Senegalese Etiquette

Two countries that share a language do not necessarily share the same culture. Senegal lists French as an official language, but it has a rich and distinctive culture that is worth looking into, separate from France.

For a little background on Senegal, it's an almost entirely Muslim country, located in Western Africa, and bordering the North Atlantic Ocean. Its capital is Dakar and there are over 12 million people living there. French is the official language, but only a small minority of Senegalese, usually those who were educated in colonial-style French schools, speak it regularly. Most people speak their own ethnic language, and there are over ten ethnic groups, half of them more predominant than the other half. 

If you ever plan on traveling to the country, you should learn their customs and general etiquette. I'm here to help. 

For greeting and meeting:

• Take time to inquire about the health and welfare of family members over a good, long handshake
• If you're close friends with someone, you can hug him/her/them instead of shaking hands. They may also kiss your cheeks three times, beginning with the left and alternating between the two.
• Keep in mind that very religious men/women may not shake hands with the other sex.
• You should first address people by their academic or professional names, or their first or surnames in French. This could change depending on the person's personal preference.
• It's very common for a person to have a nickname, so if you know someone well enough and others are calling him/her by a nickname, you can too. A lot of people are addressed by their title and their nickname.

As for eating:

• Wait to be shown your seat--seating is often a show of hierarchy, and you wouldn't want to step on anyone's toes.
• If you're eating a meal on the floor, sit cross-legged. Try not to let your feet touch the food mat.
• Don't start eating before the oldest male starts.
• If you're eating from a communal bowl, eat from the section in front of you--don't reach across the bowl to get something from the other side.
• Eat with your right hand only
• Sample each dish. Expect to be urged to get seconds.
• Leave a little bit of food on your plate. It shows that you've been looked after well.
• Stay for at least half an hour after eating before you leave, though.

It's always good idea to get to know the practices of a foreign country before visiting it. I hope this will help!