The Copeland Ramblings/

25 days left and Senegal fact #3

The days are going by so fast! Last night we had the pleasure of having dinner with friends Doug and Annette Coe. We had a great time talking with them about Senegal, ministry, life, and lots of fun chatting and laughter. We met them through my dad. My dad is a kitchen and bath designer and they were clients of his. They got to talking and eventually found out that Doug and Annette go to a church here in town. Doug was new to the missions committee and asked if we would come and share at one of the Sunday classes at their church. We did last year and it was so fun. The church has since picked us up and is now supporting us. How great is that! God loves to show us how he can take care of us in His way!   We really did have a great time last night. It was so encouraging to talk with them.

I have been trying to decide what fact to put on here… I really need some input! What kind of facts would you like to know? Any questions you have for us? Anything at all, please let us know!!

I think today for FACT #3 I will write a little tiny bit about the history of Senegal. I might actually just copy and paste the section from Wikipedia!  The History of Senegal page on Wikipedia spilts it up into 4 sections. Today I will start with the first two of those: Precolonial and Colonialism. The other two are Independence and 1980-2006 which I will post tomorrow!

Precolonial Senegal

Precolonial Senegal

Archaeological findings throughout the area indicate that Senegal was inhabited in prehistoric times. Islam established itself in the Senegal River valley in the 11th century. In the 13th and 14th centuries, the area came under the influence of the Mandingo empires to the east; the Jolof Empire of Senegal also was founded during this time. In the 16th century, the Jolof Empire split into four competing kingdoms: the Jolof, Waalo, Cayor and Baol kingdoms.

Saint-Louis in 1780

Colonialism

(This comes from an article The French Conquest of Senegal. Check it out!!)

Various European powers – Portugal, the Netherlands, and England – competed for trade in the area from the 15th century onward, until in 1677, France ended up in possession of what had become a minor slave trade departure point—the infamous island of Gorée next to modern Dakar. In 1758 the French settlement was captured by a British expedition as part of the Seven Years’ War, but was later returned to France. It was only in the 1850s that the French, under the governor, Louis Faidherbe, began to expand their foothold onto the Senegalese mainland, at the expense of the native kingdoms.

On this day..

• Keys Keys Keys - 2011
• Conference - 2011
• A View from the other side - 2006
• Where's a Camera When you Need it? - 2006