Seleki is a village in Basse Casamance in the south of

Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders Mauritania to Mauritania–Senegal border, the north, Mali to Mali–Senegal border, the east, Guinea t ...

. The presence of ''cases à

impluvium The ''impluvium'' (: ''impluvia'') is a water-catchment pool system meant to capture rain-water flowing from the ''compluvium'', an area of roof. Often placed in a courtyard, under an opening in the roof, and thus "inside", instead of "outside ...

'', typical of Jola architecture, greatly contribute to the reputation of the village.

History

Seleki is also the name of an ancient kingdom as well as of an ethnic group in a region that was very resistant to French colonialism. Several French soldiers were killed at the Battle of Seleki on December 1, 1886, including Lieutenant Truche. On May 17, 1906, when Djignabo Badji, a charismatic leader and fetish leader of the Seleki who was believed to be indestructible, led an attack against French troops led by Lieutenant Lauque, Badji was killed and subsequently entered into local legend. The boukout, an initiation ceremony, took place in Seleki in 1972.

Administration

Seleki is part of the rural community of Enampore, Nyassia,

Ziguinchor Ziguinchor (; ; ) is the capital of the Ziguinchor Region, and the chief town of the Casamance area of Senegal, lying at the mouth of the Casamance River. It has a population of 214,874 (2023 census). It is the eighth largest city of Senegal ...

Geography

Seleki is located within walking distance of the left bank of the estuary of the

Casamance River The Casamance River ( French: ''Fleuve Casamance'') in Senegal flows westward for the most part into the Atlantic Ocean along a path about in length. However, only are navigable. The Casamance is the principal river of the Kolda, Sédhiou, a ...

. The closest villages are Etama, Enampore, Essyl, and

Batinière Batinière is a settlement in the Oussouye Department of the Ziguinchor Region in south-west Senegal Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is the westernmost country in West Africa, situated on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It borders ...

Flora

The village is surrounded by lush vegetation, including many Palmyra Palms and

mangos A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree '' Mangifera indica''. It originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South and Southeast As ...

Population

Seleki is one of the few villages where people still speak Bandial.

Economy

Seleki's economy relies mainly on rice and a little discovery tourism. An application for registration of all the Bandial ''cases à impluvium'' on the

World Heritage List World Heritage Sites are landmarks and areas with legal protection under an international treaty administered by UNESCO for having cultural, historical, or scientific significance. The sites are judged to contain "cultural and natural heritag ...

was filed with

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...

on November 18, 2005.

Gallery

Image:Séléki-School.JPG, Primary school Image:Séléki-Mango1.JPG, A

mango A mango is an edible stone fruit produced by the tropical tree '' Mangifera indica''. It originated from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South and Southeast As ...

Image:Séléki-Children.JPG, Bandial-speaking children Image:Séléki-Rice1.JPG, Drying

rice Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...

References

External links

{{commons category, Séléki
Maps, weather and airports for Seleki
Populated places in the Ziguinchor department