Senegal Flag Meaning
A vertical tricolor of green, yellow, and red with a green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band. The flag reflects Pan-African identity and national unity.
- Continent
- Africa
- Adopted
- 1960
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Colors
- green, yellow, red
- Designer
- Adopted at independence, inspired by Pan-African colors
Symbolism
Green Stripe: Represents Islam, the country’s most practiced religion, as well as hope and the land’s fertility.
Yellow Stripe: Symbolizes wealth, natural resources, and the values of progress and labor.
Red Stripe: Stands for the struggle for independence and the sacrifices made for freedom.
Green Star: Represents unity and hope, as well as a guiding light for the Senegalese people.
History
- 11th–15th Centuries: Part of major West African empires such as Ghana and Mali, thriving through trade and Islamization.
- 1659: French founded Saint-Louis, beginning colonial presence.
- 1895: Senegal became part of French West Africa.
- 1959: Joined with French Sudan to form the Mali Federation, briefly independent.
- August 20, 1960: Declared independence after the breakup of the federation, adopting the current flag.
- 1960–Present: Maintains stability and democratic traditions compared to many neighbors, though faces economic and social challenges.
Trivia
- Senegal is the westernmost country of mainland Africa, with Dakar located on the Cape Verde Peninsula.
- The famous Gorée Island, off Dakar, was a major center for the Atlantic slave trade.
- Senegal is known worldwide for its music scene, including mbalax popularized by Youssou N’Dour.
- The Senegalese wrestling sport, 'Laamb,' is considered the national sport.
- About 95% of Senegal’s population practices Islam, primarily Sufi brotherhoods.
Related Countries
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Eleven alternating red and white stripes with a blue canton containing a single white five-pointed star, representing Africa's first republic founded by freed American slaves and its role as a beacon of freedom on the continent.