Wolof

Home > ... > Social Sciences and the Law > Anthropology and Archaeology > People > ...

Essential reading Compare
side-by-side World Encyclopedia The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition

Wolof

Wolof , black African ethnic group numbering over 3 million, along the Atlantic coast of W Africa; most live in Senegal, but there is a significant minority in Gambia. Traditional Wolof society was distinguished for its rigid social classes. There were nobles and farmers among the free born; below them were lower classes of artisans and minstrels; slaves were the lowest class. Chiefs were elected by the nobles. By the 14th cent. the Wolof had established a separate state. They were converted to Islam in the 18th cent.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1E1-Wolof" title="Facts and information about Wolof">Wolof</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Wolof." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Wolof." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (November 12, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Wolof.html

"Wolof." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Wolof.html

Learn more about citation styles

Wolof

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Wolof People of Senegal who speak a language belonging to the Niger-Congo family. In the 15th century, a Wolof Empire dominated West Africa and traded in slaves with the Portuguese. They converted to Islam in the 18th century.

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/.aspx#1O142-Wolof" title="Facts and information about Wolof">Wolof</a>

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Wolof." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Nov. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Wolof." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (November 12, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Wolof.html

"Wolof." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved November 12, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Wolof.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	The Oral History and Literature of the Wolof People of Waalo, Northern Senegal: The Master of the Word (griot) in the Wolof Tradition.(Brief Article) Magazine article from: The Historian; 1/1/1998
	Mgr Aloys Bigirumwani (adaptation francaise de Pierre Crepeau), Paroles du soir: contes du Rwanda.(Book Review) Magazine article from: Anthropologie et Societés; 5/1/2002
	Country profile: Mauritania. Magazine article from: New Internationalist; 10/1/1997

Facts and information from other sites

Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

	The intonational system of Wolof . Magazine article from: Linguistics: an interdisciplinary journal of the language sciences; 9/1/2001; ; 700+ words* ; ...paper presents an overview of the intonational system of Wolof (a non-tone language belonging to the Atlantic branch...of nontonal African prosodic systems, such as that of Wolof. Wolof belongs to the Atlantic branch of the Niger-Congo family...
	The Oral History and Literature of the Wolof People of Waalo, Northern Senegal: The Master of the Word (griot) in the Wolof Tradition.(Brief Article) Magazine article from: The Historian; 1/1/1998; ; 700+ words ; ...the social, cultural, and literary heritage of the Wolof people of northern Senegal. Samba Diop's argument, that Wolof epics and their performances provide a useful understanding of the Wolof people's religious, cultural, political, and...
	Wolof women, economic liberalization, and the crisis of masculinity in rural Senegal. Magazine article from: Ethnology; 6/22/2005; ; 700+ words ; Among Wolof farmers in Senegal's Peanut Basin, patriarchal...survival in response to economic insecurity. Wolof husbands and wives confront economic change...while renegotiating domestic authority. (Wolof women, economic liberalization, masculinity...
	Of Friends and Fairy Tales; Cuddling Up to El Olio Wolof Magazine article from: The Stranger; 12/15/2005; ; 562 words ; ...creative dryness that gave birth to El Olio Wolof. A linguistic combo of Spanish, English, and Swahili, El Olio Wolof stands for "the shapeless messenger...debut EP, El Subconscious Celestine Olio Wolof, are basically fairy tales. Taking cues...
	Mais où est donc la version wolof ? Magazine article from: Journal of Film Preservation; 4/1/2008; ; 700+ words ; ...inquitude face au fait qu'aucune version en wolof du Mandat n'existt, version qui devrait...hui ? A-t-on retrouv une copie en wolof ? Ou l'enregistrement sonore d'origine...en dpt les lments de tirage (bande son wolof) du Mandat, de La Noire de... et du...
	Masters of the Sabar: Wolof Griot Percussionists of Senegal Magazine article from: African Studies Review; 12/1/2007; ; 700+ words ; Patricia Tang. Masters of the Sabar: Wolof Griot Percussionists of Senegal. Philadelphia...Patricia Tang's book on sabar music of the Wolof people of Senegal joins a growing list...this study situates sabar music within the Wolof indigenous caste system. In Wolof traditional...
	Patricia Tang, Masters of the Sabar: Wolof percussionists of Senegal.(Book review) Magazine article from: Africa; 3/22/2009; ; 700+ words ; PATRICIA TANG, Masters of the Sabar: Wolof percussionists of Senegal. Philadelphia...previously been given significant attention: Wolof griot percussionists performing the Sabar...the lack of academic attention accorded Wolof percussionists means there is 'a widespread...
	N'DOUR SINGS IN WOLOF.(Life) Newspaper article from: Cape Times (South Africa); 3/26/2008; 700+ words ; ...highly rhythmic delight, his voice permeating everything like a snake in a hurry. As ever, he sings almost exclusively in Wolof, but for those of us not fluent in the language, its emotion shines through. For this album I was looking towards the music...
	Kimoh, dar you are! Magazine article from: Journal of Pan African Studies; 11/1/2007; ; 700+ words ; ...was, we argue, a creolized version of Wolof phonetically transcribed as English. Specifically...black diaspora studies. Virginia Texts and Wolof Songs For the last several years I have...began making inquiries about its possible Wolof vocabulary. I decided to have several...
	Kimoh, Dar You Are! Magazine article from: The Journal of Pan African Studies (Online); 11/1/2007; ; 700+ words ; ...was, we argue, a creolized version of Wolof phonetically transcribed as English. Specifically...black diaspora studies. Virginia Texts and Wolof Songs For the last several years I have...began making inquiries about its possible Wolof vocabulary. I decided to have several...