I've never been to Dakar and hadn't ever considered visiting but this article made me want to go. It's great to see a feature on a city in Africa in the NYT that doesn't mention war or famine or other negatives. Dakar seems like a very cool place.
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@Sallyb - I took a trip to Senegal ten years ago and still talk about it. We stayed with a friend and his family. This friend had been a tour guide before emigrating to the US, so took us to many places that we might not have seen (Parc De Djoudj in St. Louis for example). We saw first hand how Muslims, Christians and Jews co-exist peacefully. Village life was such an interesting part of the visit. I appreciate how much this article shows of Dakar as a city and as an emblem of modern day Africa. Yes, there are wonderful places to see in Africa!
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@Sallyb I have been to Dakas and it is a fabulous city. The nightlife is so much fun if you enjoy dancing. Like the article says, things get started late but it is well worth staying up to party until almost dawn. I agree that visiting Goree Island is a must. Also the holy city of Touba is an important place in the region.
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Yum.
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Thank you for this feature on Dakar, Dionne! Truly a gem of a city and I'm so glad NYT is featuring it, though I'm biased as a fellow resident.
Agreed with @expat london that Goree should be on the list for its historical and cultural significance, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Not including it feels like telling readers to go visit Boston but not even mentioning the Freedom Trail. In general, this list feels rather touristy and food-heavy - there are some great galleries (Galerie Arte, Galerie Antena, Village des Arts) and music spots (Djoloff is a great suggestion you included, there is also Bazoff), and local food not on a "ramshackle" beach or catered toward tourists like Calebasse (L'Endroit, OBV) that could have been included. However, to each his or her own!
Also please note there is a typo, it should be Les Iles de la Madeleine, not Isle des Madeleines.
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Thanks for the article. I happily lived in Dakar for awhile, so delighted for it to get a bit of a spotlight.
I think you should also mention a visit to Goree, an island just off the coast that was a centre of the slave trade. It's a very atmospheric and moving place.
And every visitor must sample the national dish Thieboudienne, fish and rice with tomatoes.
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I was all ready to go until I reviewed Senegal's policies and attitudes toward LGBTQ people. Near the bottom of the list of safe places for us, according to Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. These articles should come with disclaimers.
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why are these reviews always so much about food and little else?
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because in french speaking countries sharing food is the basis of everything. @james
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@james. Because that's a big reason for traveling.
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@Srini Only for some people. My mother, now aged 95, has traveled the world, and can remember (even now) nearly everything she ate in every hotel in every city she has visited. Leaves me bored to tears! I want to hear about architecture, history, art, parks, the local people, the politics, and most of all the music. While I appreciate good food, it is NOT a reason for me to travel. I eat to live--and travel.
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I thought I would have heard a little but more about the music scene- live. is that not easily accessible?
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@jeremy It's incredibly accessible and actually tough to avoid.
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@jeremy, I was surprised too there was so little about great music there.
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