The Walls of Ngor Village

Despite its modest and traditional appearance, Ngor is a bustling and vibrant and well-known neighborhood in Dakar, Senegal where the past, present and future converge, and where Senegalese traditions, beliefs and stories are kept alive. The village´s narrow alleys and colourfully painted walls with their murals, flyers and drawings reflect the beliefs, aspirations and spirit of the people who call this place home. The flyers, pamphlets, murals and drawings found on the walls of Ngor are mostly used to portrait religious Sufi leaders or soccer stars, advertise cultural events or to promote social causes. Therefore the walls of the village sometimes resemble the pages of a book of saints and their wisdoms, sometimes of the pages sports magazine and sometimes the pages of a comic book. Struggle and joy, harsh everyday reality and lighthearted happiness go hand in hand in Ngor, as in so many other places in Africa.