In Dakar, during Ramadan, the capital transforms. The day gently fades away, while the city comes alive at night: shops, bakeries, and restaurants stay open late, and entire families gather on balconies or in the streets to share a meal. Impromptu meals abound, and the streets experience a nightlife more vibrant than during the day. The Muslim community then experiences the fast and the breaking of the fast with a special fervor, a blend of solidarity and celebration.

But for those who don't fast, this period can be more complicated, especially since this year the Muslim and Catholic communities will be fasting at the same time. Two Gabonese women, who have been living in Dakar for several years, describe the challenges they face each year. "I'm usually forced to fast too," one of them confides. "If you eat while others are fasting, you're reminded of it, and sometimes you're looked at as if you were a sinner rather than a human being." The persistent stares and judgments, sometimes unintentional, become a constant source of pressure.

Daily life is also changing on a practical level. Bakeries and shops experience significant influxes of customers at the time of breaking the fast, forcing some to change their habits. "You have to eat bread when you break your fast, because if you get up a little late, there isn't any left. And sometimes, you have to eat at home, avoiding everyone's gaze," explains one of the women.

Despite these constraints, they maintain a positive outlook: "This year, I think Muslims will be happier because Ramadan falls at the same time for everyone. But for those who do not fast, I feel sorry for them," adds one of them.

When Ramadan brings people together: between conviviality, coffee, and shared bread

For others, this holy period is rather pleasant. A journalism student, Yann Kassa, says: "It's one of my favorite times of year. The Muslim community is sociable: coffee and bread are offered on every street corner. Having lunch during the day is still not easy, but I manage."

Ms. Richie, a professor at ISM who has lived here for over ten years and is the mother of young school-aged children, is adapting to the period by baking bread during this time: "With my children, it has become a habit, I bake bread and prepare accordingly to face this period."

These accounts shed light on a rarely discussed reality: Ramadan in Dakar affects not only those who fast, but also those who observe it from afar, who face prejudice, social constraints, and the challenge of daily adjustment. It's an experience that calls for understanding and tolerance in a city where religion, culture, and urban life are inextricably intertwined.