title: Senegalese people in France
text: # Senegalese people in France
  
  Senegalese people in France (French: Les sénégalais en France) consist of migrants from Senegal and their descendants living and working in France.
  
  ## History
  
  ### Before World War II
  
  Before World War II, Senegalese in France were a huge minority. The first Senegalese people in France were mostly Senegalese Tirailleurs who served France in World Wars and who settled in France after war. There were also navigators in ports and Senegalese students in French universities. There were also Senegalese domestic workers in France at that time.
  
  ### After World War II
  
  From the late 19th to the early 20th centuries, the Senegal River valley experienced a great deal of climate change. Because there were few industries in Senegal, people emigrated to France to find jobs. The first wave of Senegalese immigration to France took place, like other sub-Saharian waves, around 1964.
  
  ## Notable people
  
  * Patrick Vieira, footballer
  * Abdou Diallo, footballer
  * Ibrahima Diallo, footballer
  * Bafétimbi Gomis, footballer
  * Aïssa Maïga, actress
  * Benjamin Mendy, footballer
  * MHD, rapper
  * Omar Sy, actor
  * Rama Yade, politician
  * Mamadou Sakho, footballer
  * Ferland Mendy, footballer
  * Youssouf Sabaly, footballer
  * Kalidou Koulibaly, footballer
  * Édouard Mendy, footballer
  * Bernard Mendy, footballer
  * Akon, singer
  