Dagana

Dagana (sometimes Tagana) is a city in the North of Senegal, located in the lower Valley of Senegal River, between Richard-Toll and Podor.

On the delta of Senegal River, the town of Dagana displays its charm in the warmth and tranquility. On horseback between modernity and authenticity, this city witness the history, frontier with Mauritania, also a crossroads between the Walo, the Dieri and Fouta.

Visit Dagana, make a trip back in time and relax on an important part of the history of Senegal. This small town is located 130 km from the Atlantic coast and 408 km of the capital Dakar. Populated by Peuhl, Wolof and Moors, the city offers a landscape at hand, a warm climate, but nice and blessed by the spirits of the river environment.

In this airy town, surrounded by the Bank of Rivers, we find old buildings of the colonial administration, including the docks and trading houses. Unfortunately, the fort of dagana, listed on the list of the historical sites and monuments of Senegal, who needed to be restored, unfortunately turned into a hotel complex by the municipality in recent years.

But the city retains its charm with a typical market rich in colours, a founding area of the city preserving its traditional organization form...in the surroundings, a total change of scenery. Between the basin of Dagana, Djerinde Island, traditional Fulani villages of Goumel in the Walo, of Gallodjina in the Dieri, or the religious city of Gae, the visitor ensures a total immersion in the daily life of these very hospitable local people.

Culturally, the essential thing is Fuddu Museum where you'll find yourself in the creative world of the great artist, Aadi Aïdara, who will be pleased to make you visit his works and specially to share his findings on the mystery of the Mona Lisa, famous work of Leonardo da Vinci. The town of Dagana also lets you discover local crafts, fight sessions, dance and traditional music, especially that of the Bambados, very atypical.

Before leaving this area, you must make a trip to the esplanade where majestically stands the impressive statue of the Linguère Ndatte Yalla, strong symbol that reminds us that Dagana is the capital of Walo.

History

The village was founded around the year of 1300. The etymology of its name remains uncertain, sometimes wolof - fi dagan na dek meaning a place-, peul - from the name of the founder, Dagana1. Some also say that the city was created by a named Dah coming from Ghana.

The history of Dagana remains linked to the Kingdom of the Waalo, who’s the brak (King) serving in the region. The Governor of the colony of Senegal Schmaltz signed on 8 may 1819 Treaty of Ndiaw with the Brack Amar Faatim Borso Mbodj and the main leaders of the country: the Diawdine William Xor Aram Bakar DIAW, Béthio Sakura DIOP, Maalo Ndiack Danco DIAW, diogomaye Ndiack Arame Kelar DIAW, beuk Negg Ndiourbel Birame Coura DIAGNE, resulting, to the creation of a series of commercial posts along the Senegal River with that of Dagana.

C'est à Dagana que fut célébré le 18 juin 1833 le mariage entre la reine du Walo Ndieumbeutt Mbodj et le roi maure du Trarza, Mohamed El Habib.

It is Dagana that was celebrated on June 18, 1833 the marriage between the Queen of Walo Ndieumbeutt Mbodj and the Moorish King of Trarza, Mohamed El Habib.

On March 9, 1908, the toucouleur marabout Aly Yoro Diop (Aali Yero Joop) of Fanaye, on behalf of the holy war, attacked the colonial post of Dagana with his talibés; He was killed with 29 of its supporters by the French garrison, supported by the Chief supervisor of Walo Samba Yomba Guile Mbodj and his Goum.

During the colonial era, Dagana was a big Mall (commercial centre) linked to trade of gum Arabic.

The village was erected as a town on February 1, 1960 and Makha Sarr, born in 1911 in Dagana, school principal, was elected as the first Deputy Mayor of the city.

Geography

The climate is Sahelian a type.

Distance , the closest communities are young Mbilor Dieri, Keur Mbaye, Keur Mour, Keur Koure, Gae, Ndiareme, Keur Biram, Bokhol and Keur Mor Ibra.

Dakar, the capital, is located 408 km.

Economy

Local resources come mainly from agriculture. Rice, tomato remain the main crops on a large scale. Tomato production is sold to the SOCAS, who has an industrial processing unit in the town of Dagana.

Dagana opens door to tourism ,Thanks to its rich heritage, including the fort - who is on the list of the historical monuments and sites - and the charms of the River. It is one of the stopover of  the fold on the Senegal River aboard the Bou-el-Mogdad.

source https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagana_(S%C3%A9n%C3%A9gal) et http://www.au-senegal.com/dagana-au-bord-du-fleuve-senegal,6975.html