We All Seek Change

 Two days ago, Senegal's fourth president was elected in a peaceful transfer of power. As if nature agreed with the political movement, Dakar had its first thunderstorm in almost 7 months this morning. The rain pulled the dust from the air and sent it down the gutters. For once, my 20 minute walk to school did not end with slightly aching lungs from all the pollution and poussière. I found myself taking deep breaths of fresh air which smelled of newly damp, warm pavement. But my relief in the change of weather can be only be topped by how the Senegalese feel about their new President. All the dust and pollution from the last administration has been washed away with the tide of change-a tide driven by a man some of my Senegalese friends are calling "Senegal's Obama."

In back: Out with the old...In front: In with the new...
Photo from: StLouisSenegal

Son Excellence Macky Sall was elected, as I wrote in my blog post titled "Y'en a Marre," in a storm of violence, change, and insecurity. Here is an article highlighting the Run-off. Citizens feared that Wade would steer elections in his favor to remain in power. That event would have invariably led to increased violence, and some were whispering, civil war. However, the second tour reached voting day with minimal violence. Meanwhile, the defeated candidates from the first tour rallied behind Sall, along with the M23 movement and Y'en a Marre. I watched the campaigns, feeling better as each day passed with no violence. Throughout this whole election I've known how to keep safe. But I've also known that no matter how bad it got, I could leave, thanks to the US security policy. But then I would tear my eyes away from yet another news broadcast and look at my family. They would not. This was not "an interesting case study in Senegalese politics" for them. They did not have my position or my resources. If I was removed from Senegal due to political instability, my family would face whatever I was running from. Though I am not silly enough to think I am responsible for them, I was still forced to see how likely the worst outcome was. I was also forced to see how much my family meant to me, when I was forced to consider a premature separation from them. Watching the 2nd Tour campaigns were less violent than the first, but characterized by increased tension as likelihood of Wade's interference loomed. Alongside national tension, my personal fear of the results consumed my thoughts.

From a national perspective, debates were intense concerning health care, education, and unemployment. Both sides frequently lost tempers mid-debate and the representatives did nothing except yell at each other. Despite the tension evident in the populace, the candidates campaigned peacefully. I saw only one incident of violence on the news, when Wade supporters infiltrated a rally for Macky Sall. However, compared to the last round of campaigns, these were smooth and without a problem.

Pretty much says it all

My beautiful host mom on the evening of our first neighborhood rally

From a personal perspective, I somehow got roped into the Macky Sall movement. My host mom, who is part of a well-known and influential family of Senegal, took it upon herself to practice the purest form of democracy I can think of. She led and supported the mouvement des citoyens de Sacre Coeur. The citizen movement of Sacre Coeur. For the week before the elections, she and a group of young Senegalese students held rallies for Macky Sall in our neighborhood. If it wasn't a rally, it was door-to-door campaigning to talk directly with people, and get them to vote for change.

My uncle-in tradition with our politically active family-opens the presentation

Sometimes the rallies coincided with a party hosted by my family, which invariably led to lots of dancing and singing. I spent the week discussing politics with the youth leaders of my mom's movement. It was impossible to resist their optimism and passion for a new era for Senegal. As they were always in our house, I ended up taking part in their movement, going to rallies, and becoming their unofficial photographer. (I might or might not have stolen a Sall campaign poster..) They took "power of the people" to a word, and watching their hard work result in success is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had in my 9 months abroad. To read a little about the "new era" of Senegal, click HERE.

Sacre Coeur III

 

 

My mom, aunt and cousin showing their support

Youssou, one of the leaders of the youth movement led by my mom

My mom giving her presentation at the rally

The sister of Macky Sall is on the far right, supporting one of our rallies

My mom! At another rally!

Greeting the "important ladies" (my mom in the yellow dress)

Campaign Leaders

Banner of their rally

What's a political rally without a little celebratory dancing??

The night of the elections, Sall's victory was easy to determine from the beginning of the polling. His 66% majority was clear early on, and thus, the parties started early. Voting began in the morning and by 7 PM that evening, I was out in the streets with my family. Little did I know that the celebrations would last all night. Musicians came to our house, the leaders of my mom's movement were lively and exchanged hugs and laughter. Starting with our house and a group of roughly 20 people, we set  off down our street. Banging on doors, singing, and dancing, the celebrating crowd grew until we were sometimes nearly a hundred people. It was total chaos, and I honestly cannot remember seeing a group of people so happy. Their release of tension and fear yielded a nuit blanche celebration. At 12:30 AM, when the next round of dancing was supposed to begin, I called it a night. I begged dinner from the maid, seeing as the rest of the family was too excited to eat. When I finally attempted to get to sleep at 1 AM, I could still hear the constant blare of car horns on the main road.

And the crowds grow...

My mom calling to our neighbors

Sing and Dance

My cousin and brother!!

Cheering from all sides

Our musicians!

We even jumped on a few cars...

Happy faces!

Holding up traffic

Defacing posters of Wade

And hanging outside of cars...(safety regulations?? this is Senegal..)

The atmosphere of Dakar has changed. Not just literally, thanks to that purifying rain, but the change is almost as clear. My family no longer watches the news in the evening, hoping to not hear of more deaths in demonstrations. We're not waiting to hear more declarations by Wade, presumptuously assuming his victory. The tension leading up the elections transformed the Senegalese into angry and fed up masses. Once again, it is easy to see their ease and sense of humor, unmarked by hidden reservations of the future of their country. It's true, Sall will have to combat the same issues as Wade. The problems with the educations system, the energy system, and unemployment are not going to magically vanish. But Senegal has set the example for democracy to the rest of the continent, as one of the few West African countries to have never undergone a coup d'etat. Instead, we have a rainstorm to wash away the old political era to make way for Senegal's younger future.

(I celebrated by making scones for my family. Haha)