Kafountine, Casamance in Senegal 

 

Located in the Casamance region of southern Senegal, Kafountine is a fishing village on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.  Senegal is Africa's most western country, the capital of which is Dakar.  The Casamance although part of Senegal is below The Gambia and many visitors travel the 2600 miles and six hours flight time from the United Kingdom via Banjul.
 

 

French is the official language of Senegal and it is spoken to a wide range of levels, from basic to absolutely fluent.  There are many local languages spoken in The Casaamance, with various forms of Jola, plus Wolof, Mandinka and Fula among others. 

 

While the area is mainly Muslim there are many Christians and the animist traditions are strong. Fishing is the main source of income, with Kafountine being a vital part of Senegal's fishing industry, attracting large numbers of workers from other parts of Africa.  Hence the village has grown hugely in recent decades and is now officially a town and a commune in its own right. 

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The region is also enjoying a period of peace and stability and the present day administration is seen as one of the most progressive in Africa.  However the region remains poor and suffers from a lack of infrastructure which hinders the development of communities.