For many, Africa is still a relatively unknown continent, characterized by the “Exotic” but also, by hardship, catastrophe, and war. Since 1992, the Freundeskreis Tambacounda has strived to convey that Africa is much more differentiated than commonly perceived. To understand, you must know. Throughout the years we have put on events, seminars, study trips, and visited many schools in Hannover so that we can familiarize people with West Africa, Senegal, and the small town of Tambacounda. Children and adolescents’ interest in African culture especially shows us that much good can be done through our efforts to impart a more accurate picture of Africa at an early age.  At the same time, we initiate and support development projects in Senegal.

For centuries, especially during colonialism, West Africans were enslaved. Millions upon millions were bought by Europeans and taken to America. Entire land areas were determined “depopulated.” The slave trade was a very lucrative business for the predominately European slave handler, but for the enslaved Africans, it was entirely cruel. The triangular trade showcases this injustice: Ships from Europe brought iron tools and trinkets, such as glass beads, to exchange for slaves in Africa and then transported their human cargo to America, where the slaves were again exchanged for sugar, cotton, and spices for Europe.