The Serer people (also spelt “Sérère”, “Sereer”, “Serere”, “Seereer” and sometimes wrongly “Serre”) are an West African ethnoreligious group. In modern-day Senegal, the Serer people live in the west-central part of the country, running from the southern edge of Dakar to the Gambian border. The Serer (also known as “Seex” or “Sine-Sine”) occupy the Sine and Saloum areas (now part of modern-day independent Senegal). In the Gambia, they occupy parts of old “Nuimi” and “Baddibu” as well as the Gambian “Kombo”. The Serer-Noon occupy the ancient area of Thiès in modern-day Senegal. The Serer-Ndut are found in southern Cayor and north west of ancient Thiès. The Serer-Njeghen occupy old Baol; the Serer-Palor occupies the west central, west southwest of Thiès and the Serer-Laalaa occupy west central, north of Thiès and the Tambacounda area. The Serer people are the third largest ethnic group in Senegal making up 14.7% of the Senegalese population. In Gambia they make up less than 2% of the population. Along with Senegal and the Gambia, they are also found in small numbers in southern Mauritania. Some notable Gambian Serers include Isatou Njie-Saidy, Vice President of the Gambia since 20 March 1997, and the late Senegambian historian, politician and advocate for Gambia’s independence during the colonial era – Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof. In Senegal they include Léopold Sédar Senghor and Abdou Diouf (first and second president of Senegal respectively).
