Senegal Flag

Flag History

After the dissolution of the federation with Mali, Senegal retained the colors of the flag and placed a green star in the center, symbolizing unity and hope. The green is an expression of hope for undisturbed progress, the yellow represents the verdant land and the wealth which will be the fruit of collective labor. The red recalls the martyrs and the common struggle of the African nations for independence; it is also a symbol of life and socialism.

Flag Date of Adoption

20 June 1960

Flag Symbolism

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; green represents Islam, progress, and hope; yellow signifies natural wealth and progress; red symbolizes sacrifice and determination; the star denotes unity and hope

note: uses the popular Pan-African colors of Ethiopia; the colors from left to right are the same as those of neighboring Mali and the reverse of those on the flag of neighboring Guinea

Senegal National Anthem

Listen to National Anthem
Anthem History	name: "Pincez Tous vos Koras, Frappez les Balafons" (Pluck Your Koras, Strike the Balafons) lyrics/music: Leopold Sedar SENGHOR/Herbert PEPPER note: adopted 1960; lyrics written by Leopold Sedar SENGHOR, Senegal's first president; the anthem sometimes played incorporating the Koras (harp-like stringed instruments) and Balafons (types of xylophones) mentioned in the title
Anthem Lyrics	Pincez tous vos coras, frappez vos balafons Le lion rouge a rugi. Le dompteur de la brousse D'un bond s'est élancé dissipant les ténèbres Soleil sur nos terreurs, soleil sur notre espoir. Refrain : Debout frères voici l'Afrique rassemblée Fibres de mon cœur vert épaule contre épaule Mes plus que frères. O Sénégalais, debout ! Unissons la mer et les sources, unissons La steppe et la forêt. Salut Afrique mère. Sénégal, toi le fils de l'écume du lion, Toi surgi de la nuit au galop des chevaux, Rends-nous, oh ! rends-nous l'honneur de nos Ancêtres Splendides comme l'ébène et forts comme le muscle ! Nous disons droits — l'épée n'a pas une bavure. Sénégal, nous faisons nôtre ton grand dessein : Rassembler les poussins à l'abri des milans Pour en faire, de l'est à l'ouest, du nord au sud, Dressé, un même peuple, un peuple sans couture, Mais un peuple tourné vers tous les vents du monde. Sénégal, comme toi, tous nos héros, Nous serons durs, sans haine et les deux bras ouverts, L'épée, nous la mettrons dans la paix du fourreau, Car notre travail sera notre arme et la parole. Le Bantou est un frère, et l'Arabe et le Blanc. Mais que si l'ennemi incendie nos frontières Nous soyons tous dressés et les armes au poing : Un peuple dans sa foi défiant tous les malheurs ; Les jeunes et les vieux, les hommes et les femmes. La mort, oui ! Nous disons la mort mais pas la honte.
Anthem Lyrics English	Everyone strum your koras, strike the balafons. The lion has roared. The tamer of the savannah Has leapt forward And scattered the gloom. Sunlight on our terrors, sunlight on our hopes. Stand up, brothers, here is Africa assembled. Chorus: Fibres of my green heart, Shoulder to shoulder, my more than brothers, O Senegalese, arise! Join sea and springs, join steppe and forest! Hail mother Africa, hail mother Africa. Senegal, you the son of the lion's froth, Sprung from the night to the gallop of horses, Give us, oh! give us the honour of our ancestors, Splendid as ebony and strong as muscle, We say it clearly - the sword has no flaw. Senegal, we take on your great work: To shelter the chicks from the falcons, To make, from east to west, north to south, Arisen, one single people, a people without seams, But a people turned to all the winds of the earth. Senegal, like you, like all our heroes, We will be hard without hatred, with open arms. The sword in peace-time we will store in the scabbard, As work and words will be our weapon. The Bantu is a brother, and so is the Arab and the White. But if the enemy burns our borders We will be risen with weapons in our hands: One people defying all sorrows with its faith, Young and old, men and women. Death, yes! We say death, but not shame.

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