Jolof Empire

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Jolof Empire
امبراطورية جولوف
13-14th century–1549
Emperor (Buur-ba Jolof)
 
• 1350 - 1370 (disputed)
Ndiadiane Ndiaye
• 1543–1549
Leele Fuli Fak
History 
• Established
13-14th century
• Battle of Danki: empire reduced to a
rump kingdom
1549
Currencyiron, cloth
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Mali Empire
Takrur
Kingdom of Jolof
Kingdom of Sine
Kingdom of Saloum
Kingdom of Baol
Cayor
Waalo
Today part ofSenegal
Part of a series on the
History of Senegal
Coat of arms of Senegal
flag Senegal portal

The Jolof Empire (

Jolof Kingdom
.

Origins

Wolof oral traditions relate that the Wolof[5] 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.[6] The region was ruled by Lamanes of the Mbengue, Diaw and Ngom families.[7][2]: 30  They were related to early rulers of neighboring kingdoms such as Baol.

Jolof was a vassal of the Mali Empire for much of its early history.[8] It remained within that empire's sphere of influence until the latter half of the 14th century.[9]

Ndiadiane Ndiaye

Traditional accounts among the

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."[11]

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 a Mandinka 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.[12] At this time, the area was divided into villages ruled by separate Lamanes,[2] : 30 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 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.[13]: 21  He then suggested that all rulers between the Senegal River and the Gambia River voluntarily submit to this man, which they did.[13]: 22 

Dating

Attempting to date Ndiadiane Ndiaye and the establishment of the Jolof Empire,

John Donnelly Fage suggests that "that 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."[10] Ogot proposes that the Jolof became permanently independent during a succession dispute in 1360 between two rival lineages within the Mali Empire.[14] There is no consensus among scholars, however.[15]

Imperial History

The earliest centuries of Jolof's history are known only through oral histories, and few details have survived. During the relatively dry period (c. 1100–1500) the Jolof empire expanded soutwards and westwards, progressively 'Wolofizing' the ruling classes of the smaller states thus incorporated into the empire. The states of

Saloum.[19][20]

Apex

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.[21] At this time, Jolof was at the height of its power.

Buurba

Bambuk,[25] although Jean Boulègue argues of such conquest being very unlikely.[26] Control over the kingdoms of the Gambia also gave the Buurba some access to the growing commerce there.[27]

Succession Disputes

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 a matrilineal one (uncle-nephew), as Biram Eler and Tase Daagulen were both members of the Jonai matrilineage.[28] Between roughly 1455 and 1489, five buurbas would claim the throne, sowing chaos and civil war.[29]

"Death of the Joloff Prince", in an 1892 book.

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 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 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.[30]

In the early 16th century, the Jolof Empire was still very powerful, and capable of fielding 100,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry.

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.[30]
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 the breakup of the

Saloum in the south broke away.[32]

Battle of Danki and disintegration

Jolof kingdom after its disintegration

In 1549,

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.[32] By 1600, the Jolof Empire was effectively over. Kayor invaded its southern neighbor, Bawol, and began forming a personal union of its own. Jolof was reduced to a kingdom; nevertheless, the title of Burba remained associated with imperial prestige and commanded nominal respect from its ancient vassals.[30]

Society

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.

animists, but some combined this with Islam.[33] However, Islam had not dominated Wolof society until about the 19th century,[13]: 26  when the empire had long been reduced to a rump state in the form of the Kingdom of Jolof
.

Women

Throughout the different classes, intermarriage was rarely allowed. Women could not marry upwards, and their children did not inherit the father's superior status.[13]: 26  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 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.[13]: 26 

Economy

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 was not used, but iron bars and cloth served as universal means of exchange.[34]

Political organization

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.[30] 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 the royal family became more consumed by succession disputes.[35]

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 a very autocratic government where personal armies and wealth often superseded constitutional values.[13]: 25 

Relations with Constituent Kingdoms

The Jolof Empire included five coastal kingdoms from north to south:

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.[30] Each had practical autonomy but was expected to cooperate with the Bour on important matters, and send regular tribute to Jolof.[20][13]: 25  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.[36]

See also

References

  1. ISBN 978-90-04-42850-8
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  2. ^
    ISBN 9782907233002
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  3. ^ Gamble, David P.; Salmon, Linda K.; Njie, Alhaji Hassan (1985). Peoples of the Gambia: The Wolof. I. San Francisco State University, Department of Anthropology. p. 3.
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8239-1987-1
    .
  5. ^ Diop, Cheikh Anta (1963). "L'Afrique noire précoloniale. ParHubert Deschamps. Paris: Presses universitaires de France, 1962". The Journal of African History.
  6. ^ Ndiaye 2021, p. 178-9.
  7. ^ Dyao, Yoro. Légendes et coutumes sénégalaises. Cahiers de Yoro Dyao: publiés et commentés par Henri Gaden. p. 20 (E. Leroux, 1912)
  8. ^ Levtzion 1977, p. 381.
  9. ^ Levtzion 1977, p. 456.
  10. ^ a b c Fage 1977, p. 484.
  11. ISBN 978-0521534529
    .
  12. ^ Brooks 1985, p. 113.
  13. ^
    ISBN 9780175114481
    .
  14. ^ Ogot 1999, p. 136.
  15. ^ See the main page for details.
  16. ^ Boulegue 2013, p. 47.
  17. ^ a b c d Fall 2013, p. 22.
  18. ^ a b Boulegue 2013, p. 57.
  19. ^ Charles 1977, pp. 1–3.
  20. ^
    ISBN 978-0-8147-1905-3
    .
  21. ^ Brooks 1985, p. 114.
  22. ^ Kane, Oumar (2004). La première hégémonie peule. Le Fuuta Tooro de Koli Teηella à Almaami Abdul. Paris: Karthala. p. 120.
  23. ISBN 978-1-4742-9105-7
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  24. ISBN 978-2-7384-0276-9
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  25. ^ Saglio, Christian (1983). Guide de Dakar et du Sénégal (in French). Société africaine d'édition.
  26. ^ Boulegue 2013, p. 21.
  27. ^ Ndiaye 2021, p. 193.
  28. ^ Fall 2013, p. 24.
  29. ^ Ndiaye 2021, p. 195.
  30. ^ a b c d e Levtzion 1977, p. 457.
  31. ^ Boulegue 2013, p. 157.
  32. ^ a b Charles 1977, pp. 3.
  33. ^ Fage 1977, p. 486.
  34. ^ Ndiaye 2021, p. 208-9.
  35. ^ Ndiaye 2021, p. 196.
  36. ^ Boulegue 2013, p. 23-4.

Sources

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