They are people who once practiced agro-pastoral activities. Nowadays, agricultural activities predominate their lives. Livestock has been virtually decimated by repeated droughts in the late 1990s. The Laalaa have a younger generation of many intellectuals, a typical Serer traite.[3][4]
The number of speakers of their language is 12,000 in Senegal excluding the Gambia where they are also present.[5] As part of the Serer ethnic group, they collectively make up the third largest ethnic group in Senegal numbering over 1.8 million.[6]
The Laalaa (also called Léhar) are mostly found in the north of Thies around the villages of Pambaal, Bargaro and Duuña.[7]
They have about 18 villages namely: Baam, Bapat, Bargaro, Besi, Bicoona, Duuñë, Gogona, Haak, Jalkin, Jëëfuñ, Joy, Kaadaan, Kii, Kolobaan, Pambal, Sowaaboon, Tuuba and Yindën. The Laalaa are also found outside the region of Thies. A large Laalaa community migrated between 1984 and 1986 to Saal Ngeen in the Tambacounda Region.[8]
They practice the Serer religion which involves ancestor veneration, covering all dimensions of life, death and space.[9][10] Some Serer-Laalaas are Christians or Muslims whose conversion is very recent (like most Serer converts to Islam[11]).[11][self-published source] Both the Christian and Muslim groups mix it with Serer religion whilst the Ultra orthodox follow orthodox Serer religion.
^Manirakiza Elvis.『L'impact de la croissance et de l'inégalité sur l'évolution de la pauvreté au Sénégal.』Université de Sherbrooke. 2009. ISBN0-494-42990-9
^Gilles Blanchet.『Élites et changements en Afrique et au Sénégal.』1983
^Thiaw, Issa Laye, "La Religiosite de Seereer, Avant et pendant leur Islamisation", Ethiopiques no: 54, Revue semestrielle de Culture Négro-Africaine. Nouvelle série, volume 7, 2e Semestre 1991
Gambian Studies No. 17. “People of the Gambia. I. The Wolof. With notes on the Serer and Lebou” By David P. Gamble & Linda K. Salmon with Alhaji Hassan Njie. San Francisco 1985
Senegambian Ethnic Groups: Common Origins and Cultural Affinities Factors and Forces of National Unity, Peace and Stability. By Alhaji Ebou Momar Taal. 2010
