Linguistic shift underway in Senegal, where Wolof is overtaking French

A linguistic shift is underway in Senegal. Wolof is spoken by 80% of the population and has progressively overtaken French, the country’s official language, as the dominant language of communication. Private Wolof classes have flourished as the publishing sector races to meet growing demand for books and other content written in local languages for local readers. Report by Aminatou Diallo, Elimane Ndao and Sam Bradpiece.

Aug 20, 2024 - 18:00
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Linguistic shift underway in Senegal, where Wolof is overtaking French
A linguistic shift is underway in Senegal. Wolof is spoken by 80% of the population and has progressively overtaken French, the country’s official language, as the dominant language of communication. Private Wolof classes have flourished as the publishing sector races to meet growing demand for books and other content written in local languages for local readers. Report by Aminatou Diallo, Elimane Ndao and Sam Bradpiece.