In Senegal, political activism has been synonymous with community building since the dawn of the country’s independence movements. Throughout Senegal’s history, we have seen the birth of political and cultural movements that have in profound ways participated in shaping the role citizens play in political life from a local (neighborhoods, schools, universities, etc.), regional and national point of view. The Senegalese Cultural Front (founded in the mid-1970s) is an example of an activist, grassroots institution that helped initiate societal change alongside the ASCs (Sports and Cultural Associations) of the time, for example.

60 years later, these flagship initiatives are inscribed in the collective memory of an entire nation, even though the experience gained from these periods struggles to give way to consistent action. Today, vital forces are visible in the pockets of resistance we see amongst a youth mobilised from 2012 to the present day.

Driven by political activism and the need to unite their communities, the speakers invest in their environments in a way that revitalizes intellectual, community, civic and territorial engagement.