Serer-Laalaa
Encyclopedia
The Serer-Laalaa are an ethnic group belonging to the Serer people
of Senegambia. They speak the Laalaa dialect of the proper Serer-Sine language. Their dialect is part of the Cangin languages which is referred to as Laalaa in their language. Laalaa is one of the languages of Senegal
spoken in Laa (also Lâ) - the Léhar Region, which comprise of eighteen villages north of Thies
and whose inhabitants are Serer-Laalaa. Just like Serer-Safene, Serer-Noon
, Serer-Ndut
and Serer-Palor, it is one of the Cangin languages of the Serer Group
.
and Serer-Safene than to the standard Serer-Sine Language.
They are people who once practiced agro-pastoral
activities. Nowadays, agricultural activities predominate their lives. Livestock has been virtually decimated by repeated droughts in the late 1990's. The Laalaa have a younger generation of many intellectuals, just like all the Serer people
as a whole who are considered to be the elite of Senegal
.
where they are also present.They are part of the Serer people
who collectively make up the third largest ethnic group in Senegal
numbering over 1.8 million.
The Laalaa (also called Léhar) are mostly found in the north of Thies
around the villages of Pambaal, Bargaro and Duuña.
They have about 18 villages namely: Baam, Bapat, Bargaro, Besi, Bicoona, Duuñë, Gogona, Haak, Jalkin, Jëëfuñ, Joy, Kaadaan, Kii, Kolobaan, Pambaal, Sowaaboon, Tuuba and Yindën. Note that the Serer-Laalaa are also found outside the region of Thies
. For example a large Serer-Laalaa community migrated between 1984 and 1986 to Saal Ngeen in the Tambacounda Region
.
The Serer people
to which they belong the are the oldest inhabitants of Senegambia along with the Jola people
. Their ancestors were dispersed throughout the Senegambian Region and it was them who built the megaliths of Senegambia
.
which involves honoring the ancestors covering, all dimensions of life, death, cosmology etc. Some Serer-Laalaa are Muslims or Christian whose conversion is very recent. Both the Christian and Muslim groups mix it with the old Serer Religion whilst the Ultra traditionalist follow the purest form of the Serer Religion.
Serer people
The Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia....
of Senegambia. They speak the Laalaa dialect of the proper Serer-Sine language. Their dialect is part of the Cangin languages which is referred to as Laalaa in their language. Laalaa is one of the languages of Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
spoken in Laa (also Lâ) - the Léhar Region, which comprise of eighteen villages north of Thies
Thiès
Thiès is the third largest city in Senegal with a population officially estimated at 320,000 in 2005. It lies 60 km east of Dakar on the N2 road and at the junction of railway lines to Dakar, Bamako and St-Louis...
and whose inhabitants are Serer-Laalaa. Just like Serer-Safene, Serer-Noon
Serer-Noon
The Serer-Noon are an ethnic people who occupy western Senegal. They are part of the Serer people.- Territory :...
, Serer-Ndut
Serer-Ndut
The Serer-Ndut also spelt are an ethnic group in Senegal numbering 38600They are part of the Serer people who collectively make up the third largest ethnic group in Senegal...
and Serer-Palor, it is one of the Cangin languages of the Serer Group
Serer people
The Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia....
.
Culture
Their language, Laalaa, is currently classified as one of the Cangin languages more closely related to Serer-NoonSerer-Noon
The Serer-Noon are an ethnic people who occupy western Senegal. They are part of the Serer people.- Territory :...
and Serer-Safene than to the standard Serer-Sine Language.
They are people who once practiced agro-pastoral
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
activities. Nowadays, agricultural activities predominate their lives. Livestock has been virtually decimated by repeated droughts in the late 1990's. The Laalaa have a younger generation of many intellectuals, just like all the Serer people
Serer people
The Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia....
as a whole who are considered to be the elite of Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
.
Population
The number of speakers of their language is 12000 in Senegal excluding The GambiaThe Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
where they are also present.They are part of the Serer people
Serer people
The Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia....
who collectively make up the third largest ethnic group in Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
numbering over 1.8 million.
The Laalaa (also called Léhar) are mostly found in the north of Thies
Thiès
Thiès is the third largest city in Senegal with a population officially estimated at 320,000 in 2005. It lies 60 km east of Dakar on the N2 road and at the junction of railway lines to Dakar, Bamako and St-Louis...
around the villages of Pambaal, Bargaro and Duuña.
They have about 18 villages namely: Baam, Bapat, Bargaro, Besi, Bicoona, Duuñë, Gogona, Haak, Jalkin, Jëëfuñ, Joy, Kaadaan, Kii, Kolobaan, Pambaal, Sowaaboon, Tuuba and Yindën. Note that the Serer-Laalaa are also found outside the region of Thies
Thiès
Thiès is the third largest city in Senegal with a population officially estimated at 320,000 in 2005. It lies 60 km east of Dakar on the N2 road and at the junction of railway lines to Dakar, Bamako and St-Louis...
. For example a large Serer-Laalaa community migrated between 1984 and 1986 to Saal Ngeen in the Tambacounda Region
Tambacounda
Tambacounda is the largest city in eastern Senegal, southeast of Dakar, and is the Regional capital of the province of the same name. Its estimated population in 2007 was 78,800.-Geography:...
.
History
See Serer peopleSerer people
The Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia....
The Serer people
Serer people
The Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia....
to which they belong the are the oldest inhabitants of Senegambia along with the Jola people
Jola people
The Jola are an ethnic group found in Senegal , The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. There are great numbers on the Atlantic coast between the southern banks of the Gambia River, the Casamance region of Senegal and the northern part of Guinea-Bissau...
. Their ancestors were dispersed throughout the Senegambian Region and it was them who built the megaliths of Senegambia
Senegambian stone circles
The Senegambian stone circles lie in Gambia north of Janjanbureh and in central Senegal. Coordinates: 13° 41 N – 15° 31 W.Approximate area: 15,000 square miles . They are sometimes divided into the Wassu and Sine-Saloum circles, but this is purely a national division.The stones were erected...
.
Religion
They practice the Serer ReligionSerer religion
The Serer religion, Fat Rog is the original religious beliefs, practices and teachings of the Serer people. The Serer people believe in a universal Supreme Deity called "Rog. "The Serer people are found throughout the Senegambia Region...
which involves honoring the ancestors covering, all dimensions of life, death, cosmology etc. Some Serer-Laalaa are Muslims or Christian whose conversion is very recent. Both the Christian and Muslim groups mix it with the old Serer Religion whilst the Ultra traditionalist follow the purest form of the Serer Religion.
Related Ethnic Groups and Dialect
- Serer peopleSerer peopleThe Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia....
- Serer-NoonSerer-NoonThe Serer-Noon are an ethnic people who occupy western Senegal. They are part of the Serer people.- Territory :...
- Serer-Safene
- Serer-Niominka
- Serer-Sine
- Serer-NdutSerer-NdutThe Serer-Ndut also spelt are an ethnic group in Senegal numbering 38600They are part of the Serer people who collectively make up the third largest ethnic group in Senegal...
- Serer-Palor
Serer Kingdoms
- Kingdom of SineKingdom of SineThe Kingdom of Sine was a pre-colonial Serer kingdom along the north bank of the Saloum River delta in modern Senegal. Much of the kingdom's population was and still is Serer.-History:...
- Kingdom of Saloum
- Kingdom of Baol
- BiffecheBiffecheBiffeche or Bifeche is an area of Senegal centred on the town of Savoigne, some 20 miles north-east of the major coastal city of Saint-Louis....