Ideas for a Senegal Themed Football Party
The former French colony of Senegal - named after the Senegal River which forms much of the country's northern and eastern border - is situated in West Africa. Senegal is known for its
distinctive music, a well as the people's hospitality. If you are
throwing a Senegal themed party, search on Amazon for
Senegalese Music
, or
Youssou N'Dour
specifically.
So central to Senegalese culture is the idea of hospitality that the national football team's nickname, "Les Lions de la Teranga" (which is a combination of French and
the major tribal language Wolof), could be translated into English as "The Lions of Hospitality".
Senegal Party Decorations
Decorate yourself and your room with Senegal shirts, flags and scarves (see links, right,
or
search on Kitbag.com for Senegal kitg(512634)a(1759159))
).
If you're serving food, search for white table covers, napkins, plates, cups and
cutlery on our general
Football Party Decorations Page
For bunting, flags, balloons and more
Senegalese Party Decorations Ideas,
visit our
African Football Party Decorations Page
As for colour schemes, in addition to the above ideas, anything else you can find in white will help create the right atmosphere.
Food for a Senegalese Themed Party
The cuisine of Senegal has been influenced by its many ethnic groups, by Islam (which first arrived in the region in the 11th century), by the countries of North Africa, and by
various European nations such as Portugal, but especially the French, who held the country as a colony until 1960.
Because of Senegal's extensive Atlantic Ocean coast, fish and seafood are an important part of the diet. Chicken, lamb, peas, beans and lentils, eggs, and beef are also used extensively in Senegalese cooking.
Peanuts are an important crop, and couscous, rice, sweet potatoes, lentils, black-eyed peas and various other vegetables are also used in many recipes.
Meats and vegetables are typically stewed or marinated in herbs and spices, and then served over rice or couscous, or simply eaten with bread.
Many recipes that are popular in Senegal are used throughout West Africa, such as Chicken Yassa casserole
(which we nominally listed as Nigerian) and Mafé (which we filed under Ivory Coast).
Either would be perfectly acceptable for a Senegalese party.
Fresh fruit juices are popular, especially mango and the fruit of the baobab tree.
Try some of these next time Senegal are playing:
Starters
Avocat aux Crevettes Senegalaise - Senegalese Avocado with Prawns
Main Courses
Ceebu Jen - Senegal's "National Dish" - Rice with Fish
Mafé - Meat in Peanut Sauce
Chicken Yassa casserole
Sweet Potato, Rice & Bean Stew
Salade Côte Cap Verte - Senegalese Green Salad
Drink for a Senegal Themed Party
The most popular drinks are
bissap, or
Hibiscus Tea
,
and
Green Tea with Mint
. Mineral water and
fruit juice are also popular drinks with meals. Although a largely Muslim country, Senegal does produce and consume a fair amount of beer of the lager type. The best known brands are "Flag"
and "Gazelle", neither of which are particluarly easy to get hold of outside West Africa. Beer is served cold, so if you're
throwing a Senegalese party and can't get hold of
any "Flag" or "Gazelle", I guess any cold lager will do!
Theming your Senegalese party
If you want to deck out your room with Senegalese-style fabrics rather than
Senegalese Flags
,
see if you can find an African market or fabric supplier in a town or city near where you live. Senegalese fabrics often feature bold patterns and strong colours such as reds, oranges, yellows and greens.
A Senegalese dinner should be served on a low table, with your guests seated on cushions on the floor. Cover the table with brightly colored tablecloths and napkins in a contrasting colour
(e.g. lime green table cloth and ruby red napkins). Citrus-scented candles will help to create an approipriately relaxed but lively atmosphere. Fresh flowers in reds, oranges and
yellows will help to evoke the vivid colors of the Senegalese markets. By contrast, plates and bowls should be plain white china.
Starters should be served in individual bowls or plates to each guest. The main course, however - especially if it is Ceebu Jen - is generally served on a large platter in the middle of the
table, with the meat or fish in the centre of the platter and rice or couscous around the outside. Guests then eat from the one central plate. It is quite common in Senegal
to then follow the main course with a sald course before moving on to dessert and coffee.
With thanks to the website "africa.upenn.edu/Cookbook/Senegal" for much of the above information.
