- Posted July 17, 2012 by
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Senegal: The Land of Sonic Youth
- sarahbrowngb, CNN iReport producer
While the Arab Spring and the subsequent protests in the Arab world have captured the attention of Americans, we should be as equally enthralled by the struggles for democratic reform that have taken place in Senegal over the same time period.
As two-term president Abdoulaye Wade manipulated his way into running for an unconstitutional third term, a grassroots movement led by hip-hop artists and journalists-called Y'En a Marre, meaning "Fed Up"-rose up to organize massive demonstrations against widespread corruption and anti-democratic behavior in Senegalese society. They continued their fight through music, continued street protests, and social media.
After a year long battle against Wade and his desperate attempts to retain power, Y'En a Marre won as Macky Sall defeated Wade to obtain the presidency, interjecting a measure of agency and hope into the country. With this success Y'En a Marre has been determined to go beyond the presidency in their demands for social improvements. Commemorating the anniversary of their first protests, organizing voter drives for legislative elections, and insisting the president's term be reduced to five years are just some of the causes that this group has undertaken since the presidential election in May 2012. All of this contributes to their call for "Un nouveau type de Senegalais" - "a new type of Senegalese."
Y'En a Marre is but one example of the vibrant youth culture in contemporary Senegal that is fighting to transform the society through music, art, cinema, and literature. This energy is felt in nearly every area of the country, from small fishing villages to the crowded streets of Dakar. Art and culture are not simply leisure pursuits or the prizes of the elite, but means of communication, protest, and expression for everyday citizens that are tranforming the country.