Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune

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The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune
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See also: Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof and Maba Diakhou Bâ

Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune
a 19th century Royal War
19th century junjung of Sine
Date18 July 1867
Location
Kingdom of Sine, now part of independent Senegal
Result Serer victory
Belligerents
Muslim Marabouts
 Serer people
Commanders and leaders
Damel-Teigne Lat Dior Ngoné Latyr Diop
(King of Cayor and Baol
)		 Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof
(King of Sine - "Maad a Sinig")

Maad Amad Ngoneh Joof
(King of Thiouthioune and uncle of Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof)
Units involved

Maba Diakhou Bâ:

  • Damel-Teigne Lat Dior Ngoné Latyr Diop
  • Bourba Jolof Alboury Sainabou Njie (King of Jolof)
  • Mama Gaolo Nyang
  • Tafsir Sa Lolley Jabou Samba
  • Gumbo Gaye (of Sanjal)
  • Abdoulaye Ouli Bâ
  • Sed Kani Touray
  • N'Dari Kani Touray
  • Army of Rip, etc.

Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof:

  • Buumi - Somb
  • The Great Jaraff
  • Maad Patar (King of Patar)
  • The Sandigue Ndiob
  • Maad Amad Ngoneh Joof (King of Thiouthioune)
  • Maad Semou Gallo Joof
  • Mbagne Somb Faye
  • Makhoureja Ngoneh Joof
  • Army of Sine, etc.[1]

The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune (or Thiouthiogne), also known as the Battle of Somb or the Battle of Somb-Tioutioune, occurred on 18 July 1867.

Muslim Marabouts in 19th-century Senegal and the Gambia, but it also had a political and economic dimension to it: vendetta and empire-building.[4][5][6] Fandane, Thiouthioune and Somb were part of the pre-colonial Serer Kingdom of Sine
, now part of independent Senegal.

The Marabouts prevailed in the early hours of the battle, but the Serer army held firm. In the latter parts of the battle, the Marabouts were defeated.

Damel-Teigne Lat Dior Ngoné Latyr Diop and Bourba Jolof Alboury Sainabou Njie fled. Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak was injured. Mama Gaolo Nyang was held prisoner.[7][8][9]

Background

Prior to this battle,

Joal
, one of his provinces.

Lat-Dior sought the assistance of Maba, the Almami of Nioro du Rip. Maba promised to help Lat-Dior regain his throne if he converted to Islam. Lat-Dior converted and in 1867, he proposed to the Almami to launch a jihad in Sine.[10][11][12][13]

The Marabouts surprised the Serer people of Mbin o Ngor, a small Serer village in the Sine, the "Surprise of Mbin o Ngor" in April 1867. Although the Serers managed to drive back the marabout forces stopping them from conquering their country, the marabouts' attack caused significant damage before they were finally forced to retreat.[14] Some prominent Serer princesses such as Lingeer Selbeh Ndoffene Joof, daughter of the Maad a Sinig, was abducted and forcefully married off to Abdoulaye Oulimata Bâ, Maba Diakhou's brother.[15][16] Princess Lingeer Fatma Tioube was also abducted along with Lingeer Selbeh Ndoffene and held prisoners by the Marabout forces. Some prominent Serer personalities and princes such as Boucary Ngoneh Joof (var : Boucar Ngoné Diouf or Bukaro Ngooni Juuf) who was a relative and counsel of the King of Sine was killed in that attack.

After this incident, the Maad a Sinig sent a letter to the leader of the Marabouts, Maba Diakhou Bâ, inviting him to an open battle. In that letter, he wrote, "This attack is undignified... If you are a man, I challenge you to come back and meet the full army of Sine in open battle."[14][17][18][19]

Fandane-Thiouthioune

After Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak’s invitation to Maba to an open battle following "The surprise of Mbin o Ngor", Maba and his army went to the Sine having acquired arms and ammunition in British

Gambia. On 18 July 1867, the "Watchers" notified the King of Sine that the Rip army (the Muslim army from Nioro du Rip) is approaching Sine.[2]

The rituals

See also: Serer religion

According to Serer oral tradition, before Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak and his army made their way to the battlefield, he summoned the elders (his counselors) to perform the ancient rituals of their forefathers. He then commanded his Jaraff (head of the noble Council of Electors) also a Saltigue, - Wassaly Sene to perform the ritual of the ancestors and predict the outcome. Wassaly Sene is reported to have cited the name of Roog (the Supreme Deity in Serer religion), raised his spear to the Gods of the heavens and struck it to the ground. He then cried out "Victory!"[20][21] During the battle, Maba Diakhou Bâ is said to have recited the Shahada (Islamic declaration of faith) from the Quran.

The armies

griots beat junjung of Sine (the war drums) - a call for arms.[22][23]

Damel-Teigne Lat Dior Ngoné Latyr Diop (and his army); the King of Jolof, Bourba Jolof Alboury Sainabou Njie (and his army); Gumbo Gaye (king of Sanjal) - also spelt Gumbo Guèye; Biran Ceesay (Biranne Cissé); his generals such as Mama Gaolo Nyang and Tafsir Sa Lolley Jabou Samba (general and military advisor to Maba); etc.[24]

The battle

See also:
Serer history (medieval era to present) and Tijaniyyah

The Sine army having performed the required rituals according to Serer custom, Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof led his army to Somb (in the Kingdom of Sine), the battlefield. Serer tradition states that, Somb was the starting point of the battle but it did not end there. It ended in Fandane-Thiouthioune where the outcome was decided. Muslim tradition agrees pretty much with this account.[10][25][26]

On the day of the battle, there was a heavy rain.

Kingdom of Saloum locking the Marabouts in Sine and cutting off their exit route into Nioro du Rip (Maba's residence), via Saloum. Damel-Teigne Lat Dior Ngoné Latyr and Bourba Jolof Alboury Sainabou Njie realising that the cause has been lost, abandoned Maba in the battlefield. They fought their way out of the battlefield, the Damel-Teigne escaped and headed towards Cayor and the Bourba Jolof towards Gossas.[12][30][31] The Serer army defeated the Muslim Marabouts. Maba was killed at Fandane and so was the Serer Prince Makhoureja Ngoneh Joof whom according to some was responsible for killing Maba.[30][32] The King of Sine was injured. Many of Maba's men fell at Fandane-Thiouthioune. His generals such as Mama Gaolo Nyang were held prisoners. Mama Gaolo was released two days after the battle to go and relay the incident in his country.[12][30] After Maba had been killed, Maad Kumba Ndoffene Famak had his head cut off and his limbs dismembered. He then sent an arm and the head, with a letter to the French commandant at Gorée to announce his victory. The remains of Maba's body were scattered in several parts of Sine, including Felir, Samba Toude, Ndialgué and towards Thiamassas.[30][33][34] According to some scholars such as Diagne, Becker, Cheikh Diouf, Klein, etc., Maad Kumba Ndoffene Famak's letter and action was a threat to the French administration in Senegal, especially his succeeding letter sent to the French governor which listed the prominent members of Maba's army that had fallen in the Sine.[12][33][35][36]
The French administration in Senegal under the governorship of Émile Pinet-Laprade kept out of the battle. They armed neither side nor did they involved their forces.[37] The French also had limited ammunition and forces (they were dying from the wars and diseases).[38] Although Lamprade tried to gain more arms and French forces from France for the protection of French interest in the colony, the French government in Paris refused to sanction it and decided to devote all French resources in France due to the crisis in Europe, and their ultimate defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. As such, Laprade was ordered "to stay on the defensive" and told "he would not even receive white troops" to replace those who have died from disease.[39]

Abdoulaye Ouli Bâ (Maba's brother) was not killed in the battle. In a revenge attack, he was castrated for participating in the surprise of Mbin o Ngor, the kidnapping of Lingeer Selbeh Ndoffene Joof (Maad Kumba Ndoffene Famak's daughter), forcefully marrying her and making her pregnant. Although released, he went missing for some time people thought that he had died like his two brothers (Maba and Ousmane) at the battle. He resurfaced by January 1868 during the raidings of the Mandinka principalities of Niani and Ouli, in the Gambia.[40][41][42]

Victory anthem of Sine

At the end of the battle, the victorious King of Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak nursed his injuries and led his army back home. The

junjung and chanted the following hymn in his honour (the hymn is still chanted in his honour):[43]

"Coumba Ndoffene crushed their rebellion. Maba Diakhou, leader of the insurgent will be wiped out with his troops and buried without pomp in the heart of Sine."

Pathé Diagné,[54]

Controversy

Senegal's Ministry of Culture states that, Maba was buried in Mbel Fandane – the mausoleum which is venerated by people in honour of Maba.[55] Serer Sine's oral tradition refute this. According to the Serers of Sine, after Maba was killed, he was dismembered and his body parts scattered in various parts of the country. An arm and the head were sent to the French Commandant at Gorée accompanied by a letter from Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof. Their tradition went on to state that, the mausoleum that is venerated is that of Makhoureja Ngoneh Joof and not that of Maba Diakhou Bâ. It was Makhoureja Ngoneh who was buried there not Maba.[12][56][57] According to Cheikh Diouf, in a letter marked 31 July 1867 deposited at the National Archives of Senegal, the French replied to Maad Kumba Ndoffene Famak's previous letter in which they asked : "What do you want us to do with his remains?"[58]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Diouf, Niokhobaye. pp 727-729 (pp 16-18)
  2. ^ a b Sarr, Alioune. Histoire du Sine-Saloum. Introduction, bibliographie et Notes par Charles Becker, BIFAN, Tome 46, Serie B, n° 3-4, 1986–1987. pp 37-39
  3. ^ Diouf, Niokhobaye. Chronique du royaume du Sine. Suivie de notes sur les traditions orales et les sources écrites concernant le royaume du Sine par Charles Becker et Victor Martin. (1972). Bulletin de l'Ifan, Tome 34, Série B, n° 4, (1972). (pp 727-729, pp 16-18)
  4. ^ Sarr, Alioune. Histoire du Sine-Saloum. Introduction, bibliographie et Notes par Charles Becker, BIFAN, Tome 46, Serie B, n° 3-4, 1986–1987. pp 37-39
  5. ^ Diouf, Niokhobaye. "Chronique du royaume du Sine." Suivie de notes sur les traditions orales et les sources écrites concernant le royaume du Sine par Charles Becker et Victor Martin. (1972). Bulletin de l'Ifan, Tome 34, Série B, n° 4, (1972). (pp 727-729, pp 16-18)
  6. ^ a b Klein, pp 63-236
  7. ^ N. Diouf. pp 727-729 (pp 16-18)
  8. ^ Klein pp 90-91
  9. ^ Sarr. pp 16-18
  10. ^ a b c Bâ, Abdou. pp 20-22
  11. ^ a b Diouf, Niokhobaye. pp 727-729
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Sarr, pp 37-39
  13. ^ Bâ, Tamsir Ousman. Essai historique sur le Rip (Bur Sine Mahecor Diouf; Latgarand N'Diaye & Abdou Boury Bâ). BIFAN. 1957
  14. ^ a b Bâ, Tamsir Ousman. Essai historique sur le Rip (Bur Sine Mahecor Diouf; Latgarand N'Diaye – Chef d'arrondissement at Sokone & Abdou Boury Bâ). BIFAN, XIX, p. 585
  15. ^ Sar, Alioune, 36-39
  16. Gambia
    )
  17. ISBN 0-85224-029-5
    . pp 90-91
  18. ^ L'epopee de Sanmoon Fay. Ethiopiques n°54 revue semestrielle de culture négro-africaine Nouvelle série volume 7 2e semestre 1991
  19. ^ Diouf, Niokhobaye. Chronique du royaume du Sine. Suivie de Notes sur les traditions orales et les sources écrites concernant le royaume du Sine par Charles Becker et Victor Martin (1972). Bulletin de l'Ifan, Tome 34, Série B, n° 4, 1972. (pp 726-727; pp 16-18)
  20. ^ Diouf, Mahawa. L’INFORMATION HISTORIQUE : L’EXEMPLE DU SIIN. Ethiopiques n°54 revue semestrielle de culture négro-africaine Nouvelle série volume 7 2e semestre 1991
  21. ^ Klein, Martin A. Islam and Imperialism in Senegal Sine-Saloum, 1847-1914. Edinburgh At the University Press (1968). pp 90-91
  22. ^ Diouf, Niokhobaye, p 729 (p 18)
  23. ^ Klein, p91
  24. ^ Diouf, Niokhobaye. p729 (p18)
  25. ^ "La famille Juuf." [in] l'epopee de Sanmoon Fay. Ethiopiques n°54 revue semestrielle de culture négro-africaine Nouvelle série volume 7 2e semestre (1991)
  26. ^ Diouf, Niokhobaye. Chronique du royaume du Sine. Suivie de notes sur les traditions orales et les sources écrites concernant le royaume du Sine par Charles Becker et Victor Martin. (1972). Bulletin de l'Ifan, Tome 34, Série B, n° 4, (1972). (pp 727-729, pp 17-18)
  27. ^ Sarr, pp 37-38
  28. ^ Klein, pp 90-91
  29. ISBN 0-520-06611-1
    . p 128
  30. ^ a b c d Diouf, Niokhobaye. pp 728-729
  31. ^ Klein, p 90
  32. ^ Bâ, Abdou Bouri. Essai sur l’histoire du Saloum et du Rip. Avant-propos par Charles Becker et Victor Martin. pp 20-22
  33. ^ a b Diouf, Cheikh. Fiscalité et Domination Coloniale: l'exemple du Sine: 1859-1940. Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar - (2005)
  34. ^ Diagne, Pathé. Pouvoir politique traditionnel en Afrique occidentale: essais sur les institutions politiques précoloniales. Présence africaine, 1967. pp 93- 94
  35. ^ For a reprint of that Telegram from Maad Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak, see Sarr pp 37-39. The report of Samba Fall regarding the death of Maba can also be found in Sarr. Samba Fall's report is more detail which gives the number of deaths etc. See also:
    • Diouf, Niokhobaye. pp 728-729
  36. ^ Klein, pp 46-235
  37. ^ Klein, p 92
  38. ^ Klein, pp 88-89; 94
  39. ^ Klein, pp 88-89, 94
  40. ^ Diouf, Cheikh. Fiscalité et Domination Coloniale: l'exemple du Sine: 1859-1940. Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar - (2005)
  41. ^ Ba, Abdou Bouri. Essai sur l’histoire du Saloum et du Rip. Avant-propos par Charles Becker et Victor Martin. pp 20-23
  42. ^ For Abdou Bâ's resurface, see: Klein, p 98
  43. ^ Klein p91
  44. ^ Amad Ngoneh Joof (King of Thiouthioune). See Sarr and Diouf, Niokhobaye
  45. ^ Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak's father. See: Diouf, Niokhobaye
  46. Gambia or Talibé - French spelling in Senegal can mean little beggar (children sent to beg by their Quranic teachers in Senegambia see Human Rights Watch
    ) or disciple (religious student)
  47. ^ A small stream. See: Gravrand. Horizons Africains, p15
  48. ^ The name of Maba's horse that he took to the battle. See: Sarr and Niokhobaye Diouf
  49. ^ Supreme Deity in Serer religion
  50. ^ The French quarter in Senegal
  51. Gambia
    ) was Maba's mother. See: Gravrand. Horizons Africaines, No. 68. p 15.
  52. ^ Gravrand, Henri. Horizons Africaines, No 68, p 15
  53. ^ Klein, Martin A. Islam and Imperialism in Senegal Sine-Saloum, 1847-1914. Edinburgh University Press (1968). p 91
  54. ^ Diagne, Pathé. Pouvoir politique traditionnel en Afrique occidentale: essais sur les institutions politiques précoloniales. Published: Présence africaine, 1967. p 94.
  55. ^ See: REGION DE FATICK, Département de Fatick Commune de Fatick, entry number 12 Archived 20 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  56. ^ Diouf, Niokhobaye, pp 727-729 (pp 16-18)
  57. ^ Diagne, Pathé. pp 93-94
  58. Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar
    - (2005)

Bibliography

  • Bâ, Abdou Bouri. Essai sur l’histoire du Saloum et du Rip. Avant-propos par Charles Becker et Victor Martin. Publié dans le Bulletin de l’Institut Fondamental d’Afrique Noire. Tome 38, Série B, n° 4, octobre 1976, p. 813-860.
  • Bâ-Curry, Ginette. In Search of Maba: A 19th Century Epic from Senegambia, West Africa (Preface of the Play by Edris Makward, Emeritus Professor of African Literature, Univ of Wisconsin, USA), Phoenix Press International, Maryland, 2011 [Category: Drama].
  • Diouf, Niokhobaye. Chronique du royaume du Sine. Suivie de notes sur les traditions orales et les sources écrites concernant le royaume du Sine par Charles Becker et Victor Martin. (1972). Bulletin de l'Ifan, Tome 34, Série B, n° 4, (1972).
  • Bâ, Tamsir Ousman. Essai historique sur le Rip (
    Bur Sine Mahecor Diouf
    ; Latgarand N'Diaye & Abdou Boury Bâ). BIFAN. 1957
  • Diouf, Cheikh. Fiscalité et Domination Coloniale: l'exemple du Sine: 1859-1940. Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar - (2005)
  • Gravrand, Henri. Horizons Africaines, No 68, p 15
  • Diagne, Pathé. Pouvoir politique traditionnel en Afrique occidentale: essais sur les institutions politiques précoloniales. Published: Présence africaine, 1967.
  • L'épopée de Sanmoon Fay. Ethiopiques n°54 revue semestrielle de culture négro-africaine Nouvelle série volume 7 2e semestre 1991
  • Diouf, Cheikh. Fiscalité et Domination Coloniale: l'exemple du Sine: 1859-1940. Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar - (2005)
  • Diouf, Mahawa. L’INFORMATION HISTORIQUE : L’EXEMPLE DU SIIN. Ethiopiques n°54 revue semestrielle de culture négro-africaine Nouvelle série volume 7 2e semestre 1991
  • Klein, Martin A. Islam and Imperialism in Senegal Sine-Saloum, 1847–1914. Edinburgh At the University Press (1968).
  • Lipschutz, Mark R. and Rasmussen, R. Kent. Dictionary of African historical biography. 2nd Edition. University of California Press, 1989.
    ISBN 0-520-06611-1
    .
  • Sarr, Alioune. Histoire du Sine-Saloum. Introduction, bibliographie et Notes par Charles Becker, BIFAN, Tome 46, Serie B, n° 3-4, 1986–1987.
  • Thiam, Iba Der. Maba Diakhou Bâ, Almamy du Rip (Sénégal), Paris, ABC, Dakar-Abidjan, NEA, 1977, p44.
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