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55-530: The following is a list of rulers of the Jolof Empire . The Jolof Empire ( French language – Diolof or Djolof ) was a West African state that ruled parts of Senegal and The Gambia from 1360 to 1890. The rulers were known as "Buur-ba Jolof". Their surnames were Njie (or Ndiaye). Names and dates taken from John Stewart's African States and Rulers (1989). Dates are approximative, and many are disputed by other historians. Jolof became part of

110-527: A Portuguese commander to put the prince back on the throne of Jolof. The objective was to put him on the throne and a fort at the mouth of the Senegal River. Neither goal was achieved. A dispute between the commander and the prince resulted in the former accusing the bumi of treachery and killing him. In the early 16th century, the Jolof Empire was still very powerful, and capable of fielding 100,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry. But succession disputes were not

165-628: A large delegation to Jolof to pay tribute to the Buurba there. In 1549, the damel ( dammeel in Wolof , often translated into European languages as "king") Dece Fu Njogu , having failed to send tribute to the Buurba Léléfoulifak for several years, sent his son Amary Ngone Sobel Fall to do so. Amary, aided by his uncle the Teigne of Baol , led an army to a lake called Danki, and left them there to go to

220-513: A later invention to celebrate the unity of the empire. Cayor certainly existed before its integration into the empire, as the kings lists preserved in oral history goes back as far as Jolof's. Under Jolof hegemony, Cayor was ruled by a Great Lamane traditionally elected by the other Lamanes from the Fall family of Palene Ded, who claimed descend from Ousmane Boune Afal, a companion of Mohammed, by means of Wagadou . Every year this Great Lamane would lead

275-513: A matrilineal one (uncle-nephew), as Biram Eler and Tase Daagulen were both members of the Jonai matrilineage. Between roughly 1455 and 1489, five buurba s would claim the throne, sowing chaos and civil war. In the 1480s, Jelen , the buumi or prince, was ruling the empire in the name of his brother Birayma Kuran Kan , known in Portuguese sources as Bur Birao. Tempted by the Portuguese trade, he moved

330-467: A slave. This match so enfuriated Ndiaye that he jumped into the Senegal River and began an aquatic life. He made his way downstream to Waalo . At this time, the area was divided into villages ruled by separate Lamanes , some of whom were engaged in a dispute over a wood near a prominent lake (in some versions, it is a dispute over a catch of fish). This almost led to bloodshed, but it was stopped by

385-424: A very autocratic government where personal armies and wealth often superseded constitutional values. The Jolof Empire included five coastal kingdoms from north to south: Waalo , Kayor , Baol , Sine and Saloum . All of these states were tributary to the land-locked state of Jolof. Each was governed by a ruler were chosen by their respective nobles. Each had practical autonomy but was expected to cooperate with

440-453: The Bour on important matters, and send regular tribute to Jolof. This did not always happen, however, and wars between the constituent kingdoms were common; provinces could gain or lose degrees of independence, or move from one king's control to another. Cayor Cayor ( Wolof : Kajoor ; Arabic : كاجور ) was from 1549 to 1876 the largest and most powerful kingdom that split off from

495-528: The Buurba' s court with a small escort. Poorly received by Léléfoulifak, he announced that his country had no need of a leader such as that. The Jolof-Jolof pursued them back to Danki, where the Cayor forces routed them and killed Léléfoulifak. The battle of Danki marked the end of the Jolof Empire's hold over Cayor. In the ensuing celebrations Dece Fu Njogu was killed in an accident, and Amary Ngone became damel. His uncle died soon afterwards, and he thus became

550-528: The Farba Demba War Sall. The Tyeddo class were warriors generally recruited among the slaves of the damel . Fiercely opposed to the strict practice of Islam advocated by the marabouts, they were renowned drinkers, brave fighters, and inveterate raiders, including within Cayor. Their depredations went a long way to creating unrest and promoting Islam among the population. Cayor peasants tended to deliberately produce less food than they could, as wealth

605-551: The Jolof Empire in what is now Senegal . Cayor was located in northern and central Senegal, southeast of Waalo , west of the kingdom of Jolof , and north of Baol and the Kingdom of Sine . Cayor (also spelled Kayor, Kadior, Cadior, Kadjoor, Nkadyur, Kadyoor, Encalhor, among others) comes from the Wolof endonym for the inhabitants "Waadyor" meaning "people of the joor ", a fertile soil found in northern Cayor. This distinguishes

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660-619: The Senegal Colony in 1889. Jolof Empire Wolof oral traditions relate that the Wolof were the earliest inhabitants of the region that became Jolof, which was named after a local chief Jolof Mbengue. The empire consisted mostly of Wolof, Serer and Fula from north of the Senegal River . The region was ruled by Lamanes of the Mbengue, Diaw and Ngom families. They were related to early rulers of neighboring kingdoms such as Baol . Jolof

715-470: The Senegal River and the Gambia River voluntarily submit to this man, which they did. Attempting to date Ndiadiane Ndiaye and the establishment of the Jolof Empire, John Donnelly Fage suggests, "the rise of the empire was associated with the growth of Wolof power at the expense of the ancient Sudanese state of Takrur, and that this was essentially a fourteenth-century development." Ogot proposes that

770-501: The Serer instead. Most of the marabouts in Cayor were Fulas from Futa Toro , but integrated into the Wolof population over time. There was a clear separation between the clerical and noble classes, although nobles and freemen could join the marabout class as talibe (disciples). Lat Jor 's acceptance of a marabout patron in Maba (sometimes referred to as his conversion to Islam) prompted

825-552: The Teigne of Baol , had been driven into exile. The French governor Louis Faidherbe , based in Saint-Louis , encouraged the clerics to rebel again. In 1859 the marabouts of the province of Ndiambour took advantage of the rumoured death of the young, weak damel to do so. Makodou Koumba returned from exile to help crush the rebellion. A brutal war resulted, with the reigning teigne Thié Yasin Ngoné Déguèn coming to support

880-608: The Trarza Emirate helped Maissa Bigué Ngoné Fall regain the throne, in return for yearly tribute and permission to raid in Cayor one month a year. In 1776, inspired by the rise of the Imamate of Futa Toro , the marabouts of Cayor again began to agitate for political power under the leadership of Malamin Sarr. Damel Amari Ngoone Ndela Kumba pre-emptively attacked, capturing Sarr's son and selling him into slavery. In response, some clerics did

935-645: The 1450s, then extended extended his authority over Takrur . Eler moved the capital from Njiayeen Sabur to Thieung. He was also likely responsible for subduing the Mandinka states on the northern bank of the Gambia, including Niumi , Badibu, Nyani , and Wuli , as the Mali Empire declined. Jolof would also expand its control over the gold trade, conquering Gajaaga and subsequently Bambuk , although Jean Boulègue argues of such conquest being very unlikely. Control over

990-493: The French over their attempts to impose a trade monopoly on the kingdom. During the 18th century, under the leadershup of Damel Maïsa Teindde Ouédji, Cayor annexed the Kingdom of Baol but was then embroiled in a succession dispute after his death. Baol regained its independence in 1756. During the 1750s and 60s, Cayor was repeatedly involved in wars against Waalo and Jolof , with the Buurba ruling as Damel 1759-60. The forces of

1045-471: The Jolof became permanently independent during a succession dispute in 1360 between two rival lineages within the Mali Empire . There is no consensus among scholars, however. The earliest centuries of Jolof's history are known only through oral histories, but few details have survived. During the relatively dry period (c. 1100–1500) the Jolof empire expanded soutwards and westwards, progressively 'Wolofizing'

1100-525: The Jolof confederacy: Cayor , Baol and Waalo , and the Serer states of Sine and Saloum . Beginning in the 1440s, Portuguese ships began to visit the coast, initially looking to capture slaves but soon shifting to trade. The Jolof expansion may have been assisted by the purchase of horses from these traders. At this time, Jolof was at the height of its power. Buurba Biram Njeme Eler , or possibly Cukli Njiklaan , conquered Namandirou in approximately

1155-471: The Waadjor forced and wounding Fall. The French pressured the damel to pay reparations, but he refused. At the ensuing negotiations at Tivaouane on October 6, 1886, a fight ensued and he was killed by a French lieutenant. Lat Jor died in battle soon afterwards, and the kingdom of Cayor ceased to exist as an independent, united state. Cayor society was highly stratified. The damel and nobles ( Garmi ) were at

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1210-437: The aftermath of this decisive victory of the old, secular order over reformist Islamists, tension continued to increase between the clerics and the nobility. During this period, contemporary writers began to refer to the ruling class as 'pagan' for the first time, although they still self-identified as Muslim. Birima Ngoné Latir was crowned damel in 1855, succeeding his uncle who had raised him after his father Makodou Koumba,

1265-567: The aristocracy, now threatened by the Buur of Saloum, appealed to the Teigne of neighboring Baol , Lat Sukaabe Fall for help. He took over Cayor and declared himself the Damel-Teigne , imposing the hegemony of his maternal line, the Geej, over the previously dominant Dorobe and Guelwaar matriclans. He also strengthened central power, coopted the marabouts with royal appointments, and frequently clashed with

1320-434: The breakup of the Mali Empire . Mali's slipping grip on its far-flung empire had allowed Jolof to become an empire in the first place. But now conflict was spreading to Jolof's northern territories. In 1513, Koli Tenguella led a strong force of Fulani and Mandinka into Futa Toro , seizing it from the Jolof and setting up his dynasty , and also destroying Namandirou . In 1520 the Serer kingdoms of Sine and Saloum in

1375-489: The construction of this railway ." In 1883 Lat Jor tried to replace the powerful Farba Demba War Sall, who defected to Samba Laobe Fall, Lat Jor's nephew and rival claimant to the throne. With French support, Samba soon took over Cayor. He ruled for 3 years, before quarreling with Alboury Ndiaye , Bourba of Jolof, and invading despite a treaty promising to inform the French before making war. Alboury attacked while Fall's exhausted troops were trying to set up camp, routing

1430-528: The empire had long been reduced to a rump state in the form of the Kingdom of Jolof . Throughout the different classes, intermarriage was rarely allowed. Women could not marry upwards, and their children did not inherit the father's superior status. However, women had some influence and role in government. The Lingeer was head of all women and very influential in state politics. She owned several villages that cultivated farms and paid tribute directly to her. There were also other female chiefs whose main task

1485-473: The first Damel-Teigne ruling over both Cayor and Baol. He proclaimed a new constitution for the kingdom and founded a new, more centrally located capital at Mboul. In the years after his accession Jolof invaded several times attempting to re-assert their hegemony but were defeated. They would not dare to attack Cayor again until Amary's death, after a 44-year reign. During the height of the Tubenaan movement in

1540-563: The invading army crossed the Ferlo Desert , the damel removed food stores and poisoned wells so that the exhausted Torodbe could not replenish their supplies. At the battle of Bunxoy, Amari Ngoone Ndela destroyed the Futanke force and captured Abdul Kader himself. He treated him well, as a respected religious leader, then sent him home laden with gifts after the Torodbe had elected a new almamy. In

1595-450: The king and was the official representation of the clerical class at the court. Traditionally the damel himself was not purely hereditary, but was designated by a 4-member council consisting of: The damel nominated several other important political positions. The lingeer was generally the oldest woman of the ruling matrilineage, frequently the king's mother, sister, or cousin. Yacine Bubu's replacement as lingeer by her younger sister

1650-457: The kingdoms of the Gambia also gave the Buurba some access to the growing commerce there. Upon Buurba Biram Njeme Eler 's death, the succession was disputed between his son, Bokar Bige, and his nephew Tase Daagulen . The latter was eventually victorious, with the help of Brak Cukuli Mbooj of Waalo . This conflict was, in a way, a contest between a patrilineal inheritance system (father-son) and

1705-573: The late 17th century, marabouts across the region began to aspire to political power for the first time, advocating a restoration of traditional Islamic values. Futa Toro was the first to fall. In Cayor, the powerful marabout Ndiaye Sall allied with Yacine Bubu, who had recently and controversially been removed from her position as lingeer by her nephew, the Damel Detye Maram. They joined forces to overthrow him, enthroning another nephew of Yacine Bubu's, Ma Faly Gueye. Six months later, however, Gueye

List of rulers of the Jolof Empire - Misplaced Pages Continue

1760-494: The marabouts with the promise of becoming damel . After winning battles at Mboul and Mekhe, and 2 years of conflict, Birima Ngoné Latir defeated the Baol-Baol army and Makodou Koumba was reinstalled as teigne . Latir died soon after, however, and Makodou left Baol to succeed his son as damel . Makodou faced resistance from his son's maternal side, who wanted Birima Ngoné's half-brother Lat Jor enthroned instead. Makodou defeated

1815-528: The mysterious appearance of a stranger from the lake. The stranger divided the wood fairly and disappeared, leaving the people in awe. The people then feigned a second dispute and kidnapped the stranger when he returned. They offered him the kingship of their land. When these events were reported to the ruler of the Kingdom of Sine , Maad a Sinig Maysa Wali , also a great magician, he is reported to have exclaimed "Ndiadiane Ndiaye" in his native Serer language in amazement. He then suggested that all rulers between

1870-514: The next few years Lat Jor tried to exert his authority over Baol and helped the French defeat and kill Amadou in 1875. This alliance was broken in 1881 when Lat Jor began a rebellion to resist the construction of the Dakar to Saint-Louis railway across Cayor. Dior is reported to have told the French Governor Servatius: " As long as I live, be assured, I shall oppose, with all my might

1925-426: The next year. The French attempted to annex the country, but this ultimately proved unworkable. In 1868 Lat Jor and his troops returned to Cayor to regain independence. He allied with Shaikh Amadou Ba and defeated the French in the battle of Mekhe on July 8th, 1869. By 1871 the French accepted his restoration to the position of damel . Amadou Ba's meddling in Cayor, however, soon ended their partnership. Over

1980-466: The nobility of Cayor and other Senegambian kingdoms as 'pagan' (despite their self-identification as Muslims) in opposition to a more stringently Muslim marabout class. Islam was the official religion of the state and of the entire population. When Christian missionaries asked the damel for permission to prosyletize in 1848, he refused, saying that as Muslims the Wajoor already knew God; he sent them to convert

2035-429: The only thing tearing it apart. The Atlantic Trade trade, for instance, had brought extra wealth to the empire, but with Jelen's failure the rulers of the vassal states on the coast got the lion's share of the benefits, which eventually allowed them to eclipse and undermine the emperor. Jolof was located far from the coast, and had no direct access to maritime trade. There was also the matter of external forces, such as

2090-428: The opposition at Béri-Ngaraf, and Lat Jor submitted. He reneged on a treaty signed with the French to build a railroad across Cayor, so in 1861 the French invaded and replaced him with Ma-Dyodyo. Lat Jor and the nobility resented both the harsh rule of Ma-Dyodyo and the external intervention. After some initial military success in 1863, he was forced to take refuge with the almaami of Saloum , Maba Diakhou Ba , early

2145-404: The people of Cayor from their neighbors, who to the present day refer to themselves by doubling the name of their native region (Waalo-Waalo, Saloum-Saloum e.g.). There are no written sources for the early history of Cayor, and even oral traditions are sparse. The legend of Ndiadiane Ndiaye , the first Buurba Jolof , claims that the ruler of Cayor voluntarily submitted to him, but this is likely

2200-460: The region in the 8th century, and it rapidly became the dominant tradition among the Wolof , to the point where historians can find no traces of a pre-Islamic organized religion. The practice of Islam, however, was syncreticized with local customs in much the same way that Christianity was adapted to an underlying pagan context in Europe. This has led to debate among scholars, some of whom characterize

2255-399: The royal family became more consumed by succession disputes. Once appointed, officeholders went through elaborate rituals to both familiarize themselves with their new duties and elevate them to a divine status. From then on, they were expected to lead their states to greatness or risk being declared unfavored by the gods and being deposed. The stresses of this political structure resulted in

List of rulers of the Jolof Empire - Misplaced Pages Continue

2310-428: The ruling classes. The smaller states thus incorporated into the empire. The states of Cayor and Baol , which were founded around the same time as Jolof, were absorbed early on. Many of the earliest buurbas came from maternal lineages native to Baol. The Kingdom of Sine and an early form of the Kingdom of Saloum were absorbed in the late 14th century at the earliest. This completed the core constituent states of

2365-554: The same to agents of the crown. In a climactic showdown the marabouts were defeated, Sarr was killed, and many were again sold into slavery. The surviving marabouts played an important role in founding the Lebou republic on the Cap-Vert peninsula. Soon after, the Almamy of Futa Toro Abdul Kader joined with the Buurba of Jolof to avenge the clerics and re-establish his influence over Cayor. As

2420-422: The seat of government to the coast to take advantage of the new economic opportunities. Other princes, opposed to this policy, deposed and murdered the buurba in 1489. Jelen escaped and sought refuge with the Portuguese, who took him to Lisbon . There he exchanged gifts with King John II and was baptized. Faced with the opportunity to put a Christian ally on the throne, John II sent an expeditionary force under

2475-420: The society for their ability to make weapons of war as well as their trusted status for mediating disputes fairly. Griots were employed by every important family as chroniclers and advisors, without whom much of early Jolof history would be unknown. Jolof's nobility were nominally animists , but some combined this with Islam . However, Islam had not dominated Wolof society until about the 19th century, when

2530-523: The south broke away. In 1549, Kayor successfully broke from the Jolof Empire under the leadership of the crown prince Amari Ngoone Sobel Fall by defeating Jolof at the Battle of Danki . The battle caused a ripple effect resulting in Waalo and Baol also leaving the empire. By 1600, the Jolof Empire was effectively over. Kayor invaded its southern neighbor, Bawol, and began forming a personal union of its own. Jolof

2585-545: The top of the hierarchy followed by free men (including villagers and marabouts ) who were known as Jambur . Below the Jambur were the Nyenoo , members of hereditary and endogamous castes such as metalworkers, tailors, griots , woodcarvers, etc. The lowest group of the hierarchy consisted of Dyaam , or slaves. Slaves were generally treated well and those that were owned by the kingdom often exercised military and political power, such as

2640-613: Was a mysterious person of Fulani origin. Others say he was a Serer prince." In general, Ndiaye is given an Almoravid Islamic lineage and a link on his mother's side to the state of Takrur . James Searing adds that "In all versions of the myth, Njaajaan Njaay speaks his first words in Pulaar rather than Wolof , emphasizing once again his character as a stranger of noble origins." The legend of Ndiadiane Ndiaye has many variations in detail, but these share some important commonalities. It begins when his father dies and his mother remarries with

2695-553: Was a vassal of the Mali Empire for much of its early history. It remained within that empire's sphere of influence until the latter half of the 14th century. Traditional accounts among the Wolof agree that the founder of the state was the possibly mythical Ndiadiane Ndiaye (also spelled Njaajaan Njaay or Njai). Sallah writes: "Some say that Njajan was the son of Abu Darday, an Almoravid conqueror who came from Mecca to preach Islam in Senegal ;... Some say that Ndiadiane Ndiaye

2750-403: Was an important catalyst for her rebellion. She controlled her own army of slave soldiers and clients, and received the tax income of a province. The kangam were provincial governors and ministers. The dyambor served as viceroy, and was a garmi and close kin to the damel . Some villages were designated as being run by princesses called dye . Trans-Saharan traders brought Islam to

2805-447: Was an invitation to raiders; when colonial rule ended the raiding, food production and exports rose dramatically. In addition to Cayor, the damel also ruled over the Lebou area of Cap-Vert (where modern Dakar is), and they often ruled as the " Teignes " (rulers) of the neighboring kingdom of Baol . In 1445, Venetian traveler Alvise Cadamosto reported that the king's entourage included Berber and Arab clerics. The Khali advised

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2860-401: Was caught drinking alcohol by Sall's talibes and killed. Yacine Bubu, determined to protect the power of the royal family and prevent Sall from establishing a theocracy, convened a secret assembly of notables to reach out to Makhoredia Diouf, Buur of Saloum , for support against the marabouts. They were successful in defeating Sall, but instability continued for years afterwards. In 1693

2915-441: Was judging cases involving women. In the empire's most northern state of Walo, women could aspire to the office of Bur and rule the state. Isolated from the main maritime and trans-Saharan trade routes, the economy of Jolof proper was relatively simple. Moor or Jula merchants were the main carriers of trade, which was organized around weekly markets and consisted mostly of millet, salt, beans, cattle and other essentials. Coinage

2970-441: Was not used, but iron bars and cloth served as universal means of exchange. The ruler of Jolof was known as the Bour ba or Buurba , who was selected by a college of electors that included the rulers of the five main constituent kingdoms. Although nominally the head of the entire empire, the Buurba directly controlled a relatively small portion of Jolof; Lamanes held a lot of power, and became progressively more independent as

3025-438: Was reduced to a kingdom; nevertheless, the title of Burba remained associated with imperial prestige and commanded nominal respect from its ancient vassals. Jolof society harbored a developed hierarchical system involving different classes of royal and non-royal nobles, free men, occupational castes, and slaves. Occupational castes included blacksmiths, jewelers, tanners, tailors, musicians, and griots . Smiths were important to

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