Recently, we started a new chapter in my Spanish 100 class focused on the different perceptions of youth and old age in our respective communities and in America in general. As a “grandma’s little baby” I feel that it was my duty to honor my two grand- mothers, as best I can, with a blog post today while enjoying the timely moment of the topic is framed in.
Demographically, older people( 65 and above) and children are the most vulnerable portion of the population. Consequently the conditions in which they live and the way they are treated are generally great indicators of a state of a country’s socioeconomic climate. Different cultures vary in the way they perceive and treat their elderly. In this post we will discuss the the inherent respect that is due to elderly people in most African countries, more specifically in Senegal.
An old African proverb says “when an old person dies, a library burns down”. In other words, the social role of the elderly, in most African cultures, is that they are the carriers of knowledge and wisdom for that they have lived longer and experienced more than other generations. For that reason, they are highly respected and valued among the society. They are prioritized in the household and are the highest authority in the family. In instances where a decision is to be made regarding family members, whether it be grandchildren or children, the final decision is generally heavily influenced by the older person in the family.
In the Senegalese culture, by virtue of their grips on life formatted by years and years of experience, it is believed that the word of an old person, or more respectful an “ancient” person, is almost equated to undeniable fact. The elderly are generally carriers of history as most of our languages are not written languages but rather oral languages. Similarly to ancient manuscripts or books, they are treated with utmost care and affection by their families. When food is being served, they are served first; when something is insufficient, they get the priority and; when they need, we run to satisfy them.
