The Religious Landscape of Senegal: An Overview

Religious beliefs and institutions are central to Senegalese society and culture, and their outward and visible manifestations are omnipresent. A 2010 Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life study found that 98 percent of Senegalese surveyed said that religion is ‘very important’ in their daily lives.1 Contemporary roles of religious leaders and communities are intricately interwoven into society, the economy, and politics. Yet, they are changing, reshaped inter alia by urbanization, expanding education options, and international migration. Faith leaders and communities are currently active in many facets of development, with the potential to make greater contributions (see figure 1).