The Wolof People of Senegal

The Wolof people are located on the Coast of Senegal. Their native language is Wolof and their population is approximately 2.5 million. The Wolof people have been around since the 12th or 13th century. After the defeat of the Empire of Ghana around the 11th century, the Wolof people migrated to the coast from Mali. The history of the Wolof has been saved through the griots who recited oral praise songs. The religion of the Wolof …

…co-wives have separate rooms and in Dakar they may have separate villas. The husband alternately spends two nights with each of his wives who are expected to prepare the meals for the entire compound on those days. Rivalries may spring up between co-wives even though they are expected to treat one another like sisters. Among the younger, more educated class, polygamy is not as much in favor as in the more traditional levels of society.