Wolofization

Wolofization or Wolofisation is a cultural and language shift whereby populations or states adopt Wolof language or culture, such as in the Senegambia region. In Senegal, Wolof is a lingua franca[1][2][3] The Wolofization phenomenon has taken over all facets of Senegal and encroaching on Gambian soil.[3] This phenomenon has caused other Senegambian ethnic groups great concern and resulted in taking steps to preserve their languages and culture. In this regard, the Serer ethnic group who have had a long history fighting against Islamization and Wolofization have been taking active steps in the past decades by setting up associations and other organisations in order to preserve their languages, culture and "ancient religious past."[4][5][6] Haalpulaar speakers, namely the Fula and Toucouleur have also been taking steps to preserve their language.[7]

  1. ^ Shiohata, Mariko (2012). "Language use along the urban street in Senegal: Perspectives from proprietors of commercial signs". Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development. 33 (3): 269–285. doi:10.1080/01434632.2012.656648. S2CID 144044465.
  2. ^ Castaldi, Francesca, Choreographies of African Identities: Négritude, Dance, and the National Ballet of Senegal, University of Illinois Press (2010), pp. 13, 76-8, 124, 154, ISBN 9780252090783 [1]
  3. ^ a b Mwakikagile, Godfrey, Ethnic Diversity and Integration in The Gambia: The Land, the People and the Culture, Continental Press (2010), pp.84, 221, ISBN 9789987932221 [2]
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ngom, Gaye and Sarr was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Asante, Molefi Kete, Mazama, Ama, Encyclopedia of African Religion, SAGE Publications (2008), p. 846, ISBN 9781506317861 [3]
  6. ^ Diop, Cheikh Anta, The origin of civilization : Myth or reality, (edited and translated by Mercer Cook) Laurence Hill Books (1974), p. 191-9, ISBN 978-1-55652-072-3
  7. ^ Fiona Mc Laughlin, Haalpulaar Identity as a Response to Wolofization, African Languages and Cultures Vol. 8, No. 2 (1995), pp. 153-168, Taylor & Francis Ltd. [in] JSTOR (retrieved March 23, 2020) [4]