Wolof people
Categories: Ethnic groups of Senegal | Ethnic groups of the Gambia | Ethnic groups of Mauritania | Muslim communities
The Wolof are an ethnic group living in Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania. Their native language is also called "Wolof" (see Wolof language).
In Senegal the Wolof form the ethnic majority. About 40% (approximataly 3.2 million people) of Senegal's population are Wolof. In the whole region from Dakar to Saint-Louis, and also west and southwest of Kaolack, the Wolof form the vast majority of the people. In Casamance and Senegal's west, Wolof people are hardly to be found. Because 80% of Senegal's population speak the Wolof language, culture and language of the Wolof people have an enormous influence.
In the Gambia, about 15% (approximately 200,000 people) of the population are Wolof. Here, they are just a minority, and, for comparison, the Mandinka people are the dominant majority with 40% of the population. But Wolof language and culture have a disproportionate influence because of their prevalence in Banjul, the Gambia's capital, where 50% of the population are Wolof.
In Mauritania a minority of about 7% (approximately 185,000 people) of the population are Wolof, who are located in the southern coastal regions of the country.
In older French publications the spelling "Ouolof" is often used instead of "Wolof". In some English publications, predominantly those referring to Gambian Wolof, the spelling "Wollof" is used, because this spelling will induce native English speakers to pronounce the term correctly as a Wolof speaker. In publications of the 19th century and before the spelling "Volof" and "Olof" can also be found. - The term "Wolof" itself may also refer to the Wolof language or to those who speak the Wolof language.
Bibliography
- Michel Malherbe, Cheikh Sall: Parlons Wolof - Langue et culture. Verlag L'Harmattan, Paris, France 1989, ISBN 2-7384-0383-2.
- Bichler, Gabriele Aischa: Bejo, Curay und Bin-bim? Die Sprache und Kultur der Wolof im Senegal. Mit angeschlossenem Lehrbuch Wolof, Frankfurt, Germany 2003.
- Arame Fal, Rosine Santos, Jean Léonce Doneux: Dictionnaire wolof-français (suivi d'un index français-wolof). Verlag Karthala, Paris, France 1990, ISBN 2-86537-233-2.
- Rolf Goetz: Senegal - Gambia: Praktischer Reiseführer an die Westküste Afrikas. Verlag Peter Meyer Reiseführer, Frankfurt am Main, Germany 1996, ISBN 3-922057-09-8.ca:Wòlof