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97-478: Joola may refer to: MV Le Joola , a ferry that capsized in Senegal in 2002 Jola people , an ethnic group of West Africa Jola languages Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Joola . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to

194-526: A separatist rebellion made the boat journey safer. In 1995, the military took control of the Joola to verify passenger identities, yet overcrowding remained a persistent issue. At about 1:30 pm on 26 September 2002, Le Joola started from Ziguinchor in the Casamance region on one of its frequent voyages between southern Senegal and Dakar. More than 1,928 people officially crowded onto the ferry, which had

291-508: A capacity of 536 passengers. 185 people boarded the ship from Carabane , an island where there was no formal port of entry or exit for passengers. The exact number of passengers remains unknown (some Senegalese organizations put the number at more than 2,000), but there were 1,034 travelers with tickets. The rest of the passengers were either not required to hold tickets (children aged less than 5) or had been permitted to travel for free, as often happens. A surviving freight worker noted that from

388-524: A council. After consultation, the nomination of a leader is established by the prefect and approved by the Minister of the Interior . Under Senegalese law, the leader of the village has certain prerogatives, including law enforcement , tax collection, and keeping of vital records in the village. While this administrative structure was decreed by a government anxious to deal with interlocutors , such

485-542: A detachment of soldiers and several other ships from the governor. When these reinforcements arrived from Gorée, the conflict was successfully ended. A treaty was signed on March 25, establishing the sovereignty of France not only in Casamance, but also in Kagnout and Samatit . For his involvement in the conflict, Bertrand-Bocandé was accepted into the Légion d'honneur and was given a land concession . Bertrand-Bocandé left

582-517: A detailed map of the region would make clear, the channels of salt water are not easily navigated. A recent geological formation, Carabane consists of a shoal and alluvium . The alluvium has developed because of the saltwater streams that cut across the shoal. As pointed out by early French observers, soils in the region are generally composed of sand and clay, differing in mixture and layer according to natural and human factors. However, Carabane seems to be composed entirely of sand. The lack of clay

679-471: A lengthy probe that implicated seven Senegalese officials, citing lack of jurisdiction for Paris. While rough seas and wind were responsible directly for the capsizing, the ferry was built only to travel in coastal waters but was sailing beyond this coastal limit when it capsized. Overcrowding is one of the most commonly mentioned factors for the disaster, both for the capsizing and the great number of deaths (since there were insufficient life jackets). Due to

776-419: A process which expands the island where the power of tidal race would normally have the opposite effect. Rising just over 2 m (6.6 ft), the southern portion of the island is partially flooded during the rainy season and totally submerged every few years. At low tide, mudflats are exposed so that boats with keels are forced to dock a considerable distance from the island. When arriving at Carabane,

873-442: A restructuring has not taken place in Casamance. Jola society is devoid of any formal hierarchy. It has no leader with genuine permanent authority. Instead, there are village elders who meet when important decisions need to be made. According to Italian anthropologist Paolo Palmeri, the leader of the village has very little power in reality, as he is merely responsible for relations with the national administration. He simply allows

970-459: A result of the rough seas and wind, the ferry capsized, throwing passengers and cargo into the sea, all within five minutes. Survivors recalled the ferry overturning swiftly during heavy rain, with one describing the boat tilting before capsizing, causing a flood. Another survivor recounted clinging to the ferry's keel after swimming through a partially open window, while another described being tossed by winds and waves until finding refuge on part of

1067-481: A resurgence of commercial and political activity. In 1852, the population surpassed 1,000 inhabitants. A cadastral map assigned tracts of 30 square metres (320 sq ft) to traders and contractors. Other tracts of 15 square metres (160 sq ft) were allotted for housing. Provisional concessions were granted to residents of Saint-Louis and Gorée. Other than settlers, the island was mainly inhabited by animist Jola farmers, whose practices were disconcerting to

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1164-624: A specific function and where the queen is easily replaceable. In 2003, the village of Carabane's official population count stood at 396 people and 55 households, but it fluctuates with the seasons and sometimes reaches some 1,750 people, according to local sources. Most of the population is Jola. The Jola are very distinct from other major ethnic groups in Senegal by their language, egalitarian society, freedom from political hierarchy, and lack of slavery. Their traditions have persevered because of their independent spirit as well as their geographical isolation. This ethnic group accounts for 80 to 90% of

1261-486: A total area of 57 square kilometres (22 sq mi), Carabane is the last major island in the mouth of the Casamance River in south-west Senegal. It is situated 12° 32' N latitude and 16° 43' W longitude and is, by way of Elinkine, nearly 60 kilometres (37 mi) away from Ziguinchor , the capital of the region of the same name , and a little over 500 kilometres (310 mi) from Dakar,

1358-475: A variety of reasons including periods of drought, the Casamance Conflict and, more recently, the sinking of the ferry Joola in 2002. Much of the village's ability to trade and receive tourists was lost until 2014, when MV Aline Sitoe Diatta resumed ferry services to the island. Although Carabane was once a regional capital, the village has since become so politically isolated from the rest of

1455-417: A year undergoing repairs, which included replacement of the port engine. The ship was introduced as a solution to Senegal's geographical challenge, connecting the separated Casamance region to the rest of the country. Due to the presence of The Gambia between Casamance and the central/northern Senegal, travel options were limited to a damaged eastern road or a western sea route. However, road attacks during

1552-415: Is around 24 °C (75 °F). Temperatures of below 18 °C (64 °F) are quite rare. In September, the temperature of surface seawater is 26 °C (79 °F). At one time, the island was considered an arid location, where coconuts were the only useful plants likely to flourish and vegetables were difficult to produce. In what has become a tropical climate, vegetation is more abundant than in

1649-526: Is available at a reasonable depth for irrigation and domestic purposes. Until the installation of a pump in 2006, however, drinking water had to be sent by boat from Elinkine. The tropical climate of Basse Casamance cycles between a dry season and a wet season , which usually starts in June and ends in October. Because of the proximity to the ocean, the humidity of the air remains above 40% and contributes to

1746-411: Is the reason that architecture on the island employs straw wrapped around wooden frames more often than banco mud bricks. This type of architecture is also common in the villages of Mlomp and Seleki . In this flat and marshy area, the branches and roots of mangrove trees form dams where deposits of oyster shells naturally accumulate along with mud and plant detritus. These tangles help retain soil,

1843-527: Is the second-worst non-military maritime disaster in number of lives lost. The first is considered to be MV  Doña Paz in 1987 with an estimated number of more than 4,000 people dead. RMS  Titanic , which sank in 1912 with 1,517 dead, would be third according to the World Almanac and the New York Times . Carabane The earliest known inhabitants of the island were

1940-561: The Bombax genus and Malvaceae family (all known as 'kapok' in English) are nonetheless present. Their grey wood is very light and easy to work, for which reasons it is used to construct many items, ranging from doors to dugouts . Jola canoes, which range from 6 to 8 metres (20 to 26 ft) in length, are carved by adzes entirely out of one tree each, unlike the traditional Senegalese pirogue. As for fruit trees, mangos and oranges are

2037-944: The Casamance Conflict , Carabane has been found to be very conducive to ornithological observation. A study in 1998 discovered the following species on the island: African darter ( Anhinga rufa ), Goliath heron ( Ardea goliath ), palm-nut vulture ( Gypohierax angolensis ), black-tailed godwit ( Limosa limosa ), whimbrel ( Numenius phaeopus ), Eurasian curlew ( Numenius arquata ), Caspian tern ( Sterna caspia ), blue-spotted wood-dove ( Turtur afer ), red-eyed dove ( Streptopelia semitorquata ), white-rumped swift ( Apus caffer ), woodland kingfisher ( Halcyon senegalensis ), grey-backed camaroptera ( Camaroptera brachyura ), red-bellied paradise-flycatcher ( Terpsiphone rufiventer ), pied crow ( Corvus albus ), black-rumped waxbill ( Estrilda troglodytes ) and yellow-fronted canary ( Serinus mozambicus ). Fish are plentiful in

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2134-545: The Jola , the ethnic group which is still the most populous on the island. The Portuguese were active in the region from the 16th century onwards; however, they did not linger on "Mosquito Island", the mosquitoes and black flies convincing them to establish their trading post in the town of Ziguinchor instead in 1645. On January 22, 1836, the island was ceded to France by the village leader of Kagnout in return for an annual payment of 196 francs. A series of treaties between

2231-514: The Joola had to stop about 500 m (1,600 ft) north of the village in 8 to 10 m (26 to 33 ft) of water. The coastal erosion and salinization affecting the west of Senegal are also a source of concern on the island; signs of erosion have been observed in Carabane since 1849. The house of the government representative on the island has burned down twice; each time it was rebuilt,

2328-657: The 2003 reparations offers, and have pursued the Senegalese authorities in French courts. On 12 September 2008, French judge Jean-Wilfrid Noël delivered an indictment of nine Senegalese officials, including Boye and former Army Chief of Staff General Babacar Gaye . Senegalese official and popular reaction against these charges coming from the former colonial power have been hostile, with the Senegalese government issuing an arrest warrant for Noël in return. Associations representing victims from Senegal and France have advocated for

2425-442: The 2007 election, Wade's rival and former Premier, Moustapha Niasse , accused Wade of covering up their responsibility for the disaster. Families of victims, many of whom have been unwilling or unable to claim reparation, have continued to be critical of the government concerning its management of the rescue, the operation of the ferry which resulted in the disaster, and the reparation process. The families of French victims refused

2522-438: The 21st century. Most of Carabane is covered in mangroves, forming an impassable jungle that can only be crossed in constructed passages. Mangroves are among the few species capable of adapting to the highly saline environment, where the quantity of oxygen in the soil is low. In recent decades there has been concern that the mangroves are less prevalent. There are various reasons for the degradation, including crustaceans and

2619-614: The Carabane school was one of the first in the region. It began as an all-boys school, but in 1898, three nuns belonging to the indigenous congregation of the Daughters of the Holy Heart of Mary began teaching classes for girls. Soon, there were 60 students. A school infrastructure description in the region in 1900 reveals that the boys' school in Carabane was open from December to August each year, and that holidays ran from September to November, when parents needed their children in

2716-840: The French and the Portuguese began to show itself in the region during this period. Because the Portuguese-operated trading posts in Cacheu and Farim asked for higher prices than the French-operated trading posts in Carabane and Sédhiou, the Portuguese lost many traders to the French. This trend led to the ceding of Ziguinchor to France, which was negotiated in Carabane in April 1888 between Commissioner Oliveira and Captain Brosselard-Faidherbe . In 1901,

2813-458: The French and the leaders of the local peoples ensued; however, the inhabitants of Carabane did not recognize the authority of the treaties imposed upon them, resulting in lootings and abductions among French rice farmers by the Karoninka people . In 1869, Carabane became autonomous, but it merged with Sédhiou in 1886. Since World War II , the population of the island has gradually declined for

2910-565: The Gambian coast. National funerals were held on 11 October 2002, at the Esplanade du Souvenir in Dakar. The Senegalese government initially offered families a payment of about US$ 22,000 per victim and dismissed several officials, but no one has ever been prosecuted, and the official report was finalized a year after the disaster. Officials were charged with failure to respond quickly enough to

3007-557: The Governor decreed which buildings were authorized to practise Catholicism. While the Carabane church was one of the buildings selected, some members blamed the colonial administration for having facilitated the expansion of Islam in the country . In taking leadership of the diocese , Archbishop Le Hunsec noted that the island of Carabane, heavily populated when trading was concentrated there, had lost its influence and now had fewer than 500 inhabitants. He considered transferring

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3104-730: The Karoninka villages in March 1860, forcing them to submission. A period of calm ensued. While the Mandinka Muslims continued, illegally, to practice slavery and trade, non-Muslim villages tended to come together, accepting the Resident of Carabane as the arbitrator of their disagreements. In 1869, Carabane became autonomous, but it merged with Sédhiou in 1886. Its garrison of a dozen men was regularly stricken with tropical diseases such as malaria . In 1877, 527 people were counted on

3201-642: The Netherlands. On 28 September 2002, environmental activist Haïdar El Ali and his diving team explored the disaster area. They saw no survivors, but many bodies of men, women and children inside the ship. 300 corpses trapped inside were freed. Another 100 that were around the ship were also recovered. 551 dead bodies were recovered in total. Of that number, 93 were identifiable and given back to families. The remaining bodies were put to rest in specially-constructed cemeteries in Kabadio , Kantene , Mbao , and on

3298-425: The Senegalese government and French authorities prompted by the deaths of 18 French citizens, the exact causes of the incident have remained unknown as of 2022. The multitude of mistakes that contributed to the tragedy have been extensively documented: Le Joola lacked a sailing license; its crew neglected to consult the weather forecaster before departure; and the captain frequently failed to ensure proper balance of

3395-500: The abundance of vegetation. With the trade winds from the Azores High , the island enjoys a pleasant climate year-round. In the north to north-east, these winds are cool and always wet. Their presence is appreciated by kitesurfers . Agricultural activities, including rice cultivation, depend entirely on rainfall. " Wah uŋejutumu, emit elaatut " is a Jola proverb which means "If a project will not be completed, it will be because

3492-486: The administrative capital of Casamance was transferred from Carabane to Ziguinchor, a status which was transferred in turn to Oussouye two years later. By 1904, Carabane had lost several of its amenities, including its customs services, which were centralized. The island's trading houses were abandoned and the number of Christians dwindled from 1,000 to 300 by 1907. Despite the anti-clerical movement's growth in France at

3589-508: The boat buoyant. Investigations later revealed that no alarm had been triggered, and no distress signal had been transmitted to Dakar or Ziguinchor. It wasn't until around 7 a.m. that authorities learned of the disaster from passing vessels. Even then, their response was delayed. According to a report by Senegalese investigators, the Senegalese Air Force did not dispatch search-and-rescue aircraft until nearly noon. Instead, it

3686-608: The civil unrest has benefited biodiversity . In this way, the nearby Basse Casamance National Park, which has been closed for years, has seen a remarkable return of Nile crocodiles ( Crocodylus niloticus ), Senegalese manatees ( Trichechus senegalensis ), and breeding birds. On an island called Ilha dos Mosquitos (Portuguese for "Mosquito Island"), the natives and their visitors continue to protect themselves with mosquito nets and Shea butter . They must also protect themselves from other, smaller insects which are no less troublesome: black flies ( Simulium ). The traditions of

3783-531: The coast of The Gambia on 26 September 2002, with 1,863 deaths and 64 survivors. It is thought to be the second-worst peacetime disaster in maritime history . The ship was plying the route from Ziguinchor in the Casamance region to the Senegalese capital, Dakar , when it ran into a violent storm, farther out to sea than it was licensed to travel. The estimated 2,000 passengers aboard (about half of whom lacked tickets) would have amounted to nearly four times

3880-459: The conflict. In 1850, the island's economic growth was disturbed because of an extensive livestock raid which precipitated further incidents the following year. In response to this conflict with the former owners of Carabane, the residents of Kagnout, Bertrand-Bocandé convinced the governor of Senegal to send a warship to Carabane to frighten off the raiders. This single ship failed to faze the island's opponents, therefore Bertrand-Bocandé requested

3977-492: The conflict. Nonetheless, a few small incidents were reported around April 2000. The rebels may have wanted to take advantage of Carabane's reputation to attract media attention. The ceasefire of 2004 brought relative peace, but in the meantime, the sinking of the Joola in 2002 claimed the lives of many inhabitants of Carabane and curtailed much of its ability to engage in trade and accept tourists for several years. Considering

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4074-442: The country that it no longer fits into any category of the administrative structure decreed by the Senegalese government. The Jola account for the majority of the island's population and Jola society has no formal hierarchy. The indigenous population was originally animist , but although the sacred groves and fetishes survive as cultural icons of Casamance , the monotheistic belief systems of Catholicism and Islam have become

4171-403: The country's capital. " Il faut s'armer de patience pour rejoindre l'île de Carabane " is a common French phrase which means "One must have patience to reach the island of Carabane". While this adage continues to hold true, it was even more appropriate in the 19th century when, according to one traveller, a 26-hour boat trip from Rufisque (near Dakar ) to Carabane was deemed fairly short, and

4268-569: The daily life of the prisoners in the school which housed up to 22 boys, mostly convicted for theft but also occasionally for murder. Carabane's population continued to decline gradually after World War II . In 1950, the construction of a seminary was planned in Carabane, but it was transferred to a new building in Nyassia in 1959. The Carabane mission closed its doors during the wet season of 1953, 83 years after its inception. The nuns and their interns moved to Ziguinchor. Senegal's independence

4365-459: The disaster, including high-ranking members of the Armed Forces of Senegal who were transferred to other posts. Despite this, little information was ever publicized about those who allowed the ferry to be overloaded or maintained poorly. Premier Mame Madior Boye was dismissed by President Abdoulaye Wade after the disaster with much of her cabinet, reportedly for mishandling the rescue. In

4462-418: The exact number will never be known due to a large number of unticketed passengers aboard. At least 444 children were among the victims. Among the dead were 1,201 male victims (61.5%) and 682 female victims (34.9%). The gender of 70 victims is unknown. The dead included passengers from at least 11 countries beside Senegal: Cameroon, Guinea, Ghana, Nigeria, France, Spain, Norway, Belgium, Lebanon, Switzerland, and

4559-491: The fact that this village was the first French capital in Basse Casamance. According to other sources, the name comes from karam akam , which means "the other side of the river". These uncertainties are augmented by the instability of the spelling: Karabane with an initial K suggests a Jola or Wolof origin, while Carabane with a C would suggest a Latin derivation, most probably through Portuguese or French . With

4656-441: The ferry. Potential factors such as engine failure, navigational errors, adverse weather conditions, inadequate maintenance, and overcrowding—or a combination thereof—have been suggested as likely causes. Reports revealed that only one of the ship's two engines was operational. In 2003, Senegal closed its investigation, attributing blame to the captain, Issa Diarra, who died during the incident. Similarly, French courts terminated

4753-465: The heat and claustrophobic conditions below deck, as many passengers as possible usually slept on the upper level, making the ship more unstable. The ship was only 12 years old and was built to be in service for at least 30 years but had suffered a number of technical problems in the years before it capsized. These problems are now attributed to poor maintenance by its owners and not to any design or manufacturing flaws. At least 1,863 people died, although

4850-458: The inhabitants of Gorée were threatened with losing part of their resources with the imminent demise of the slave trade , and also because of their competition with Saint-Louis . On January 9, 1836, Lieutenant Malavois, who was in charge of Gorée, left for Casamance in search of a site for a trading post. The tip of Diogue , on the north shore, was first considered, but at the refusal of the Jola, it

4947-427: The intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joola&oldid=1112296486 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages MV Le Joola MV Le Joola was a Senegalese government-owned roll-on/roll-off ferry that capsized off

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5044-422: The island in 1857 for a leave of absence, but he abandoned his post as Resident in 1860. His tireless activity had a lasting effect on the island. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of the new French territory did not recognize the authority of the treaties imposed upon them. For this reason, rice farmers in Carabane experienced lootings and abductions by the Karoninka people . Troops led by Émile Pinet-Laprade attacked

5141-792: The island in order to recruit tirailleurs . Six inhabitants of the island accepted the position: a Christian, a pagan, and four Muslims. In the aftermath of the Great War, the Roman Catholic Church encountered great difficulties in the region. There was insufficient staffing, the cost of living was rising, and the harsh climate began to wear on the buildings. In 1920, the diocese had, in addition to Carabane, thirteen churches and approximately thirty-five chapels. The thirteen churches were located in Dakar, Saint-Louis, Gorée, Rufisque, Thiès , Ngazobil , Joal , Fadiouth , Foundiougne , Kaolack , Ziguinchor, Bignona and Banjul . In 1922,

5238-408: The island, but he served for only two years. The staff of the colonial administration was small: the manager of a customs post with four employees, a gunner , a corporal , and six European tirailleurs . There were approximately 250 Christians in Carabane, mostly mulattos. The priest built his house out of Palmyra palm trunks. He visited nearby villages and sometimes went to Sédhiou. The founding of

5335-488: The island, mostly Jola, but also some Wolofs , Muslims, and a few Manjacks from Portuguese Guinea . The first Catholic mission in Sédhiou was founded in 1875 and the first baptisms were celebrated that same year in Carabane. There were 17 people baptised in total, most of whom were residents of the island. The Holy Ghost Fathers ' mission in Carabane was founded in 1880 by Father Kieffer. On February 22, he settled on

5432-550: The largest centres. This rural community is located in the Kabrousse Arrondissement . It is part of Oussouye Department, the smallest and least central of the three departments in Ziguinchor Region. In a country which includes some 13,000 villages, the village is considered, by a 1972 decree, the elementary entity in the administrative body of the nation. Each is administered by a leader, assisted by

5529-452: The late 1820s, a mulatto trader from Gorée , Pierre Baudin, moved to Itou and began planting rice and producing lime by crushing the shells of mangrove oysters and cooking them in lime kilns . The French administration treated Baudin as their representative on the island and did not send others because few of the French wanted to live on the island. Being wet and marshy, Carabane had a reputation for its poor sanitation. The local economy

5626-448: The lives of the population. Palm oil and palm wine are very popular and traditional in the area. The fishery has long been dominated by artisan fishing , which supplies the daily needs of the island's population; however, broader economic possibilities have been exploited since the early 20th century. Although there have been attempts to cultivate a tourism industry on the island, the inhabitants have been reluctant to participate. Carabane

5723-566: The local peoples are unanimous in affirming that the oldest inhabitants of Casamance are the Bainuk people and that the left bank of the mouth of the river was first populated by the Jola. Portuguese sailors reached the west African coast in the 15th century, and in the 16th century, Portuguese traders became active in the Casamance region, mostly in search of wax , ivory , and slaves . They did not linger on "Mosquito Island", instead founding their first trading post at Ziguinchor in 1645. In

5820-464: The mission in Carabane was followed by others in Ziguinchor (1888), Elinkine (1891), and several nearby locations in the 20th century. In 1900, a Spiritan missionary, Father Wintz, wrote the first catechism in the Jola language. Temporarily transferred to Ziguinchor, the Carabane mission closed in 1888. Missionaries returned in 1890 and, although they immediately expanded the church building, it

5917-518: The mission to Oussouye, which became a reality in 1927. Starting in 1937, the mission in Oussouye also performed baptisms and funerals in Carabane. In the same year, a reform school was created on the island, operating until 1953, when it was replaced by another in Nianing . A report submitted in 1938 by an educational advisor to Marcel de Coppet, Governor General of French West Africa , detailed

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6014-400: The most populous. Prickly pears , flamboyants , and colourful bougainvilleas brighten the scenery of hotels and camps on the island. Various organizations have contributed to the deforestation of the island. The wide variety of birds in Basse Casamance was noted by early explorers. While Basse Casamance National Park and Kalissaye Avifaunal Reserve have not been open for years due to

6111-544: The most widely held in Carabane. The 1988 census reported that Muslims account for 94% of the population of Senegal, but only 26.5% of the population of Oussouye Department, where Carabane is located. Still, this department is largely rural, while Carabane has historically supported great ethnic diversity. Islam has not been practiced by Wolof and Serer fishermen since the 19th century, but the colonial administration brought with it many translators, guides, and secretaries from Dakar , many of whom were Muslim. Founded in 1892,

6208-439: The most widely held in Carabane. The literacy rate is approximately 90%. Students attend a primary school on the island, but must move at least as far as Elinkine to continue their studies. The testimonies of explorers and colonial administrators demonstrate that Carabane has participated in rice cultivation, fishery, trade, and palm wine production for a long time. The rice cycle plays a central economic and religious role in

6305-428: The necessary equipment, such as welding torches, to breach the hull, and opening the cabin doors risked causing the already-floating boat to sink. Ndaw noted that none of the passengers he saw alive in the cabins were rescued. Le Joola remained capsized but afloat until around 3pm, at which point it finally sank stern first, taking with it those who were unable to get out of the ship. Despite investigations by both

6402-446: The north of the country, especially during the wet season. Anxious to attract the attention of the French colonial administration which he judged insufficiently involved in the development of Casamance, administrator Emmanuel Bertrand-Bocandé submitted a report which documented in great detail the plant species then present on the island. Although this report was written in 1849, the information it contains has remained valuable even into

6499-410: The number of tickets sold, he could see that there would be a significant overcrowding situation aboard the vessel. Reportedly, as it set sail from Ziguinchor, Le Joola was already tilting. The last call from the ferry staff was broadcast to a maritime security center in Dakar at 10 pm and reported good traveling conditions. At around 11pm, the ship moved into a storm off the coast of Gambia. As

6596-453: The other from Guinea-Bissau , have settled on the other side of the island at a distance from the village. There are also seasonal workers who come to fish: Ghanaians , Guineans, and Gambians. The indigenous population was originally animist , but while the fetishes and sacred groves dedicated to initiation rites such as boukout survive as cultural icons of Casamance, the monotheistic belief systems of Catholicism and Islam have become

6693-521: The overturned vessel. Survivors faced challenges such as finding life jackets and escaping from the submerged vessel, with some resorting to smashing portholes to escape. In an interview, Ismaila Ndaw, a retired diver from the Senegalese Navy who had been in charge of security on the Joola until shortly before it sank, recalled that the life jackets had been deliberately bound tightly together to prevent passengers from accessing them, noting "It

6790-438: The people, which sometimes escalated to violence. Casamance has since experienced years of conflict which put local initiatives in jeopardy, such as nature reserves and the first network of villages. In 1998, in the middle of the conflict, the French commune of Bon-Encontre committed to providing Carabane with humanitarian aid, both economically and culturally. Carabane has remained one of the calmest areas of Casamance throughout

6887-466: The problems brought on by the conflict along with the threat of coastal erosion on the island, some fear the worst. Thus, after years of development and community outreach, Carabane is experiencing difficulties in a number of ways. Formerly an administrative district in its own right, even a regional capital, Carabane is now just one of 23 villages in the rural community of Diembéring , of which Kabrousse , Cap Skirring, and Boucott-Diembéring are

6984-409: The rain did not fall." The invocation of fetishes when there is no rain is part of traditional animist rituals. In recent decades, there has been a general decline in rainfall, which threatens rice production, increases soil salinity , and contributes to the degradation of the mangroves. In May and June, air temperature is around 28 °C (82 °F). In January and February, the coldest months, it

7081-500: The recovery of the sunken vessel, which lies at a depth of approximately 20 meters (60 feet) and is believed to contain numerous bodies. Senegalese footballer Aliou Cissé lost 12 members of his family in the incident, and his team Birmingham City , in England , displayed a large Senegalese flag to remember the midfielder's family and the other people who lost their lives. A documentary by Senegalese journalist Papa Moctar Selane

7178-400: The reptilian population of the island. The sandbar of Carabane has very few mammals other than pets, although the French first noted the presence of monkeys in 1835. In 1870, other settlers noted with disgust that the natives often ate monkeys and dogs. In the early 21st century, bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) are commonly sighted off the island. The lack of tourism because of

7275-467: The residents of Basse Casamance, but only 6 to 8% of the total population of Senegal. They are the largest ethnic group in Carabane, followed by Wolofs, Lebous , and Serers (including Niominka fishermen). Manjacks also live on the island, some of whom came from Saint-Louis and Gorée at the time of the first colonization. Two communities from neighbouring countries, one from Guinea (the Susu people ) and

7372-487: The settlers. Coexistence was not always easy. Christianity was practiced by the Europeans and some of the residents of Gorée, although the island did not yet have a church. Missionaries tried but were not permitted to settle on the island. The construction of a wharf 116 metres (381 ft) long allowed the berthing of larger vessels coming in from Casamance. A railed pier was built along the river in order to facilitate

7469-529: The ship's design load . The large numbers sleeping on-deck (and thus above its center of buoyancy ) added further instability. Rescue operations did not start for several hours. A government inquiry principally blamed negligence, and accusations were directed at both the Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade and premier Mame Madior Boye . The ship was named Le Joola after the Jola people of southern Senegal. Constructed in Germany and delivered in 1990, it

7566-647: The shipwreck, and lessons learned from the disaster. Construction was initiated in December 2019 by Eiffage Senegal. Relics from the ship, including propellers, were reported to being gathered with the assistance of the navy. In January 2024, Prime Minister Amadou Ba inaugurated the Joola Boat Memorial in Ziguinchor in the presence of the Minister of Culture and Historical Heritage, Aliou Sow , and several government members. The sinking of Le Joola

7663-409: The site of the building had to be moved further and further inland. The island's erosion is evident when one considers that the original location of the house eventually became flooded, even at low tide. During the dry season the river has a tide-dominated delta , with tidewater reaching 200 kilometres (120 mi) upstream, while it is being concentrated 50% by evaporation. Using wells, freshwater

7760-609: The time, education in Carabane continued to be administered by the Holy Ghost Fathers for the boys and by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny for the girls. A chapel also continued to be run on the island. In 1913, just before the outbreak of World War I , Carabane suffered a fire which caused its business to decline. People gradually left the island in search of work in Ziguinchor and even Dakar . In December 1915, Marcel de Coppet , administrator of Ziguinchor, visited

7857-443: The title of Resident. With this official but ambiguous title, they were permitted to continue their trading operation so long as they regularly reported to France. When Jean Baudin fell into disgrace due to a serious incident involving an English ship, he was replaced as Resident in October 1849 by Emmanuel Bertrand-Bocandé. This multilingual, enterprising businessman and entomologist from Nantes transformed "his" island, sparking

7954-543: The transfer of goods. Carabane exported rice, but also cotton , considered to be of poor quality, which was ginned in a factory built by Bertrand-Bocandé in 1840, owned first by Maurel & Prom and then by the Casamance Company. The factory also produced almonds and crabwood ( Carapa procera ). Bertrand-Bocandé became involved in local African politics during his time as Resident. When an intertribal conflict led to an armed raid of Carabane, he mediated

8051-436: The unregulated exploitation of wood. Efforts have been made to safeguard the mangroves and to educate children about their importance. Tourists are not as attracted to the island for its mangroves as for the coconut trees which line its beaches, as featured on many of Carabane's postcards. These palm trees are a valued resource on the island. While not as plentiful as in other parts of Basse Casamance such as Mlomp, trees of

8148-447: The vessel, with community members assembling to collectively offer prayers. In December 2019, Senegalese authorities agreed to build a national Le Joola memorial museum in Ziguinchor, at an estimated cost three billion CFA francs. In September 2023, it was reported that the museum was nearing completion. Designed to honor the victims while providing educational insights, it is expected to feature exhibits on maritime history in Casamance,

8245-465: The village to continue practicing its traditions. In a society where politics are inextricably linked to religion, the real holders of power are the fetish priests . The very notion of a village is almost inappropriate in this context: it might be more appropriately considered a clan or an aggregation of kinship . Other specialists, such as Christian Sina Diatta, compare Jola communities to those of mound-building termites , in which each member performs

8342-587: The waters surrounding the island, where one may encounter trevallies ( Carangidae ), Giant African threadfins ( Polydactylus quadrifilis ), great barracudas ( Sphyraena barracuda ), or African red snappers ( Lutjanus agennes ). The mangroves are home to many crustaceans such as southern pink shrimp ( Farfantepenaeus notialis ), sand fiddler crabs ( Uca pugilator ), and molluscs . The shellfish population consists mostly of mangrove oysters ( Crassostrea gasar ), which cling to uncovered mangrove roots at low tide. The red-headed agama and monitor lizard make up

8439-399: Was 79 m (259 ft 2 in) long and 12 m (39 ft 4 in) wide, weighed 1,400 tons, had two motors, and was equipped with some of the latest safety equipment available at the time of the disaster. Le Joola usually traveled twice a week and often carried women who sold mangoes and palm oil in Dakar. At the time of the disaster, the ship had been out of service for almost

8536-523: Was a mess: Any time there was a small incident, everyone would rush to take one." While many of the ship's passengers may have died during or immediately after the capsizing, a large number probably survived, only to drown while awaiting rescue. In an interview, one passenger mentioned that approximately 20 individuals had succeeded in climbing onto the hull and remained there for several hours. They could hear cries from beneath them, indicating that some passengers were still alive in air pockets that were keeping

8633-528: Was added to the list of historic sites and monuments of Senegal in 2003. The etymology of Carabane remains unclear. It could be connected to the Wolof word karabané , which means "who speaks a lot", or possibly the Portuguese words casa and acaba , which mean "house" and "finish", respectively. According to this hypothesis, the name means the place "where the houses are finished", a possible allusion to

8730-575: Was based mainly on weedy rice , which was sold in Ziguinchor or to the British in The Gambia . The Baudin family used slaves to produce the rice and, despite the declaration of its official abolition in the French colonial empire in 1848, slavery continued on the island until the early 20th century. The colonial administration wanted to expand its influence around the river, particularly because

8827-407: Was broadcast on the ninth anniversary of the tragedy, 26 September 2011. The documentary detailed the story of some of the survivors and questioned the slow rescue work. For the 20th anniversary, directors Efrem Gebreab and Nicola Milne produced a documentary, "The Joola: Africa’s Titanic," for BBC World Service . In Ziguinchor, a customary observance occurs annually to commemorate the sinking of

8924-414: Was credited to a favourable wind. Despite the seemingly close proximity to its neighbouring communities, a motorized pirogue trip to Carabane from Elinkine, the nearest village, takes about thirty minutes; the trip once took an hour and a half by canoe. Carabane may also be accessed by a two- or three-hour boat trip from Ziguinchor. Travelling from Cap Skirring via Cachouane is also possible, but as

9021-481: Was declared on August 20, 1960, and after the dissolution of the short-lived Mali Federation , Casamance saw the arrival of officials coming from the north. Although many of them were Wolofs and Muslims, they did not know the Jola country and its traditions. The periods of drought that ravaged the Sahel in the 1970s forced peanut farmers to move to regions where rice was all that grew. Discontent began to spread among

9118-493: Was local fishermen with pirogues that initially recovered bodies and rescued survivors. They were able to rescue a few people but also recovered several bodies that were floating around Le Joola . At 2pm, they rescued a 15-year-old boy. The boy confirmed that there were still many people trapped alive inside the ship; there were reports of noises and screaming coming from within. Only 64 passengers survived. Of more than 600 women aboard, only one woman, Mariama Diouf, survived; she

9215-429: Was pregnant at the time. Among the first responders was diver Ismaila Ndaw. Upon reaching the vessel in the afternoon and entering through the restaurant area, he was confronted with hundreds of bodies, some still clasping hands. Moving towards the bow, Ndaw encountered the sealed first-class cabins, which remained unflooded. Inside, some passengers gestured through the port windows. However, Ndaw explained that they lacked

9312-589: Was still not large enough to accommodate all those who wished to attend. Thanks to subsidies by the bishop, Magloire-Désiré Barthet , and to donations by the parishioners, a new church was built and inaugurated on the Catholic feast day of Saint Anne in 1897. The mission also obtained two adjacent properties, lot #73 on the cadastral map. By the following year, the Christian community had performed 1,100 baptisms, as well as many catechumen . Competition between

9409-460: Was the opposite bank which was eventually accepted. On January 22, 1836, the island was ceded to France by the village leader of Kagnout at an annual cost of 196 francs. Still, another treaty made Sédhiou the primary trading post of Casamance , and the exploitation of Carabane was left for some time in the hands of the Baudin family, first Pierre then his brother Jean. Each successively took on

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