Pikine

{{Short description|City in Senegal}} {{Infobox settlement  | official_name = Pikine | other_name = | native_name =  | nickname = | settlement_type = City | motto =  | image_skyline = Pikine.gif | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | mapsize = 250px | map_caption = | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | pushpin_map = Senegal  | pushpin_label_position =  | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize =  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{SEN}} | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Dakar Region | subdivision_type2 = Department | subdivision_name2 = Pikine | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 =  | leader_name1 = | established_title =  | established_date =  | unit_pref =  | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 87 | area_land_km2 =  | area_water_km2 = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent =  | population_as_of = 2015 | population_footnotes = | population_demonym = Pikinois | population_note = | population_total = 1170791 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_density_sq_mi =  | timezone = GMT | utc_offset = +0 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = {{coord|14|45|0|N|17|24|0|W|type:city_region:SN|display=inline,title}} | elevation_footnotes =  | elevation_m = | elevation_ft =  | postal_code_type =  | postal_code = | area_code = | website = | footnotes = }}

'''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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Demissie |first=Fassil |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TavaAAAAQBAJ&dq=Pikine&pg=PA60 |title=Postcolonial African Cities: Imperial Legacies and Postcolonial Predicament |date=2013-09-13 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-99138-0 |language=en}}</ref>

== 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,<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Prothmann |first=Sebastian |date=2018-10-01 |title=Urban Identities and Belonging: Young Men's Discourses about Pikine (Senegal) |url=https://journals.openedition.org/poldev/2749?lang=en |journal=International Development Policy {{!}} Revue internationale de politique de développement |language=en |issue=10 |pages=254–274 |doi=10.4000/poldev.2749 |issn=1663-9375}}</ref> and had a population on 50,000 by the end of the 1950s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pikine (Dakar - Senegal) {{!}} RUAF - Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture and Food Security |url=http://www.ruaf.org/node/500 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060816023953/http://www.ruaf.org/node/500 |archive-date=2006-08-16 |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=www.ruaf.org |language=en}}</ref>

More people moved to the city from eastern rural towns during the 1970s for job opportunities,<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Etoka |first=Salima |title=A City in the Making: An Analysis of the Built Environment, Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Pikine, Senegal |url=https://jstor.org/stable/community.34031045 |journal= |series=Trinity Student Scholarship. Trinity College Digital Repository |pages=15}}</ref> growing from 30,000 people in 1960, to 650,000 by 1988.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Clark |first1=Msia Kibona |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MqeDBQAAQBAJ&dq=Pikine&pg=PA120 |title=Hip Hop and Social Change in Africa: Ni Wakati |last2=Koster |first2=Mickie Mwanzia |date=2014-10-30 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing PLC |isbn=978-0-7391-9330-3 |pages=120 |language=en}}</ref>

Since the 1980s, the city has been unzoned.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Foley |first=Ellen E. |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt5hj46n |title=Your Pocket Is What Cures You: The Politics of Health in Senegal |date=2010 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=978-0-8135-4667-4 |pages=37–57; 84–95 |jstor=j.ctt5hj46n }}</ref> In 1998, Pikine was described by essayist {{Ill|Gérard Salem|fr}} as a city "without a real history".<ref name=":0" />

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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=QUARTIERS DU MONDE > PROJET QUARTIERS DU MONDE: HISTOIRES URBAINES > EQUIPES: PIKINE > PRÉSENTATION |url=http://www.quartiersdumonde.org/fra/qdm/pikine/presenta.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320214911/http://www.quartiersdumonde.org/fra/qdm/pikine/presenta.php |archive-date=2007-03-20 |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=www.quartiersdumonde.org}}</ref>

The Mbeubeusse Landfill, the Dakar region's sole waste facility, is situated in Pikine.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Myers |first=Garth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TfOfCwAAQBAJ&dq=Pikine&pg=PA141 |title=Urban Environments in Africa: A Critical Analysis of Environmental Politics |date=2016-02-24 |publisher=Policy Press |isbn=978-1-4473-2295-5 |pages=141 |language=en}}</ref>

== Healthcare == Healthcare in Pikine is lackluster<ref>{{Cite book |last=Foley |first=Ellen E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bLhGMUYE0GoC&dq=Pikine&pg=PA86 |title=Your Pocket Is What Cures You: The Politics of Health in Senegal |date=2009-12-03 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=978-0-8135-4907-1 |language=en}}</ref> and has three hospitals to serve its population.<ref name=":1" /> The local dog population—mainly strays belonging to children—is infected with rabies, and in 1987, 500 dogs were vaccinated for the virus.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Akakpo |first1=A. J. |last2=Bornarel |first2=P. |last3=Sarradin |first3=P. |last4=Leye |first4=S. M. |last5=Alambedji |first5=R. |date=1990 |title=[Socio-ethnology and role of the dog in the Pikine district (suburban zone of Dakar - Senegal)] |journal=Dakar Medical |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=99–105 |issn=0049-1101 |pmid=2131203}}</ref>

== Transportation == Pikine has three roads, which often get congested. Its primary forms of transportation are buses and car rapides.<ref name=":1" />

== Culture == The people of Pikine are known by the demonym 'Pikinois'.<ref name=":1" />

Pikine is home to football club AS Pikine, who play at Stade Al Djigo in Pikine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Summary - Pikine - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos - Soccerway |url=https://int.soccerway.com/teams/senegal/pikine/17574/ |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=int.soccerway.com}}</ref>

The national stadium for Senegalese wrestling is located in Pikine, and seats 20,000.<ref>{{Cite web |last=AfricaNews |date=2018-07-23 |title=National wrestling arena opens in Dakar |url=https://www.africanews.com/2018/07/23/national-wrestling-arena-opens-in-dakar/ |access-date=2025-07-30 |website=Africanews |language=en}}</ref>

Africulturban, a cultural center, is located in Pikine. It was founded by rapper Matador.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Bior |first=Ayen |date=2023-02-28 |title=Senegal's artists are fighting the system with a mic and spray paint |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/02/28/1136548225/climate-change-senegal-art-music-hip-hop |access-date=2025-06-20 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref>

==Notable people== {{Expand section|date=July 2025|small=no}} *Papa Malick Ba (born 1980), footballer *Mouhamed Barro (born 1995), basketball player *Gee Bayss (born 1970), DJ *Pape Abou Cissé (born 1995), footballer *Fallou Diagne (born 1989), footballer *Mbaye Diagne (1958–1994), military officer *Papé Diakité (born 1992), footballer *Pape Moussa Diakhatè (born 1989), footballer *Moussa Diallo (born 1990), footballer *Aïssatou Diamanka-Besland (born 1972), writer *Doudou Diaw (born 1975), footballer *Bamba Dieng (born 2000), footballer *Cheikhou Dieng (born 1993), footballer *Oumar Diouck (born 1994), footballer *Amara Diouf (born 2008), footballer *Pape Mour Faye (born 1987), basketball playee *Ibrahima Gueye (born 1978), footballer *Moussa Khoume Gueye (born 1985), footballer *Abdou Guirassy (born 1989), footballer *Mamadou Kassé Hann (born 1986), hurdler *Amadou Hott (born 1972), economist and investment banker *Alioune Kébé (born 1984), footballer *Aboubakary Koïta (born 1998), footballer *Andreas Manga (born 1980), footballer *Matador, rapper *Pathé Mboup (born 2003), footballer *Amath Ndiaye (born 1996), footballer *Mamy Ndiaye (born 1986), footballer *Momar Ndoye (born 1992), footballer *Abdoulaye Niang (born 1983), footballer *Joseph Niouky (born 1986), footballer *Christian Sagna (born 1982), footballer *Safietou Sagna (born 1994), footballer *Kor Sarr (1975–2019), footballer and manager *Mamadou Seck (born 1947), politician *Thione Seck (1955–2021), singer-songwriter *Talla Sylla (born 1966), politician *Émile Thiakane (born 1991), footballer *Zourdine Thior (born 1997), footballer *Zargo Touré (born 1989), footballer

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Populated places in Dakar region Category:Communes of Senegal