Pikine

City in Senegal From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pikine is a city and the capital of the Pikine department, in the Dakar region in Senegal. The largest suburb of Senegalese capital Dakar, as of the 2013 Census, it had a population of 1,170,791. It is the second-largest city in Senegal, behind Dakar.[1]

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Pikine
Pikine is located in Senegal
Pikine
Pikine
Coordinates: 14°45′0″N 17°24′0″W
Country Senegal
RegionDakar Region
DepartmentPikine
Area
  Total
87 km2 (34 sq mi)
Population
 (2015)
  Total
1,170,791
  Density13,000/km2 (35,000/sq mi)
DemonymPikinois
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
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History

Situated on a former French military base, illegal immigrants were sent to the site of Pikine in the early 1950s to ease a growing housing crisis in the Cap-Vert. Incorporated by colonial officials in 1952, the community's fast growth caused it to surpass its legal boundaries and urbanize,[2] and had a population on 50,000 by the end of the 1950s.[3]

More people moved to the city from eastern rural towns during the 1970s for job opportunities,[4] growing from 30,000 people in 1960, to 650,000 by 1988.[5]

Since the 1980s, the city has been unzoned.[6] In 1998, Pikine was described by essayist Gérard Salem [fr] as a city "without a real history".[2]

Pikine is separated into two: 'regular' Pikine, and 'irregular' Pikine. 'Regular' Pikine encompasses development before the 1970s, while 'irregular' Pikine are the post-1970s shanty town.[7]

The Mbeubeusse Landfill, the Dakar region's sole waste facility, is situated in Pikine.[8]

Healthcare

Healthcare in Pikine is lackluster[9] and has three hospitals to serve its population.[4] The local dog population—mainly strays belonging to children—is infected with rabies, and in 1987, 500 dogs were vaccinated for the virus.[10]

Transportation

Pikine has three roads, which often get congested. Its primary forms of transportation are buses and car rapides.[4]

Culture

The people of Pikine are known by the demonym 'Pikinois'.[4]

Pikine is home to football club AS Pikine, who play at Stade Al Djigo in Pikine.[11]

The national stadium for Senegalese wrestling is located in Pikine, and seats 20,000.[12]

Africulturban, a cultural center, is located in Pikine. It was founded by rapper Matador.[13]

Notable people

References

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