Official Name: | Dagana |
Settlement Type: | Town and commune |
Total Type: | commune |
Mapsize: | 250px |
Pushpin Map: | Senegal |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Type1: | Region |
Subdivision Name1: | Saint-Louis Region |
Unit Pref: | metric |
Area Total Km2: | 5.526 |
Population As Of: | 2023 census |
Population Footnotes: | [1] |
Population Total: | 26568 |
Population Density Km2: | 4,808 |
Timezone: | GMT |
Utc Offset: | +0 |
Coordinates: | 16.4833°N -51°W |
Dagana is a town and urban commune situated in the Saint-Louis Region of Senegal and it is the capital of the Dagana Department. Dagana borders Mauritania across the Senegal river.
The different ethnic groups in Dagana include Wolof, Fula (ff|Fulɓe; fr|Peul or Peulh), and Moor.
The village was founded in the 14th century.[2] In 1820 the French installed a fort in Dagana, which was expanded over time.
On June 18th 1833, Njembot Mbodj, lingeer of Waalo, married the Trarza Moorish leader Mohamed El Habib in Dagana.[3]
In March 1908 the French fort was unsuccessfully attacked by the marabout Aly Yoro Dia, who was killed in the attempt.[4]
In Season 5, Episode 3 of The Grand Tour, presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May use discarded plastic bottles to float cars across the Senegal River at Dagana, as part of a homage to the Dakar Rally.