In class this Friday one of the main themes from Dr. Sene’s presentation on Dakar was the legacy of colonization on the city. French colonization of the city shaped the infrastructure and institutions. The use of Dakar as a port city by the French helped establish its global importance, but also displaced many of the local people. For example, after illness plagued the city in 1914 Europeans forced the African population out of the city.

Dr. Sene also spoke of the contradiction between the desire to push back against colonization, but also to benefit from institutions resulting from it, such as education systems. Dakar has been able to invest in new initiatives to expand the city in order to accommodate the growing number of people migrating there.

The class can observe many of the main themes of the course taking place in Dakar. Imperialism and colonialism are seen in the French colonization of Senegal, Globalization in its role as a port city and modern-day hub for international organizations, industrialism and its effects are seen through migration to the city, and a changing political structure through the anti-colonialist activity that took place over the city’s history.