Commonly called “lovers’ day”, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in several countries including Senegal. To see the importance some people give to this day, one would be tempted to believe it is a celebration that has its origins in our country. Gifts, flowers, invitations, nothing is left to make this day unforgettable. To see how the event is celebrated by lovers under our skies, the editorial staff of Seneweb gave the floor to three couples who told us regarding their love story.
They are young and married for less than a year. Valentine’s Day 2022 is the first that the Sow couple will celebrate as husband and wife. We tried to find out more regarding this young couple before trying to make Mr. Sow spill the beans regarding the surprises he plans to give his better half at the party.
The adage says that the misfortune of some is the happiness of others. The first meeting of this young couple can fit into this framework. Indeed, things went very quickly between them. They met during the second period of the curfew which concerned just Dakar and Thiès. Mr. Sow wanted to help people who were waiting for the bus and fate rewarded his nice gesture by making one of the passengers his better half. They had left to share just the way back and today, “we share everything: the way there and back and the house (laughs)”, adds Mr. Sow.
For this first Valentine’s Day, the latter intends to put the small dishes in the big ones. He took advantage of a phone call that Mrs. Sow had just received to whisper in our ear that he had bought a pretty gold adornment that he intends to hide on a plate, during the dinner that Mrs. D-Day, to surprise his wife. A surprise that will undoubtedly please his better half.
“Because of work, we won’t be able to go out, but we are going to celebrate this first Valentine’s Day well at home,” concludes the young couple.
Arm in arm, these two young people who wear almost the same colors of clothes are foreign students who do not want to reveal their nationality, but will tell us more regarding their relationship which has lasted for more than two years.
Indeed, Ange and her lover met in a local private university and the pleasure of finding a compatriot in a country where you feel alone was the trigger for this love they feel mutually. On a walk to the monument of the African Renaissance, these expatriates admit that Valentine’s Day is better celebrated in Senegal than at home.
“This is the second time we celebrate Valentine’s Day here in Senegal. But it’s great, we feel the party atmosphere everywhere, at the market, in the street, on TV…”, declares the young girl who does not let go of her lover’s hand as if to secure her property.
However, for the party, they do not intend to go crazy; a dinner out will do, they say.
Finally, to be able to compare the love of young people to that of veterans, we questioned a sexagenarian who was walking with his wife on the ledge. We took advantage of a little moment of rest that they had agreed to learn more regarding their way of celebrating Valentine’s Day following more than 30 years of marriage.
Very reluctant at first, Mr. Ndiaye, not to name her, lets us know that “love has no special day; it is celebrated every day with all those we love, but not necessarily between partners only”.
In the way of celebrating February 14, he believes that when we are used to giving each other small gifts, Valentine’s Day ends up passing as an ordinary day.
Finally, Mr. and Mrs. Ndiaye wanted to give some advice to the young couples they invite to protect their privacy and avoid exposing themselves too much on social networks, because to live happily, you have to live hidden.
We hope that these tips will not fall on deaf ears and that they will be applied by these young couples who tend to separate quickly these days. Love yourself and hide, that is the lesson to be learned.
Author: FATIMATA DIOP BA – Seneweb.com
