Lions de Teranga

Senegal, like most African countries, chose the courageous Lion as their mascot. Seems silly doesn't it? During a 'futbol' match it's very frequently the Lions vs the Lions…what tension…who's going to prevail?? My money's on the lions.

But seriously, they had to clarify somehow which lions were the Senegalese lions so, at sporting events (mostly men's soccer and women's basketball from what I can tell…) They refer to the Senegalese team as the "Lions de Teranga". Teranga, a wolof word, doesn't really have a literal translation: it's more than a word it's a way of living, a Senegalese value, something so deeply embedded in their culture that there is no equivalent in French or English. The next best word is: hospitality (have you ever met a hospitable lion? I haven't) but "hospitality" doesn't begin to cover what is meant by Teranga.

I by no means am claiming to have a firm grasp on the magnanimity of Teranga but I shall do my best. We talked a bit about Teranga in a seminar on Senegalese values and beliefs. I can try to explain with some examples. It's an unconditional generosity without the expectation of repayment. Teranga is a random act of kindness. It is going out of your way to help a friend, or a stranger for that matter. It is a county wide value that binds the entire country together. It is a reiteration of the cry "we are one people" we are all family, and should treat each other such. It is an unwritten, unspoken rule that when preparing food you make more than you'd need, not for leftovers tomorrow night, but in case someone stops by. Here no one calls before coming over, they are automatically invited.

Friday, my friend Jeannie (who lives out in Ouakam) didn't want to pay for a cab just to come back to school in a few hours to go to the poetry slam. So, she came home with me. We show up (they didn't know she was coming) and within two minutes of our arrival, chairs were whipped out, and so was the bissap (really yummy juice made from hibiscus) and the beignets (homemade doughnuts with coconut and raisins in them!). My family usually eats between 20:30 and 21:00 but we were going to be leaving at 20:00 so at 7:45 there are two plates out for us. They didn't blink and fed BOTH of us.

I have seen this trend (now that we've learned about it I see examples everywhere!!) over and over. The other day I stopped by to chat with my friends at the cyber café and I sit down, then before I realize it, Moustafa hands me his spoon and I am invited to eat with them. (even though it's 5pm and I'll eat again within 4 hours) I was not hungry but knew that if I turned the invitation down it would be insulting and imply that if they were to come over to my house they would not be invited to eat with me and my family. So I eat a few bites and hand the spoon back, "surr naa" (I'm full). There. Taken care of.

Last night even, my cousin had two of her friends over all afternoon. Dinner time rolls around and they are invited to eat with the family (of course there is no formal invitation, it's assumed that they are invited because of the Teranga, they KNEW already that there were invited to eat dinner with everyone else) Both of the friends sat down to eat. After only a few bites one of the women—the one who is ironically wearing a shirt that says "Teranga" on it—announces "neex naa, surr naa" (It's yummy, I'm full) and gets up from the mat on the floor. She, like I the other day, was not hungry or had other dinner plans but because of Teranga she accepted a small amount of food to show that she would do the same if the tables were turned.

Some hypothesize that Teranga is partially responsible for the overall stability of Senegal. Since its independence from the French in 1960, Senegal has had a Catholic president (with a 95% Muslim population), and Presidents from different political parties. (With the exception of a minor unrest coming from the Casamance (below The Gambia) where some people want to become their own country) Senegal is a peaceful place, like I said, some believe that it's the sense of Teranga that makes the Senegalese such a tolerant people.