Aspects symboliques et usages sociaux du lait et des produits laitiers chez les pasteurs peuls du Sahel sénégalais

Data concerning the symbolic aspects and social uses of milk and dairy products were collected in the Ferlo region. This vast geographical area, classified as sylvopastoral zone, is located in the Sahelian part of Senegal. Since the climate crisis of the 1970s, which affected the Sahel countries, development and anti-desertification projects have been carried out there. The Ferlo population is predominantly Fulani, but some families are also Wolof or Moorish. Based on in-depth anthropological research (direct observations, semi-directive interviews), the author highlights the symbolic value, cosmetic and therapeutic virtues embodied by milk and its derivatives, according to the people he spoke to. This field study in the heart of the Senegalese Sahel reveals the persistence of ancient beliefs and practices related to the use of milk products, despite the social change underway in this area even before the advent of French colonization.