Seleki is a village in

Basse Casamance Ziguinchor is a region of Senegal (regional capitals have the same name as their respective regions). The region is also referred to historically and popularly as Basse Casamance. Departments Ziguinchor region is divided into 3 departments De ...

in the south of

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

. The presence of ''cases à

impluvium The ''impluvium'' (pl. ''impluvia'') is a water-catchment pool system meant to capture rain-water flowing from the ''compluvium'', or slanted roof. Often placed "inside", instead of "outside", a building, it is a notable feature in many archite ...

'', 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 Boukout (also called bukut or futampaf) is a Jola rite of passage practiced in Ziguinchor, Senegal. Origin There is evidence that this ritual has existed at least since the 12th century. Before the colonization, boukout was the only method of ...

, an initiation ceremony, took place in Seleki in 1972.

Administration

Seleki is part of the rural community of

Enampore Enampore is a village in the Casamance region of Senegal. It lies about 23 kilometres from the Casamance's chief town Ziguinchor. It is noted for its impluvium The ''impluvium'' (pl. ''impluvia'') is a water-catchment pool system meant t ...

Nyassia Niassia (also spelled Nyassia) is a village and commune in Ziguinchor Department, Ziguinchor Region, Casamance, Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sin ...

Ziguinchor Ziguinchor (; wo, Siggcoor ; ar, زيغينكور) 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 over 230,000 (2007 estimate). It ...

Geography

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

Casamance River The Casamance River () 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, and Ziguinchor Regions in the southern port ...

. The closest villages are Etama,

, Essyl, and

Batinière Batinière is a settlement in the Oussouye Department of the Ziguinchor Region in south-west Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially ...

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 is believed to have originated in the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South a ...

Population

Seleki is one of the few villages where people still speak

Bandial Bandial is a village in the commune of Enampore, Nyassia Arrondissement, Ziguinchor Department in the Ziguinchor Region of Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغ� ...

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 A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNES ...

was filed with

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

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 is believed to have originated in the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India. ''M. indica'' has been cultivated in South a ...

Image:Séléki-Children.JPG,

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

rice Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima ''Oryza glaberrima'', commonly known as African rice, is one of the two domesticated rice species. It was first domesticated and grown i ...

References

External links

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