Festival Teranga Sénégal

Festival Teranga Sénégal: Senegalese hospitality at the heart of the 93

The word teranga, in Wolof, means hospitality — this cardinal virtue of Senegalese culture which consists of welcoming others with generosity and warmth. It is precisely this spirit that animates the Festival Teranga Sénégal, located in Aubervilliers, Seine-Saint-Denis.

The first festival in France entirely dedicated to Senegalese music, it brings together each edition artists from Dakar or representatives of the Senegalese diaspora in Île-de-France, offering Parisian audiences a rare immersion into the musical richness of a country with incomparable sound traditions.

Senegalese music in all its diversity

Senegal is one of the musically richest countries in West Africa. The festival aims to explore all its facets:

• Mbalax: Senegalese national rhythm, born from the fusion of traditional Wolof music and Cuban influences, popularized by Youssou N'Dour and Cheikh Lô
• Sabar: percussion music and dance, an ancestral Wolof language, powerful and communicative
• Griot: songs and kora of the griots, guardians of the oral memory of Senegalese society
• Senegalese Jazz: contemporary scene influenced by Dakar's jazz clubs and exchanges with African-American musicians
• Afropop and Urban Music: new generations of Senegalese artists blending drill, afrobeats, trap, and traditional heritage

Aubervilliers, a natural host city

The choice of Aubervilliers as the host city for the Teranga Festival is no coincidence. The commune is home to one of the largest Senegalese communities in Île-de-France. Its streets, markets, and associations bear witness to a vibrant and creative Senegalese presence.

By establishing the festival in Aubervilliers, the organizers anchor the event in a territory where Senegalese culture is already present daily, allowing it to appeal to both members of the diaspora and residents wishing to discover a culture that has been part of the local landscape for decades.

Program and Festivities

Beyond the concerts, the Teranga Festival offers a complete cultural experience:

• Senegalese Market: crafts, textiles, jewelry, musical instruments
• Gastronomy: stands offering thiéboudienne, yassa chicken, mafé, and other specialties
• Workshops: introduction to sabar percussion, dance classes, conferences on Senegalese culture
• Screenings: films and documentaries on the Senegalese music scene