The verdict in three sentences
If you already know the basics of JavaScript, React and Next.js are the most in-demand skill in 2026 for landing a job or remote gigs from Dakar. A local bootcamp costs 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA (about 760 to 2,290 EUR) and mainly makes sense for a true beginner; a developer who has the basics saves time with a targeted course. The Kolonell React and Next.js course, 100,000 FCFA (152 EUR) for 24 hours, has you ship two live applications for your portfolio.
What a React developer earns in Dakar in 2026
Dakar SMEs no longer want just a brochure site: they want online ordering, appointment booking, a dashboard. Fintech and logistics start-ups, IT service firms and foreign companies hiring remotely look for people who can ship a fast, tested, search-friendly interface. The figures below are 2026 ballparks observed on the market, with no guarantee.
| Situation | Pay (2026 ballpark) | Main requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Internship at an IT firm or start-up | 50,000 to 150,000 FCFA a month | Portfolio with 1 or 2 projects |
| First junior job | 200,000 to 400,000 FCFA a month | Live projects, clean Git history |
| Experienced junior, 1 to 2 years | 350,000 to 600,000 FCFA a month | Next.js, tests, deployment |
| Local freelance, SME app | 400,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA per project | Ordering or booking app delivered turnkey |
| Remote gig (Europe, diaspora) | 150 to 300 EUR a day | Technical English, verifiable references |
A 10-day remote gig at 150 EUR brings in 1,500 EUR, about 984,000 FCFA: more than two months of a local junior salary. That is why competition is fierce there and why the portfolio counts for more than the degree.
Bootcamp or short course: how to choose
A 3- to 6-month bootcamp suits someone starting from zero who needs a daily structure. If you already write functions, handle arrays and call an API with fetch, you are mostly paying for weeks you already know.
| Option (2026 ballpark) | Cost | Duration | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free docs and videos | 0 FCFA | Unlimited | Rich content, no graded projects |
| Local bootcamp in Dakar | 500,000 to 1,500,000 FCFA | 3 to 6 months | Daily structure, zero to full-stack |
| Private React tutoring | 10,000 to 20,000 FCFA per hour | Varies | Personal attention, high cost |
| Kolonell React and Next.js | 100,000 FCFA (152 EUR) | 24 h, 8 modules | 40 lessons, 97 exercises, 8 projects, certificate |
| Full web development track | 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 | 5 levels | From first code to full-stack |
The course React and Next.js: build modern web applications, taught in French, is level 4 (Intermediate) of the Web development track. It builds on level 3, JavaScript, and leads to level 5, Full-stack JavaScript developer, which adds APIs and databases. If your basics are shaky, the full track at 350,000 FCFA instead of 450,000 still costs less than most bootcamps.
What you build in 24 hours
| Block | Concepts | Project |
|---|---|---|
| React, modules 1 to 3 | Components, props, state, lists, validated forms | Online ordering for the Chez Fatou restaurant |
| Advanced React, modules 4 and 5 | Effects, custom hooks, useReducer, Context | Cart and global state |
| Next.js, module 6 | App Router, Server Components, SEO | Booking app for the Awa Beauté salon |
| Server-side Next.js, module 7 | Server Actions, Zod validation, protected admin area | Booking back office |
| Production, module 8 | Tests, performance on mobile networks, deployment | Tested, live application |
Those two live apps are your strongest argument with a Dakar recruiter or a remote client.
Mini case study
Learn this skill with Kolonell Academy
Short, practical online courses (taught in French), graded exercises, certificate. Pay with Wave or Orange Money.
Ousmane, 23, a computer science undergraduate in Dakar, taught himself JavaScript. He weighs a 900,000 FCFA bootcamp against the Kolonell course at 100,000 FCFA, paid with Wave. He picks the course, finishes it in 5 weeks and publishes both apps on GitHub.
Two months later, he delivers a booking app to a dental practice in Mermoz for 500,000 FCFA. The math: 500,000 minus 100,000 for the course leaves 400,000 FCFA, and the gap with the bootcamp is 800,000 FCFA saved. The course pays for itself on the first gig. This scenario is illustrative: landing a first client sometimes takes several months.
FAQ
Do I need to know JavaScript first?
Yes. The course assumes the basics: functions, arrays, the DOM and fetch. Without them, start with level 3 of the track, or take the full track at 350,000 FCFA.
What computer do I need?
A laptop with 8 GB of RAM is enough, about 200,000 to 350,000 FCFA second-hand in Dakar. A 4G connection is fine for the 24 hours of lessons.
Can I land remote gigs without English?
It is hard. Gigs at 150 to 300 EUR a day require at least reading documentation and writing in technical English.
Is the certificate enough to get hired?
No. The Kolonell certificate is verifiable online, but it is the 8 projects and 2 live apps that convince a recruiter.
How long before a first income?
As a ballpark, 2 to 6 months after the course for an internship, a gig or a first job, depending on your prospecting.
Take the next step. Enroll in React and Next.js: build modern web applications: 24 hours, 100,000 FCFA (152 EUR), verifiable certificate included. Pay with Wave or Orange Money. Questions? WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
