Joal-Fadiouth

Joal-Fadiouth is a village in Senegal located at the extreme end of the petite-coste(  small-coast) , in the south-east of Dakar.

It brings together in reality two villages, Joal - the largest -, established on the coastline, and Fadiouth - the most visited -, an artificial island that consists of shell middens and connected to the coast by a wooden bridge.

Joal Fadiouth Cemetery(graveyard) ,the shells , has the feature to be a commonplace for the Catholics and the Muslims. Symbol of the religious tolerance in Senegal, it is accessed through a wooden bridge.

History

The installation of the Serers in this area could be explained by the progress of the Almoravids, who forced them to the eleventh century to leave the Valley of Senegal River to come and occupy the Petite Côte(small-coast) and Sine region. Joal and Fadiouth could also have been founded by the Guelwar when they were driven out of the Kingdom of the Gabou. Both versions find their justification easily if they consider the most common surnames today.
 

During the colonial period  seen, as succeeded the Portuguese, Dutch, French and English, and Joal became one of the biggest trading posts in  Western of Senegal. The development of the triangular trade also promotes the penetration of Christians and from 1636 missionaries were settled on the coast. But evangelism meets strong resistance and it is only in the nineteenth century that Christianity begins to take the importance, thanks to the French men in particular. In the year 1850 a mission was finally erected in the village and the first priest was ordained in 1885.
 

It was during that time they reported that the passage of the founder of the Toucouleur empire El Hadj Oumar Tall Joal, as evidenced by the mosque was  built in his honor.

An important architectural heritage recalls this past greatness, but most of the structures - including the Governor's Palace - are at risk of deterioration.
 

Geography

The village stretches along the coast, on a length of 10 km, between Ngazobil and Palmarin.

In addition to these two villages, the closest towns are Ndianda, Ndiarogne, Fadial,Diakhanor, Palmarin, Ngalou Séssène and Ngalou Sam Sam.

Dakar, the capital, lies 114 km.

The village territory  covers 5 035 hectares, of which 5 023 to Joal and 12 for Fadiouth .

source https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joal-Fadiouth