To Beat the Same French Horse

St. Louis was built by (and for) the French, and was the capital of French West Africa until 1902 when the capital was moved to Dakar. It remained the capital of Senegal and Mauritania until “independence.” It’s a pretty city—or at least the island where the French used to live is pretty—but sadly it’s crumbling. It reminded me of La Habana Vieja with its decaying facades and rotting windows and doors. Then again like in Havana, the city has more pressing concerns than restoring its historical center, like feeding and caring for its residents. But if they ever get around to issues of presentation, they really need to change the names of the streets. The main square in St. Louis is named after Louis Faidherbe, the first French governor of Senegal. Why? Are you not independent? Why is your main square named after your colonizer? Why? I am not even Senegalese and it drives me crazy. Two of the main streets in Dakar are named after Faidherbe and de Gaulle, while Mandela and MLK get two tiny streets downtown. People need to get their heroes straight. I mean, shit, is it that hard? It’s a simple test, did this person want your freedom or not? If not then they don’t get a street. The only thing that should be named after the French is the local garbage dump.