Before European settlers arrived, the history of the Saharan region was filled with settlements in large state entities-the Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire, and the Songhai Empire. The cores of these empires were located in the current Republic of Mali, so current-day Senegal was occupied in a peripheral position. A kingdom in the Ghana Empire, Tekrur, imported a lot of copper and wool, and commonly exported gold, a precious resource, and enslaved peoples. More political entities started to form in the 13th and 14th century, such as the Jolof Empire, which was founded by a voluntary confederacy of States. 

Senegal is comprised of multiple ethnic groups. These include the Wolof, the Serer, the Tukulor, and the Fulani. The Wolof is the largest ethnic group that occupies Senegal. Many languages, social systems, and religions are used in Senegal; often leading to tension or conflict among people.