2. Mbokk yi – Family: How To Easily Talk About Family in Wolof

Welcome to the second Wolof Class: Mbokk yi – Family. Yesterday, I taught you how to survive your first conversation in Wolof. Today, we are going to continue and talk about the people we most care about: suñu mbokk yi (our family members). Yesterday we celebrated the independence of Senegal, but today we continue the Wolof class. Since I have been traveling to Senegal, I have learned a lot about family. Mostly, what it means in Senegal, culturally. Before we get into the subject: don’t forget to join the SeneGambia Vibes Club on ClubHouse where we do a Wolof class each Saturday! Until Saturday, I will be posting a Wolof class on YouTube. The video will contain a dialogue about the subject of that class and then we will dissect it. I will also share additional information on my Instagram and a downloadable syllabus in each blog for the class! – Let’s get into the second class: Mbokk yi – Family.

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1. Nuyoo – Greetings: How To Survive Your First Wolof Conversation

Nuyoo - Greetings

Welcome to the first Wolof Class: Nuyoo – Greetings! For this years celebration of Senegal’s independence, I wanted to do a Wolof class. Since 2010, I have been learning Wolof bit by bit by going to Senegal almost each year. Not only that, but I consciously decided that I wanted to experience living there. Eventually I did my internship and research for my thesis in Dakar too. After graduation, I decided to buy a one-way ticket and ended up living in Senegal for over a year. When I came back, I finally gave into watching Senegalese shows such as Maîtresse d’un homme marié. Today, I work as an interpretor and use the Wolof language here in the Netherlands. Also, I recently joined the SeneGambia Vibes Club on ClubHouse where we do a Wolof class each Saturday! For a week, I will be posting a Wolof class on YouTube. The video will contain a dialogue about the subject of that class and then we will dissect it. I will also share additional information on my Instagram and a downloadable syllabus in each blog for the class! – Let’s get into the first class: Nuyoo – Greetings.

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Confidence: a powerful way to reflect on it

For my birthday, I wanted to reflect on confidence and what it means to me. I remember watching a Slumber Party episode with Shameless Maya and Shannon Boodram. They invited Timothy DeLaGhetto and Winnie Harlow to talk about confidence. At one point, Winnie Harlow was asked about what it meant for her. She said the following: “I was born with it, then I lost it and gained it back by deciding my original idea of myself was more important and more relevant.” I want to use this post to talk more about what this quote means to me. Also, I want to shed light on how I relate to it reflecting on my own confidence throughout my life. Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild one!

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Dhalinyaro (youth, jeunesse) – review

Dhalinyaro - Youth, jeunesse

For the first post of 2021, I recently watched Dhalinyaro a Djiboutan movie about friendship between three girls. In my last review, you can read all about Maîtresse d’un homme marié, which started its second season already! Due to being stuck in quarantine, I have a lot more time to watch movies, read books and write blogposts! Therefore, I want to talk about the movie Dhalinyaro. The movie is about three girlfriends: Deka, Asma and Hibo, who have their own struggles. Let’s get into this movie.

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Braid-out and Twist-out: a comparison

Today, I’m excited to share with you a side by side of a braid-out and a twist-out. Yes, it has been a while since I shared a hairblog. I believe the last one was when I wore my bantu knots in Dakar about a year ago. That aside, with quarantine I decided to keep myself busy and try something new! For reference, in a previous video, I showed you how I make my own aloe vera juice/gel. After this video, I definitely wanted to test the aloe vera and try out a braid-out AND a twist-out. Honestly, I actually love BOTH! Also, it has been a while since I updated you on my hair. Let’s get into comparing two of the most popular natural hairstyles, shall we?!

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#BlackLivesMatter, why is it so important and powerful?

December 5th, we celebrate Sinterklaas and you can still read Why Black Pete is Racist. To celebrate, I want to talk about why #BlackLivesMatter is important. On May 25th earlier this year, George Floyd died at the hands of police in Minneapolis. He allegedly past a counterfit 20$ bill which resulted in him being arrested. However, the police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck for almost 9 minutes and during the last 3 minutes, George’s body didn’t move and he had no pulse. The brave 17-year old Darnella Frazier filmed this whole ordeal and made sure the rest of the world saw it too. The death of George Floyd sparked a world wide movement against racism and police brutality. However, why is this so significant?, we have a lot to unpack here, so let’s get uncomfortable.

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Summer 2020 (cancelled?!): an update

I have not updated my blog in a long time! I apologize for leaving you guys hanging, but I HAD to take a break. However, your favorite Senegalese Twisted girl is BACK! And boy, there has been enough going on in the world that we can talk about… I mean, summer 2020 is basically cancelled, because: corona virus? Also, can you relate to the following? Any time I read corona virus, I hear it in Cardi B’s voice.. (corona vyrusss) But, I digress! Let’s get into what has been happening in this Summer 2020 update!

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Senegalese baptism

Senegalese baptism - nguenté

After sharing my experience at Senegalese weddings, I think it’s finally time for a traditional Senegalese baptism, or as we say in wolof nguenté! I have actually attended quite a few baptisms, however, this one is from my cousin Awa’s second-born. Just like Senegalese weddings, Senegalese baptisms actually have different parts, but can be very different. Let’s just get into the ceremony that (usually) comes after weddings!

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