The Baynunk language by linguist Sokhna Bao-Diop, Ph.D student in African linguistics.

Baynunk is spoken in Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau. It belongs to the Niger-Congo language family (North Atlantic branch). The language counts around 6 000 speakers and is considered endangered by the UNESCO.

Sorosoro sent a filming crew to Senegal in April and March 2010, as part of our collaboration with the Sénélangues project launched by the CNRS based LLACAN lab dedicated to « Speech, languages and cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa ».

Sokhna Bao-Diop, Ph.D student in linguistics and member of the Sénélangues project, was on the spot with out filming crew. She gives us here a full presentation of the Baynunk language.

So we’re back on the road to Casamance, with the fresh memories of not-so-relaxing filming sessions (the region is the scene of regular tensions with the local rebels), yet the amazing images we got in return were well worth the aventure. Here’s a little glimpse, and the rest is on its way…

Linguist: Sokhna Bao-Diop

Image & sound: Muriel Lutz, assisted by Cheikh Tidiane Sall

Editing: Caroline Laurent

Video created within the ANR Sénélangues project