Senegal Ports and Harbor

Gateway to Africa 

Port of Senegal

Because of its geographical situation, the Dakar Port is strategically located at the intersection of shipping routes connecting Europe to South America, North America to South Africa.

Dakar has one of the largest deep-water seaports along the  West African coast. Its deep-draft structure and 640-foot-wide (200 m) access channel allows round-the-clock access to the port. Its current infrastructure includes  tanker vessel loading and unloading terminals, a container terminal with a storage capacity of 3000 20-foot-equivalent units, a cereals and fishing port, a dedicated phosphate terminal and a privately run ship repair facility.The port’s location at the extreme western point of  Africa at the crossroad of the major sea-lanes linking Europe to South America, makes it a natural port of call for shipping companies.Total  frieight  traffic averages 10 million metric tons.

General Management of Port 

21, Boulevard de la Liberation, BP: 3195 Dakar 

Tel: (221) 33 849-45-45 

Fax: (221) 33 823-36-06 

Email: pad (@) portdakar.sn 

Customs

DG

Boulevard Robert Delmas

Phone (221) 33 821 13 28

Fax: (221) 33 821 44 84

SOUTH PORT Dakar

Mole II port Southeast BP 4033

Tel: (221) 33 821 43 80

Fax: (221) 33 822 38 26

NORTH PORT Dakar
Mole VIII, Bel Air Road

Tel: (221) 33 832 58 69

Fax: (221) 33 822 38 26

http://www.douanes.s

Senegal Taxis, Sept-Place Taxis, Car Rapides and Buses

By Taxi

Black-yellow or blue-yellow in color are cheap, numerous and available everywhere in Dakar it is customary to negotiate the fair since most meters installed in the taxis are broken or missing. Make sure that you have correct change.. drivers for some reason hate making change :-) If you're not from Senegal, you will have an outrageous price proposed, be prepared try to find out the going local rate before hand.

By Bus

The Dakar bus system, known as Dakar Demm Dikk (Dakar coming and going), is fairly dependable. Fares are 150 CFA, and there are no transfer. Unfortunately, for newcomers, there's not much in the way of a map of the bus system, so you'll have to figure it out on your own. The number 10 bus runs along the Corniche de l'Ouest and turns into the suburbs at Rue Aime Cesaire. The number 1 bus runs along the VDN.

By Sept-Place- Taxi ( Bush Taxi)

Senegal Sept-Place Taxi

Most station-wagon bush taxis were modified 1980s-model Peugeot 504 Basically, they modify the space where the trunk is supposed to be, so that it can carry two or three extra people. Cars like this are 

called “Sept Place” (seven seats) in Senegal . This is your best bet to travel outside of Dakar unless you want to hire a private car, which can be expensive. 

Sept-place taxis can take you to other parts of Senegal or to bordering countries. The downside is that you must be prepared to wait until all sits are filled before the driver will depart.

By Car Rapides

The famous Car Rapide, Senegal's most commonly used form of transportation, mainly used in Dakar and St. Louis. The cars are recognized by their blue / yellow colours and the text 'Transport Commun' and 'Alhamdoulilahi' (thanks to God). Don't let the name fool you. They are not rapid but are cheap.