Serer-Sine in Senegal


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

This is a subgroup of the greater Serer people. They live in Senegal, Gambia and Mauritania.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Serer-Sine society is built upon strong family ties and tradition. Farmers and herders, the Serer-Sine live on a subsistence basis, relying on good crop yields for a prosperous year. The men cultivate peanuts and millet for the subsistence of his family and community. After this season the men often go to the cities to work. There is often a network of friends and family in the city for men to live with. When the growing season is over for the main crops, women plant gardens of peas, okra, onions and tomatoes on her husband's land or a small plot of her own. She may form irrigation ditches around these plantings or carry the water to the garden herself.
While the men leave for the city to work, women stay at home caring for her family. The women work very hard, starting before daybreak preparing breakfast and working far into the evening preparing dinner and cleaning. They haul water, work in fields and care for nursing infants. Young girls are expected to care for their siblings while the boys work in the fields with their father.
Celebrations among the Serer-Sine include marriages and baby naming ceremonies. Both celebrations involve feasts and gifts of money. The Serer-Sine enjoy song and dance and it is not limited to special occasions. Funerals are a process that starts when a person dies. Wailing and mourning continues until the burial. A month later a feast is given for the friends and family of the deceased.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Serer-Sine adhere to traditional beliefs while some have converted to Islam and others are Roman Catholic. The Serer-Sine have been very gradual in accepting religions outside of their traditional beliefs. Even though people claim to have accepted Islam there are still many traditional beliefs included. Combining these two systems of beliefs is called "folk Islam". All systems of belief among the Serer-Sine include a type of charm. The Muslims wear a picture of a Marabou (a holy Islamic man) and a portion of Koranic verses in their charm. This is believed to give the charm power and bless the wearer. Catholic believers wear a necklace with a picture of Christ or a Diocese in their charm. Animists wear a charm with a bone, shell or dried portion of an animal or ancestor who died long ago.


What Are Their Needs?

The Serer-Sine people need freedom from the spirit world. They need to put their faith in Jesus Christ, the King of kings.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Serer-Sine may find the true freedom in Christ.
Pray that the Serer-Sine will embrace this freedom and start churches that will grow and reproduce in cities and villages.


Scripture Prayers for the Serer-Sine in Senegal.


References

West Africa Gateway


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Serer-Sine
People Name in Country Serer-Sine
Alternate Names Sereer; Serere
Population this Country 1,759,000
Population all Countries 1,829,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 2
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 14866
ROP3 Code 108862
Country Senegal
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Fatick, Kaolack, Thies, Kaffrine, and Diourbel regions: Sine and Saloum river valleys; Saint-Louis region: some south of Senegal river, Thile-Boubacar area.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Senegal
Region Africa, West and Central
Continent Africa
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Fatick, Kaolack, Thies, Kaffrine, and Diourbel regions: Sine and Saloum river valleys; Saint-Louis region: some south of Senegal river, Thile-Boubacar area..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.81 %)
22.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
78.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Serer-Sine (1,759,000 speakers)
Language Code srr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Serer-Sine (1,759,000 speakers)
Language Code srr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Serer-Sine
Photo Source West Africa Gateway 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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