Essay Example on Wolof People: West African Dominants and Major Ethnic Group

Introduction

The Wolof people are occupants of Western Africa which dominate Senegal while remaining the minority group in most parts of West Africa such as Gambia and Mauritania. For example, the Wolof people comprise of approximately 43% of the Senegalese population (Carrol 58). With more than six million people, Wolof is if the largest ethnic group in Senegal (Shiohata 272). However, due to the urbanisation and spread of peanut cultivation, some of the Wolof people have consequently migrated to occupy other regions such as Mali and Cote d'Ivoire (Joshua project np). Moreover, the Wolof of Senegal is mostly Muslims. While Christianity only accounts for 0.40% of the population, Islam accounts for approximately 99.60% of the Wolof population in Senegal (Joshua project np). Islam actively dominate the region making many Wolof people to subscribe to the teachings and adhere to the declaration of the five pillars of Islam, which dictate that every Muslim must acknowledge the presence of Allah as the only god and Mohammed as his prophet, pray five times a day facing Mecca, offer obligatory tithe annually, fast during Ramadhan and strive to make one pilgrimage to Mecca (Al-Haj Saleh Al- Ajrami 675). Though the majority conform to Islam, religious practices often have elements of traditional culture. For instance, the pre-historic beliefs of the Wolof contain dances, rituals and amulets absorbed from the traditional culture. Additionally, the rigid and patriarchal social structure that embraced the caste system deters the Wolof people from cross-breeding resulting in endogamous marriages since the society was stratified allowing only specific category to mingle with itself or the other. The caste system classifies people and dictate, which group become leaders and political class, farmers, artisans, and slaves (Joshua project np).

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Step 2: Background information

History of Wolof people in Senegal

The origin of the Wolof people in Senegal is obscure but through the analysis of archaeological artefacts, such as the pre-historic pottery historian establish the empire to exist before the 8th century. The history of the Wolof is substantially rooted in its oral tradition. It affirms that during the Arab inversion in West Africa, the Wolof people migrated to northern Senegal to escape the deplorable conditions propelled by the Arabs. In northern Senegal, they established a free forum with kingdoms such as Kayor, Walo, Saloum, Baol, Sine, and Dimar (Joshua project np). The phrase Wolof dominated the 15th century during the period of Portuguese traders in medieval West Africa (NALRC np). The Wolof Empire substantially expanded, dominating and controlling the major part of Senegal. During its rule between 1350 to 1890, the tradition of the Wolof people such as the caste system and customs spread across Senegal (Joshua project np). However, the rule and domination of the Wolof Empire declined under the colonial forces of the French between 1870s and 1890s (Joshua project np). In 1946, France awarded the Wolof of Senegal French citizenship, which allowed some members of the community to establish residence in France (Harter 9). Nevertheless, in 1960, Senegal seceded from France colonial control and later attained independence against the French under Leopold Sedar Senghor, but Wolof culture, history, heritage and social customs remained rooted at the core of the nation (Harter 10).

Language

The Wolof of Senegal primarily uses Wolof as the popular language. The language stemmed from the Senegambian branch of the Congo-Niger family, but it does not conform to the tonal language framework (Al-Haj Saleh Al- Ajrami 676). Though French is the official language in Senegal, Wolof remains the lingua franca of the region as more than 2.5 million people in the country speak Wolof and majorly dominated the deprived regions like in the rural area (Shiohata 271). The language is majorly oral with consonant mutations which makes the dialect of the language often varies between the urban and rural areas (Joshua project np). However, when written, like many local languages, Wolof has only an insignificant marginal role (Shiohata 270). For example, the indigenous residents in Dakar use a Wolof dialect mixed with Arabic and French.

Culture

The Wolof culture adheres a significantly stratified human nobility and hierarchy. The caste system adopted by the people classifies the natives into three distinct groups, such as the slave descendants, freemen, and the artisans (Joshua project np). The caste system dictated the socio-economic status on an individual and the jurisdiction of people's relations or interactions. For instance, intermarriages between individuals of different caste class were uncommon, which resulted in endogamous marriages with former slaves only marrying former slaves, while freemen are only marrying freemen (NALRC np). The group attaches pride in its rites of passage, which it views as an essential part of the tradition and custom of the Wolof people. The rites of passage like birth, naming, circumcision and death ceremonies among the Wolof have numerous dances and rituals and are accorded essential meaning among the community members. For instance, at eight years, boys are escorted into the bush for initiation or circumcision and only return to their elder brothers Selbe, who educate them on the ways of the community, war heroes and legends as they recover. Despite living in an advanced era, many Wolof people of Senegal believe in traditional healers, wild barks, roots and herbs rather than scientific doctors or pharmaceutical medicines.

Religion

The Wolof of Senegal is majorly Muslims adhering to the fundamental teachings of the Islam religion and Islamic culture (Al-Haj Saleh Al- Ajrami 675). In the 19th century, during the French aggression period when slavery dominated West Africa, the Arab instilled the Islam culture with Marabout at its core. The membership of Islam in Senegal was established based on the brotherhood structure, the Mourides, Tijaniyas, and Qadiriyas, which consequently ensured the spread of Wolof Islam across Senegal (Shiohata 281). Approximately 60% of Wolof belong to the Tijaniyas brotherhood, 30% to the Mourides and 10% to the Qadiriyas, which has enabled Islam to dominate other indigenous religions and Christianity due to the ability of the three brotherhoods to adapt to the rapid change in the country while maintain healthy ties between Senegal and other Islamic societies across the globe. Despite obeying the doctrine of Islam. The Wolof of Senegal is considerably free compared to other Muslims from other societies across the globe (Laughlin 722). For instance, while in other Arabic and Muslim societies restrict women when appearing in public, the Wolof are free to appear in public (Joshua project np).

Economy

The Wolof of Senegal is mainly rural residents participating in agriculture as an economic activity (Joshua project np). The community has utilised the peanut cultivation has as the major cash crop enabling the economy to remain stable. The country export more than two-thirds of peanut and its by-products, while maize, sorghum and millet act as the subsistent produce among small scale farmers. Moreover, the community view cattle keeping as a source of wealth among the Wolof as it is an investment either for marriage or a trip to Mecca, which the Islam religion dictate that Muslims should take once in their lifetime (NALRC np). The group has a stratified economic occupation along with the caste class. While the farmers engage in farming, the artisan class work on the weave, metal and dry textiles. The smiths also work to provide efficient farming tools for agriculture and jewellery (World Map np). Further, the community structure its economic activities according to gender, which is inherited down the caste. For example, while men engaged in artisans, farming and as blacksmiths, women engaged in domestic households and light commitments such as weaving and leatherworking.

Step 3: A Survey of Missions Work

History of Christians among Wolof of Senegal

The Roman Catholics became the first missionaries to introduce Christianity among the Wolof of Senegal. Despite the small population, the Portuguese contact with the ethnic group in 1400 influenced some followers (World Map np). The Baptist Church of Senegal established in 1961 has more than nine congregations of approximately 235 members among the Wolof ethnic group. The church also has one school which help in instigating Christian teaching in the region (World Map np). The Worldwide Evangelism Crusade Organization has also been able to expand since 1936, controlling seven congregations with more than 230 members (World Map np). Though the Wolof are staunch Muslims, the missionaries have substantially strived to convert many individuals to Christianity due to the conducive environment and corporation between the dominant religion and the indigenous religions (Laughlin 722).

Current Status of the Church

Currently, Islam dominates among the Wolof of Senegal with approximately 99% professing the faith and only 1% Christianity. Most Christians existing in Senegal are Roman Catholics with few evangelists (Harter, 13). Though there are come Pentecostal movement in the region, they have insignificant influence among the Wolof, but they highly attract the Jola people. Currently, the Roman Catholic Church of Senegal has 101 congregations with approximately 380, 432 members with an archdiocese in Dakar (World Map np). Despite being in a peaceful environment, the church struggles to convert Wolof people to Christianity since Islam has submerged many of the indigenous residents (Carroll 4). The church has limited following but continues to spread the gospel of Christ to reach many Wolof people irrespective of their class or social standards.

Current Challenges

Missionaries are facing challenges in promoting Christianity in Senegal due to insufficient resources and the overwhelming influence of Islam. Currently, the ethnic groups have limited access to Christian resources such as the bible which can expose them to the Christian ideology and God (World Map np). Islam highly controls the socio-cultural and economical way of life from establishing more schools that teach Islamic faith to stem their legal and sharia laws in the region. The heavy influence of Islam in the contemporary of the Wolof people prevent Christianity from flourishing. Unlike Christianity which condemn some fundamental traditional customs such as the caste system and polygamy, Islam readily accepts them, making it more preferred religion among the ethnic group.

Current Mission Strategies

The contemporary missionaries depend on the converted Christians to help in spreading the gospel and Christian tradition. However, they have limited effort due to a lack of resources like bibles (World Map np). Also, since the majority of converted Christians among the Wolof ethnic group are individuals of slave descendants, they are only able to interact with individuals of their calibre. The current strategy emphasises one-on-one interaction between the missionaries and the converted Christians.

Step 4: Proposed Strategy

Exploring the Wolof ethnic group exposes diverse elements about the community from their traditions to the socio-cultural structure of life. Through the society keeps evolving and advancing, the ethnic groups hold on to its traditional and palaeolithic ways of life. For instance, the caste system which marginalises and discriminates people by classifying them and deterring them from attaining specific social status is backward. For example, with the rigid and inherited social structure, elevating from one social class to another is impossible (World Map np). The traditional depiction of wealth such as possessing more than one...