A fellow blogger describes the things that annoy her about the country she loves…
Tag Archives: dakar
Wolof Phrases: At The Market
How [much/many]?
[Ñaata] la?
How much are you [selling] this for?
Ñaata ngay [jaaye] bii?
How much is it?
Ñaata lay [jar]? (lit. ‘how much is it [worth]‘)
That’s [expensive]!
[Seer] na lóol! (lit. ‘very [expensive]‘)
I will [pay] 1000 CFA.
[Fey] naa la ñaari teemeeri dërëm.
What did [you] say?
[Nga] ni?
[Lower] your price!
[Waññil]! (lit. ‘[reduce]‘)
I’ll add [100 CFA] but no more.
Tekk naa ci [ñaar-fukk] du ma ci yokk dara.
I can’t add [any] more.
Du ma ci tekk [dara].
[Give] me the money.
[Indil] xaalis bi.
[How much] is that?
[Ñaata] la?
Like this:
Bocande R.I.P.
Former Senegal star Bocande dies
DAKAR, Senegal, May 8 – Former Senegal international striker Jules-Francois Bocande died on Monday at the age of 54, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) announced.
Bocande had been unwell for several months after suffering a stroke and died following a surgical procedure, according to the Senegalese Press Agency (APS).
He enjoyed his greatest success as a player with Metz, where he was crowned top scorer after netting 25 goals in France’s Ligue 1 championship in the 1985-86 season.
Bocande also played for Paris Saint-Germain, Nice and Lens in France and participated in three Africa Cups of Nations with his country, whom he captained and then went on to coach during the 1990s.
“I’m totally devastated,” said FSF president Augustin Senghor.
“It’s an enormous loss for Senegalese football. We knew that he was suffering. Bocande revived Senegalese football. He gave everything to Senegalese football through his talent and his commitment.”
Like this:
About the ACI (Baobab Center) Language Program
Africa Consultants International is a development-oriented consulting organization working in the fields of communication and training, primarily in Africa. Among its many activities, ACI offers courses in French, English and national languages (Wolof, Pulaar, Diola, Mandinka and Serer).
Courses range from intensive instruction (5 hours per day, five days a week) to less arduous schedules. Classes are organized based on requests, and class schedules are designed to respond to the specific professional needs of the students. From 1 to 6 students with comparable language levels can form a class. A limit of 6 students per class allows ACI instructors to provide greater individual attention and speaking practice for each participant.
Classes take place at ACI’s Baobab Training and Resource Center, a comfortable, homey setting conducive to serious study and friendly contact and communication. Emphasis is placed on oral-aural skills (speaking and comprehension) with reading and writing used as supports. Orientation to Africa and cross-cultural information and training are routinely integrated into the language program and more detailed orientations can be organized upon request.
The ACI Wolof Course is a one hundred hour introduction to the language for beginners. The course is divided into four 25 hour sessions.
Contact ACI:
Africa Consultants International
Baobab Training and Resource Center
509 SICAP Baobabs
B.P. 5270, Dakar
Telephone: 25.36.37
Fax: 24.07.41
Kontaan Ees At!
Happy New Years! Bonne Années!
And here is a video, although not of a New Years celebration but a celebration none the less…
Happy Tabaski
Today is the Muslim holiday Tabaski. In most Muslim countries it is called Eid al-Adha but in much of West Africa it is called Tabaski. Tabaski is the commemoration of the Biblical patriarch Abraham’s (Ibrahim in Arabic) willingness to sacrifice his son as commanded by God. On Tabaski a sheep (or a goat) is slaughtered as a symbolic gesture of the ram that God substituted for Abraham’s son.
Youssou N’dour & Super Etoile performing “Tabaski” in the studio.
Below is a slide show of a Tabaski preparation and celebration in Dakar, Senegal (warning: a few of the pictures are of the slaughter so if you are squeamish to that sort of thing be aware!)
