A world of learning: Senegal

The course: INDS 174 | Global Senegal: Alternative Modernities

The experience: 18 students traveled alongside Wendy Wilson-Fall, professor and chair of Africana studies, and Tim Cox, dean of advising and co-curricular programs, to Dakar, Senegal, where the group spent three weeks learning about the experience of modernity in a West African city. 

“Our home base in Dakar is a small hotel which allows students to interact with everyday Senegalese people, including children who live in the area, with whom they often play soccer,” Wilson-Fall says. “In addition to visiting superb restaurants, students also get opportunities to eat Senegalese food in informal settings, visit a bird sanctuary in a mangrove, and go to markets and practice bargaining.  All in all, it is a submersive experience that, thanks to a very strong local partner, makes for an unforgettable three weeks.”

The students were treated to a conversation with Michael A. Raynor ’84, the U.S. ambassador to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, and traveled to several locations across the country to gain a deeper understanding of the land and its history. 

“Visiting Goree Island was one of the most impactful experiences,” Madison Pompy ’24 says. “As an African American student, I became very emotional when I was standing in the same space my ancestors stood as they experienced the atrocities of the slave trade.

“Teraanga, a Wolof term that means sharedness, civility and honor where generosity of spirit is emphasized, perfectly describes the Senegalese people,” Pompy continues. “Whether it was being invited to share a meal with them, helping us practice our Wolof on the taxi ride, or playing with us on the beach, everywhere we went, the Senegalese people showed us unwavering hospitality and kindness.”