2007年VOA标准英语-Lebanese Immigrants Boost West African Commerce

By Naomi Schwarz
Dakar
10 July 2007

In West Africa, multiple generations of Lebanese have been vital members of the community since the early 1900s. Today, many say they retain a strong emotional connection to Lebanon, but, that Africa, where most were born, is home. Naomi Schwarz has more from Dakar in this second report of a five-part series on diaspora communities in West Africa. 

Lebanese children play outside a Dakar church, 10 Jul 2007

Church chants waft¹ through a downtown street on a Sunday morning. The style is Middle Eastern, but the location is Dakar, Senegal, in the heart of West Africa.

Emile Chehouane attends church service here, at Notre Dame² du Liban.

He was born in Senegal more than 70 years ago.

He says his parents emigrated from Lebanon in the 1920s looking for work. He has other relatives who ended up in America and elsewhere in the world.

It is estimated today that about 16 million Lebanese live outside Lebanon. Only about four million live in the country itself.

But they retain strong ties to the small middle-eastern country.

Zeina Zeidan chats with her mother in Arabic as she drives through downtown Dakar on her way home.

During the war last summer between Israel and Lebanon, Zeidan says, the Lebanese community watched the news avidly³ to find out what was happening back home.

As she speaks, her young son interjects from the back seat, showing that the emotional connection to Lebanon is ingrained at an early age.

Hezbollah made the Israelis run away, he says.

Zeidan is quick to say that she does not support terrorism or suicide bombers⁴.

She says expatriate Lebanese supported Hezbollah because they defended her country when the government and army did nothing.

But despite her interest in Lebanon, Zeidan and other Lebanese in Senegal say they also feel very strong connections to their African home.

Some Lebanese have lived in Senegal for decades, 10 Jul 2007

Like many Lebanese, Emile Chehouane speaks Wolof, Senegal's predominant African language, as well as he speaks French and Arabic.

Today the Lebanese embassy estimates there are more than 30,000 Lebanese in Senegal, as well as significant Lebanese populations in other countries throughout the region. Most are Shi'ite Muslim, but there are also Sunnis, and Protestant, Orthodox, and Maronite Christians⁵. The community is close-knit across the diverse faiths.

The population is growing, but not because of new immigrants. The new Lebanese in West Africa are the third generation, children born here to parents also born in West Africa.

The first generation were key farmers and traders in peanuts, still one of Senegal's largest exports.

Today the majority of Lebanese work in commerce.

Lebanese in Senegal own many stores, 10 Jul 2007

They own stores that sell clothes, hardware, groceries, fabric⁶, furniture, and everything else. In some cases, the stores serve equally as venues⁷ for catching⁸ up with friends.

Many hold dual⁹ citizenship¹⁰ in Senegal and Lebanon, but participate in politics here.

Chehouane says he has served in several elected and unelected public service roles in Senegal, including member of his departmental council and president of his local Red Cross.

But despite the many ways African Lebanese have integrated into Senegalese life, they remain a community apart.

They marry within the Lebanese community, and form most of their closest friendships there too. It is not a question of discrimination they say, but a way to hold on to and share the culture they continue to hold dear.

1 waft   

v.飘浮，飘荡；n.一股；一阵微风；飘荡

参考例句：

• The bubble maker is like a sword that you waft in the air.吹出泡泡的东西就像你在空中挥舞的一把剑。
• When she just about fall over,a waft of fragrance makes her stop.在她差点跌倒时，一股幽香让她停下脚步。

2 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

3 avidly   

adv.渴望地，热心地

参考例句：

• She read avidly from an early age—books, magazines, anything. 她从小就酷爱阅读——书籍、杂志，无不涉猎。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Her melancholy eyes avidly scanned his smiling face. 她说话时两只忧郁的眼睛呆呆地望着他的带笑的脸。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

4 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

6 fabric   

n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织

参考例句：

• The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
• I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

7 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

8 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

9 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

10 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。