Top 156 Quotes & Sayings by Senegalese Authors

You have to believe in yourself and believe in what you are doing all the time.

I've learned to ignore the negative people and just be a living example of confidence and self-love.

Politics is politics; art is art. If you play a political role, you have to stop being an artist.

Democracy is constructed like an edifice, freedom by freedom, right by right, until it reaches its snapping point.

While in Paris, I got into modeling - photographers would literally stop me on the street.

My skin is dark and glows. It almost seems blue, and it's supersoft.

I grew up in Senegal, where more than 50 percent of the women bleach their skin, and skin bleaching is a huge deal. I grew up seeing my cousins and my aunts using it.

Sometimes it is difficult to play against teams who just drop back and try to defend.

I didn't have to listen to nobody or look how anybody wanted me to look. I just wanted to be myself and look however I want.

I didn't dream about becoming a professional: I dreamed about becoming the best in the world.

The first time I watched a World Cup game was in 2002. That was the first time Senegal had ever qualified for the World Cup, and it was great moment that I will never forget in my life. I was ten years old at the time, and that experience of watching my country in a World Cup is what inspired me to become a footballer.

Senegal needs to free itself, to rediscover its democracy.

We need more women of colour in fashion, period.

When you see the rival make a certain pass, you don't need to look behind you. You know 100 per cent that all your teammates will go with you.

My father used to tell me about how musicians don't have respect from people and he was afraid about my future.

If you want to be successful when you play, you have to be free in your mind, and that happens if you know that everything is taken care of - you just focus on the football.

I would prefer to play for and against an attacking team, but I am now used to playing against defensive teams.

I really want to bring the message of love that is Islam to people; bring something new to that familiar face.

You can't say when you are 25 years old that you know everything. You don't.

Western record companies haven't always dealt with African musicians in the best way. Giving them a lot of money and telling them they're going to be bigger than Phil Collins is the wrong way to do it!

Personally, it was always very difficult to find complexion products that match my shade.

Islam has been badly used by a certain ideology.

In my country - even though we have a lot of dark-skinned people - people think the lighter you are, the better you are. They think beauty has to do with being light-skinned. I think that's really wrong.

I want to inspire other young women of color and empower them. I want them to know that they can do and be anything they dream of.

It was a normal childhood, like the childhoods of all children my age: going to school, playing in the street with friends, spending time at home with my family.

I was a very good dribbler as a young player, but now that I've got more experience, there are some useless things that I don't do anymore.

Make Up For Ever has foundation options that work for me - and everyone.

Where I grew up, we had light-skinned models but not dark. Every time I would talk about being a model with my friends, they would start laughing out loud.

For those who feel the need to be bullies, I ignore them.

I'm someone who likes to listen, who likes to watch, and who likes to learn.

Celebrate yourself... and stay positive!

I really don't like not being able to help my teammates.

Ever since I started playing football, I've always taken the number 10 shirt.

I was born in Senegal in 1996. My mom moved to New York when I was two years old, so I was raised by my aunt back home.

I think people should know more of Africa in terms of its joie de vivre, its feeling for life. In spite of the images that one knows about Africa - the economic poverty, the corruption - there's a joy to living and a happiness in community, living together, in community life, which may be missing here in America.

Music is a language.

When I was in high school in Paris, some photographers wanted my photos and asked if I was interested in modeling. I wasn't interested because I wanted to get my education first. I was scared because I didn't know what I was getting into.

Diouf was one of the best players in the whole history of Senegal. He did a lot for the national team, and everybody knows and respects him for that.

When I was in school, we would always have running races. I was good at it. Always sprinting. I can run long distance, too.

I feel beautiful when my makeup looks great.

My very first account was @BlackBarbie, which is what my friends called me growing up. Then I thought, 'You can either call yourself that, or you can find something that will matter to dark-skinned girls.' So I came up with @melaniin.goddess.

I am a lucky boy.

In politics, sometimes you have to lie, or you make a promise that you cannot keep.

It's the rival that gives you the tempo depending on who is on the ball or who a pass is played to. That is the little secret.

Having support from family, friends - and now fans - definitely helps to affirm that I am worthy, loved, and beautiful. I hope everyone can see that in themselves and feel this way.

Since I was two or three years old, I remember always being with the ball. I would see kids playing on the street, and would join them.

It makes it easy for a player when you've got really good teammates and when everyone wants the same thing.

I want to inspire young girls and let them know that we are all goddesses inside and out.

It makes me proud to help girls realize that they don't have to change who they are.

I was a Barcelona fan. My favorite player was Ronaldinho. But I watched a lot of English football and admired lots of English teams.

I don't really see myself as an actor.

I have studied at the school of the world.

The message I have for my sisters is that how you look doesn't matter as long as you feel beautiful inside.

I prefer Liverpool. The way we play is good for all of our players.

Honestly, I don't know the word 'pressure,' because football is my job. I always enjoy it.

I work in the gym; twice a week, I do abdominals. It is very, very important. I do quick sessions, as I don't want to get big.

I just try to work harder and harder every day to improve and get better and better.

I look at my people, and I look at those who control them - the political elite. And the sad thing is that the elites are just not interested in the welfare of the people.

In my family, only my brother has a similar skin color. But in Senegal, the color is common.

People have made comments, calling me names like 'midnight' or 'mother of stars.' At first I confronted the bullies, but eventually I learned to tune out the negativity and just love myself more.