Senu was a Nubian mercenary serving in the Egyptian army; he lived and was buried at Gebelein, where a contingent of Nubian troops was for a long time garrisoned. The Nubians evidently intermarried with the local population. Senu's wife is portrayed as fair-skinned whilst his son and the family's servants are all shown as dark complexioned.

In addition to the members of his household Senu included two of his dogs on his stele; they sit obediently before him, ears pricked.