The Presence of the Portuguese Language in the Senegalese Province of Casamance – A Cultural Heritage on the Verge of Extinction or in Revival?

Abstract

THE PRESENCE OF THE PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE IN THE SENEGALESE PROVINCE OF CASAMANCE – A CULTURAL HERITAGE ON THE VERGE OF EXTINCTION OR IN REVIVAL?

The article explains, on a socio-historical basis, how the region of Casamance in southern Senegal acquired its dual Portuguese-French character, underlining the role of the Portuguese language in this process. It briefly outlines the history of the territory and shows how it contributed to the specific ethnic and cultural nature of the region, where, in the second half of the 20th century, a separatist sentiment began to grow. It also discusses the role of Portuguese in the region through the centuries and the emergence of its local Creole, trying to explain how they both served as an instrument of communication throughout history and how their role changed with the independence of the Senegalese state. Commenting on the current position of Portuguese and its Creole, the text intends to point out the factors which have contributed to the decline in the use of the latter and which have, on the other hand, favoured the revival of Portuguese itself.