Simple Greeting Dialog with Breakdown

Bert: Asalaa maalekum.
Ernie: Maalekum salaam.
Bert: Nanga def?
Ernie: Mangi fii rekk.
Bert: Ana waa ker ga?
Ernie: Nunga fa.
Bert: Alhamdulilaay!
Asalaa maalekum
Malekum salaam
Greetings / Hello
from Arabic: Peace to you, and to you peace.
USE when entering or arriving at a place or when approaching an [...]

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Some Pulaar Words 3

aaludere – kernel
aawasaagal – roguishness
bol – fish
cuurki – reek
durde – graze
duurde – wrestle
falanteere – window
fawde – put
irde – bury
jangde – education
jawdi – acquest
jokkere – joint
laana – xebec
leriinde – between
lohre – inaptitude
newre – palm
nuggaro – diffident
onon – you
ruudde – linger
suurkude – fume
teew – meat
tuumal – allegation
ubbude – inhume
wujjude – cheat
yuude – cry
Some Pulaar words 2

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Mandinka Drumming & Singing in the Gambia

Mandinka drumming and singing at a naming ceremony in Sukuta, The Gambia. More videos at www.onegambia.com.

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Mind Your Manners

It is customary in Senegal to greet anyone you come into contact with. If you come across a group of people, enter a dwelling or are meeting elders the Arabic greeting asalaam alaikum is appropriate. When greeting individuals the French bonjour or cava is good and alternately the Wolof nangadef works as well. It is [...]

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J’apprends le Wolof #3

Translated from J’apprends le Wolof by Jean-Leopold Diouf et Marina Yaguello. This is the introduction to the book.

Introduction

1. Design Manual / Conception du manuel

This book is a method of learning wolof, a language foreign to francophones. It is intended for residents, the cooperating, businessmen and tourists. It could also be useful for teachers in national [...]

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Self Test – Can You Translate These Phrases? (A, 1-10)

These are from the book Junniy Leebuy Wolof by Mànsóor Xumma.

Aat yaa ngi woy géwél yi.
Ab jatang, loo bàcc bàcc mu xasawum saw.
Ab loot, tàbbi na ba tàyyi bàyyi fa rew bu nyor.
Ab sàmm a waral béy deewul.
Ab ndóol, ku mu yàqal nyakk nga.
Ag bóli, mbedd la; waaye kenn du ca wetal i béy.
Alal du [...]

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Keep it on the D.L.

Apparently in Senegalese culture they tend to keep some things secret such as trips and births until just before the time. I am told it is to “protect” the thing which is about to happen and at least for trips it is also so that people will not have time to burden you with things [...]

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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 [...]

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Some Pulaar Words 2

aade – person
aan – you
asde – dig
baamuule – graveyard
dursitaade – recite
foonde – bush
fuunti – wile
gando – philosopher
haaldude – interview
halfude – own
jaggoowo – holder
jeetati – octa
joortaade – anticipate
kufne – hat
lamminde – acidify
neene – mother
saltude – ramify
seerde – secede
sohre – python
teere – current
tefde – calm
waylude – commute
wiide – say
Some Pulaar Words 1

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Traditional Jola Dancing in Senegal

This video shows traditional Jola body patting and dances by girls from Mlomp, Casamance region, Southern Senegal. It was recorded at The Akonting Center for Senegambian folkmusic, Mandinari, Gambia July 2006.

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Download The Janga Wolof E-Book

The Janga Wolof Book is now available for download for only $1.25.
http://www.lulu.com/content/2729500

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When Arriving at the DKR International Airport

After arriving in Senegal, as you make your way out of the airport you will need to have your passport and yellow fever certificate ready to show to the security officials. After you have collected your luggage and made your way past the security officials and outside to the front of the airport you will [...]

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Janga Wolof Book Now Available

I have put together some of the more informative posts from this blog and organized them into a book which you can take with you and study away from the internet. You can purchase the book HERE. Thank you for your support.

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J’apprends le Wolof #2

This post is the second in my weekly series of translating the book “J’apprends le Wolof” by Jean-Léopold Diouf & Marina Yaguello (published by Karthala) from French into English. For the original post click ICI. Following are the pages leading up to the introduction.
I’m learning wolof
© Editions Karthala, 1991
ISBN : 2-86537-287-1
Jean-Leopold Diouf and Marina [...]

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Janga Wolof Merch Now Available

Please visit our new online shop at http://www.cafepress.com/JangaWolof & help support this blog. We have kept the prices as low as possible (right now we have only marked up each item $1!).

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Some Pulaar Words

aa – well
baylo – jeweler
ciyam – leak
eda – buffalo
fasde – boil
ferde – exile
jaggude – seize
jakre – hollow
kohaljinta – inconvienient
lajal – deadline
maa – you
maayka – nonsense
natal – painting
paabi – frogs
soppande – bite
sowande – fold
teppe – feet
weytaade – relax

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Pulaar Chanting in Mauritania

These are some Pulaar women in Garelboubou, Mauritania, singing during a break in a dyeing training.

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Before You Go To Senegal

Things you will need to enter Senegal;
Passport – You can either visit the websites below or your local post office to apply for a new passport or to renew an old one. It can take up to 6 weeks to recieve your passport, also passports must be valid for at least 3 months on entry, [...]

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J’apprends le Wolof / I’m Learning Wolof

I am in the process of translating the Wolof lesson book “J’apprends le Wolof” by Jean-Léopold Diouf & Marina Yaguello (published by Karthala) from French into English. I will try to post a page here every week. I am leaving for Senegal in a few weeks so I don’t know how often I will be [...]

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english n. wolof / french – A

english n. wolof / french
A
abandon v. baayi, wocca / abandonner
abdomen n. naxa / abdomen
ability n. mën, mun / capacité
ablaze v. taaka / feu
abnormal v. doyadi / anormal
above adv. kow, tiim / au-dessus
abroad adv. betimraw / à l’étranger
abscess n. taab / abcès
abundant adj. bari, las, naax, yomba / abondantes
accept v. nongu, nangu, taa / accepter
accommodate v. [...]

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Wolof Traditional Music of the Gambia

Traditional wolof singing and drumming by Group Rakaju of the Gambia. A onegambia.com production.

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Some Facts & Figures About Senegal

POPULATION:
12,853,259 (July 2008 est.)
ETHNIC GROUPS:
Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%
RELIGIONS:
Muslim 94%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous beliefs 1%
LANGUAGES:
French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka
CLIMATE:
Tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to [...]

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