Everyone is talking about “the Dakar” in these first days of the year 2013. “The Dakar” is a race of extreme difficulty that brings together the most impressive motorized machines in the world, capable traversing rough and dangerous terrain. This Rally captures all eyes, both from connoisseurs and lovers of speed, bodywork, tires and engines as well as from the multitudes of people who see in this extreme competition a sign of modernity, something that gives them status. It owes its name to the capital of Senegal, a country located on the Atlantic coast of Africa.
Dakar, the city, was the arrival point of this race from its first edition in 1979 until 2008, when its passage through the black continent was suspended due to alleged terrorist threats, according to official information. Apparently, this information seeks to distract attention from the real reasons for its suspension:the constant deaths by being run over that the Rally systematically caused in small African towns along its route. We tell you everything about Dakar:
Originally a French colony since the end of the 17th century, Senegal obtained its independence in 1960 after attempting political coexistence with another African country, Sudan, in the so-called Federation of Mali. Product of historical migrations demonstrated through archaeological finds, most of the Senegalese population embraces the Muslim religion. According to recent data, Senegal has around 13 million inhabitants, of which 2 million live in Dakar, the capital of this country that was an important port of shipment of slaves for the kingdoms of France, Spain and Portugal.
Currently, the city of Dakar is an attractive tourist destination, although economic conditions are not necessarily the best. The exoticism of its food, its magnificent constructions of Islamic heritage and its traditions associated with ethnic groups such as the Wolofs (43% of the population), Peuls and Sererers make Senegal (a word that means "our canoe" in the Wolof language) one of the the most visited countries in West Africa. Another reason is its tropical climate, which in winter makes it ideal for tourist activities, although in summer it can reach up to 41°C.
Since its appearance until today, the Paris-Dakar Rally, so called because it started in the French capital and ended in Senegal, moves millions of dollars in advertising, infrastructure, logistics and human capital that, according to the harshest detractors, never contributed anything to alleviate some of the deficiencies of its main cities. There is currently talk of an economic improvement in Dakar, due to the relative flourishing of certain food industries, but nothing that comes even from the advertising use that the organizers give to the name of its capital city.
The official language in Senegal is French, although there are native languages of the various ethnic groups that coexist in its territory that are still used by large numbers of people. On this page you can get to know Dakar through photographs of its emblematic places and its population.
http://www.villededakar.org/