The following article from the Voice of America site was seen at
http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-07/2007-07-10-voa46.cfm?CFID=217937260&CFTOKEN=51832029
(via a Google alert). Note the mention of Lebanese speaking Wolof (as
well as Arabic and French) in Senegal. Don
Lebanese Immigrants Boost West African Commerce
By Naomi Schwarz
Dakar
10 July 2007
Schwarz report (mp3) - Download 815k audio clip
Listen to Schwarz report (mp3) audio clip
In West Africa, multiple generations of Lebanese have been vital
members of the community since the early 1900s. Today, many say they
retain a strong emotional connection to Lebanon, but, that Africa,
where most were born, is home. Naomi Schwarz has more from Dakar in
this second report of a five-part series on diaspora communities in
West Africa.
Church chants waft through a downtown street on a Sunday morning. The
style is Middle Eastern, but the location is Dakar, Senegal, in the
heart of West Africa.
Emile Chehouane attends church service here, at Notre Dame du Liban.
He was born in Senegal more than 70 years ago.
He says his parents emigrated from Lebanon in the 1920s looking for
work. He has other relatives who ended up in America and elsewhere in
the world.
It is estimated today that about 16 million Lebanese live outside
Lebanon. Only about four million live in the country itself.
But they retain strong ties to the small middle-eastern country.
Zeina Zeidan chats with her mother in Arabic as she drives through
downtown Dakar on her way home.
During the war last summer between Israel and Lebanon, Zeidan says,
the Lebanese community watched the news avidly to find out what was
happening back home.
As she speaks, her young son interjects from the back seat, showing
that the emotional connection to Lebanon is ingrained at an early age.
Hezbollah made the Israelis run away, he says.
Zeidan is quick to say that she does not support terrorism or suicide
bombers.
She says expatriate Lebanese supported Hezbollah because they defended
her country when the government and army did nothing.
But despite her interest in Lebanon, Zeidan and other Lebanese in
Senegal say they also feel very strong connections to their African home.
Like many Lebanese, Emile Chehouane speaks Wolof, Senegal's
predominant African language, as well as he speaks French and Arabic.
Today the Lebanese embassy estimates there are more than 30,000
Lebanese in Senegal, as well as significant Lebanese populations in
other countries throughout the region. Most are Shi'ite Muslim, but
there are also Sunnis, and Protestant, Orthodox, and Maronite
Christians. The community is close-knit across the diverse faiths.
The population is growing, but not because of new immigrants. The new
Lebanese in West Africa are the third generation, children born here
to parents also born in West Africa.
The first generation were key farmers and traders in peanuts, still
one of Senegal's largest exports.
Today the majority of Lebanese work in commerce.
They own stores that sell clothes, hardware, groceries, fabric,
furniture, and everything else. In some cases, the stores serve
equally as venues for catching up with friends.
Many hold dual citizenship in Senegal and Lebanon, but participate in
politics here.
Chehouane says he has served in several elected and unelected public
service roles in Senegal, including member of his departmental council
and president of his local Red Cross.
But despite the many ways African Lebanese have integrated into
Senegalese life, they remain a community apart.
They marry within the Lebanese community, and form most of their
closest friendships there too. It is not a question of discrimination
they say, but a way to hold on to and share the culture they continue
to hold dear.
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