NPR: A Senegalese Song That Gives Thanks

A Senegalese Song That Gives Thanks

Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today

Happy April 4th! It's Senegalese Independence Day.

The country's first president was Leopold Sedar Senghor, a poet. I read his work in French class, years ago and it got me interested in visiting his West African country.

Last year I landed at the airport named for him at Senegal's capital city of Dakar. That was just the beginning of three months of my Senegalese immersion -- gathering around shared platters of fish and rice on the floor, spending afternoons drinking the requisite three cups of progressively sweetened, home-brewed tea called atayaa, learning the traditional rounds of greetings in Wolof, which translate roughly to: How are you? How is your family? How is your house? How is your work?

I never quite learned to dance as well as Coumba Gawlo Seck, but I was able to understand many of the words of her song, "Dieuredjeff," but that's because it's basically a thank you to her fans and a lot of the lyrics are their names.

Have a listen and a look and let us know what you think and what you're thankful for.

Laura Silver

12:13 PM ET | 04- 4-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I'm thankful for you, Laura Silver, and for having had the opportunity to share a portion of your Senegalese experience.
Much love,
Babs

Sent by barbara silver | 4:08 PM ET | 04-04-2008

Beautiful. I'm thankful that there are places in the world where poets are presidents, and people give thanks by dancing.

I'm aware that I sound like a fruit loop, but come on - a poet for a president? Think of it; the State of the Union in dactylic hexameter!

Sent by http://wasatchreport.blogspot.com/ | 4:56 PM ET | 04-04-2008

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