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37-702: Sedhiou was originally a Banyun settlement located at an important river crossing for trade caravans as well as the uppermost limit of the tidal flow of the Casamance. Upon the establishment of the Kaabu federation it became one of the state's constituent kingdoms, ruled by the Mandinka . The French established a military post at Sedhiou in 1838. Euro-African traders from Saint-Louis , Goree , and Bathurst increasingly competed with native merchants, creating tensions in surrounding communities. Muslim Mandinka allied with

74-516: A Kushitic group to western Africa about 2,000 years ago. The Balanta follow a matrilineal system, other sources state patrilineal , though it is believe they follow a bilineal system (double descent) just like their Serer neighbours in the Senegambia region . They are farmers and fishermen, and also engage in small-scale trade and craft-making. Names and Surnames/Last Names Surnames/Last Names: The Balantas mainly get their last names from

111-533: A cash crop. Their specialty is the culture of cashew which they derive from the apple wine cashew called Cadjou. The export to India of cashew nuts also provides an important economic force in the Balanta villages. Raising cattle is also a traditional activity predominant as the sacrifice of the cattle is import in all stages of life (initiation, marriage, death, etc.) The back of Guinea-Bissau's 50-peso note (No. 1) shows two farmers wielding an agricultural tool that

148-465: A child to express sarcasms as means of responses to their rivals. For instance,"Nsimban", which means, "I have heard them","Boulonyi" to mean "I am hated." These are few of the traditional names that a child could be named in a Balanta society. All important decisions amongst the Balanta are taken by a Council of Elders. To become a member of the Council of Elders, the person has to be initiated during

185-413: A child to express sarcasms as means of responses to their rivals. For instance,"Nsimban", which means, "I have heard them","Boulonyi" to mean "I am hated." These are few of the traditional names that a child could be named in a Balanta society. Archaeologists believe that the people who became the Balanta migrated to present-day Guinea-Bissau in small groups between the 10th and 14th centuries CE. During

222-469: Is a man in the costume worn by young Balanta men during the “Fanado” or male circumcision ceremony. Part of the costume is a tortoise shell that is hollowed out and worn on the back. The first day of the Fanado ceremony is a general festival for the entire village during which people eat, drink and dance. The initiates are presented to the village by their maternal uncles and greeted by the village. After

259-521: Is attributed to the Portuguese, who derived the word from Mandinka and applied it as a collective name for a number of groups settled at strategic sites along waterways, portages, and trade paths between the Gambia and Cacheu rivers.... Possibly Banyun served as a generic term for "trader," much as dyula identifies Mande traders engaged in long-distance commerce (Map 9). Mandinka oral history from

296-505: Is called a kebinde in the Balanta language (also called an arade in Guinean Creole). These tools are used by the Balanta, Jola and Papel peoples to prepare the soil for planting crops – usually rice. Use of the kebinde is an art that has been perfected over many years by the Balanta people who deservedly hold a reputation as expert farmers. Along with intricate irrigation systems that mix salt and fresh water, they manage to maintain

333-464: Is part of the broader region of Oio —is their homeland. The Balanta say that they migrated there "in times long past" from somewhere in the east." According to their oral tradition, the Balanta people originated in Sudan . Linguist Fernando Rogado Quintino found some language similarities between the Balanta and Sudanese peoples, which hinted at a Sudanese origin. Dr. Franz Stuhlmann also theorized that

370-666: Is similar to the Jola akonting . The Balanta also play the balafon, which is composed of 24 layers instead of 12 or 14 found in the Mandingue community. In People Like Me 2002: Face to Face! , the Sunugal Ballet presented the Balanta wedding dance from the village of Mini-Ndame. In this village, when the prince comes of age to marry, the kingdom has a big party, to which every family brings their daughters. The young women compete with their beauty and their virtuosic dancing for

407-461: Is supposedly a curse on the Bainuk, laid by a tyrannical king upon his execution by his rebellious subjects, which pushes some people to downplay their origins and language. Others, however, are reclaiming Bainuk heritage and preserving their history. Many Bainuk are adherents of Islam, a process that began around the 17th century due to the influence of Muslim Mande scholars and merchants settling in

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444-573: The Fula of Futa Jallon to attack the animist Mandinka of Sedhiou in 1843, imposing tribute on them, although the war continued for years. In 1861 Sedhiou became the seat of one of the first seven arrondissements of the French colony of Senegal . In 1876 the marabout Fode Kaba raided the Balanta villages nearby, but was forced to withdraw by the French forces stationed in the town. His ally Sounkari,

481-464: The PAIGC in the nationalist struggle for liberation during the 1960s and 1970s. Many Balanta resented their exclusion from the government; their prominence in the military spurred a series of Balanta-led coup attempts in the 1980s. The Balanta practice indigenous, spiritual customs and rites ( Traditional African religion ). In the Balanta society, God is believed to be far away, and communication with

518-492: The 19th century, they spread throughout the area that is now Guinea-Bissau and southern Senegal in order to resist the expansion of the Kaabu kingdom. Today, the Balanta are found in the modern-day countries of Senegal , Cape Verde and Gambia but mostly reside in the southern and central regions of Guinea-Bissau . "The Balanta claim that the region between the Rios Mansôa and Geba —an area they call Nhacra , which

555-521: The 2013 census Sédhiou had a population of 24,213. 12°42′N 15°33′W  /  12.700°N 15.550°W  / 12.700; -15.550 Banyun people The Bainuk people (also called Banyuk , Banun , Banyun , Bainouk , Bainunk , Banyum , Bagnoun , Banhum , Banyung , Ñuñ , Elomay , or Elunay ) are an ethnic group that today lives primarily in Senegal as well as in parts of Gambia and Guinea-Bissau . The name Banyun

592-462: The Almighty is established through their spiritual practices and traditions. Although Catholicism has been partially accepted, Islam is strong and practiced along with their unique spirit worship. Djon Cago is a deity in Balanta spirituality. Adherers to Balanta spirituality aims to reach the deities through necromancy and sacrifice. The Balanta play a gourd lute instrument called a kusunde. On

629-681: The Balanta descended from a Bantu people who inhabited the Nile and separated during the Pleistocene period . Despite this early research, a Sudanese origin of the Balanta was still heavily criticized in some academic circles. It wasn't until recently that genetic testing and haplogroup assigning revealed that the Sudan origin theory had merit. A collection of blood samples from Balanta people in Guinea-Bissau were studied. Unexpectedly, some of

666-450: The Fanado ceremony. In general, egalitarianism prevails amongst the Balanta. Consequently, the Portuguese colonialists found it difficult to govern them. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Portugal mounted pacification campaigns against the resistant Balanta and subjected them to appointed Fulbe chiefs. Because of the Portuguese repression, the Balanta enlisted as soldiers in great numbers and were principal supporters of

703-406: The Fanado, a Balanta man cannot refuse the family's wishes. The Fanado initiation ceremony takes place once every four years. The Fanado is a two-month process in the “sacred woods” which is the ultimate phase of initiation rites and social hierarchy. Initiation during the Fanado ritual opens the doors of maturity and wisdom in the Balanta community. Depicted on the back of the 50-peso note (No. 1)

740-548: The Pakao area of the middle Casamance records that the name "Bainouk" was a pejorative term, first used after the Mandinka defeated them battle in the late 16th century, meaning "those who are chased away," from the Mandinka word "bai" meaning "chase away." The Bainuk are believed to have been the first inhabitants of the lower Casamance river . Some oral histories claim that the land as empty before their arrival, but also date

777-595: The arrival to the 11th century CE, while archaeological finds show human occupation of the region to be much older. The Bainuk as such may have been formed by a merger between original inhabitants who had lived in Casamance for centuries and newcomers from the Tenda areas to the east, pushed west by the rising Mali Empire . This gave rise to the eastern Banyun, the Ijaxer, who joined the Gunyun and Nanyun, or western Banyun. In

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814-554: The chief of Bacoum, nevertheless continued the fight and unsuccessfully besieged the French fort in 1882. He was eventually defeated by Alfred Dodds in 1887. Sedhiou was the capital of colonial Casamance from 1883 to 1906, when it moved to Ziguinchor . The commune of Sedhiou is created in February 1960. It is the capital of the Sédhiou Region . In 1983, 13,212 inhabitants lived in the town, rising to 18,465 in 2002. At

851-528: The child belongs to the category of Nwatch. Around age 18 to 20 the individual enters the Fuur and then enters the Nghaye around age 25. Around age 30, according to the rites of Kgness a man will be authorized to take a woman. After the young Balanta man has become a landowner and taken on family responsibilities, he can then be chosen by his maternal uncle to participate in the Fanado initiation. Once chosen for

888-571: The fifteenth century, there were at least five Bainuk states including Bichangor , Jase, Foni , and Buguando . The Bainuk were also a major component of the population of the Kasa kingdom . They dominated the area between the Cacheu river and the Gambia , but were progressively pushed westward by the Mandinka , Balanta and Jola peoples . The Bainuk states dominated the riverine and coastal trade in

925-573: The hand of the prince. The prince then chooses his bride, and a celebration ensues. To prove his courage to his future wife, a Balanta man must steal a cow. The masks that are used in this dance include a large spirit mask laden with cowry shells, an old woman mask, a young girl mask, and a young man mask. As symbols of family and spiritual connection, the masks play an important role when the community comes together to celebrate with music and dance. The Balanta are fishermen, herders, and cultivators. They grow millet, rice, peanuts, cashews, and fruit for

962-407: The initiate is a mature man, capable of taking care of other people in the tribe. After two months in the “sacred woods,” the initiate (if survived) is ready to return to his family as a new man. Nothing remains of the place where the rite was held, everything is burnt and jealously guarded in secret by those who took part. Mothers learn of the fate of their children only on arrival to the village of

999-476: The initiates only have contact with their uncles and the “master”. The initiates undergo test of endurance and learn to be men. What is imparted to the initiates during the Fanado not only concerns their entire culture, but also how to behave with others, how to manage the family, and how to live as adults and men therefore wise. The tests and trials are hard to the point where some people face physical suffering, mutilation, and/or do not survive. Once completed,

1036-459: The kusunde instrument, the short string is at the bottom rather than at the top, the top string was of middle length and the middle string is the longest although it was capoed by the middle length string and its open sounding length is therefore the same as that string. The tones produced by the instrument are in all: top string open F#, top string stopped G#, middle string open C#, middle string stopped D#, bottom drone string A#/B. The Balanta kusunde

1073-532: The largest ethnic group of Guinea-Bissau, representing more than one-quarter of the population. Despite their numbers, they have remained outside the colonial and postcolonial state because of their social organisation. The Balanta can be divided into six dialects: Nyacra, Ganja (Mane), Naga, Patch, Sofar and Kentohe. The largest of which are the Balanta Kentohe. Names and Surnames/Last Names Surnames/Last Names: The Balantas mainly get their last names from

1110-477: The name that is given to a clan, Like "Na Sanyang", meaning, "house of Sanyang" which points to a clan. Normally,in a Balanta society, houses are built based on clans. Names: Normally, the Balantas name a child depending on the circumstances, situations and conditions they are. For instance, a child could be named as "Yabna", which means "rest", "Alámy" which means "King", and so on. Also, the Balantas could name

1147-422: The name that is given to a clan, like "Na Sanyang",meaning, "house of Sanyang" which points to a clan. Normally,in a Balanta society, houses are built based on clans. Names : Normally, the Balantas name a child depending on the circumstances, situations and conditions they are. For instance, a child could be named as "Yabna", which means "rest", "Alámy" which means "King", and so on. Also, the Balantas could name

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1184-482: The nutrients in the soil and achieve excellent yields. After the harvest, the Balanta people have a celebration called the Kussundé, where non-initiated men compete in dances. The Balanta have initiation rites at various states of the individual's life. Each phase of life, from childhood to adulthood, is regulated by an initiation that marks the entrance into a new social category. From early childhood up to age 15,

1221-423: The presentation and greeting, the initiates are brought in the middle of a tropical forest to a place completely secret called the “sacred woods.” In the “sacred woods” the initiates are circumcised by the “master”, a sort of magical figure-pedagogical. After the first few days of circumcision, the initiates must build a kind of hut that will serve as their home-base for the next two months. During these two months,

1258-461: The region, heavily restricting the activities of Portuguese traders and denying them access to inland trade routes. At the end of the 16th century they relaxed this policy as part of collaboration with the Portuguese against Kasa, but gradually clamped back down afterwards. In 1830 the Bainuk kingdom, a vassal of Kaabu , was destroyed by a Balanta invasion. In modern times the Bainuk have heavily adopted Mande and Jola cultural customs. There

1295-777: The region. Some also practice their traditional animistic religion. The Kumpo was originally a Bainuk tradition, mixed with Mande concepts, that has been adopted by the Jola. The Bainuk are known as skilled dyers and weavers. This article about an ethnic group in Africa is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Balanta people The Balanta ( Guinea-Bissau Creole and Portuguese : balanta ; French : balante ; lit. “those who resist” in Mandinka ) are an ethnic group found in Guinea-Bissau , Guinea , Senegal , Cape Verde and The Gambia . They are

1332-529: The samples carried the haplogroups M1 and U6 , which are haplogroups that are normally observed in North Africa, East Africa and the Middle East. They also found that Balanta haplotype GB44 only matched Sudanese sequences and haplotype GB59 only matched with Moroccan sequences. Scientists currently believe that these findings support a Sudanese origin for the Balanta people through the migration of

1369-403: The “new” men. The most valiant initiates that do survive emerge from the “sacred woods” to songs of their bravery by family and friends. The initiate then wears a bright red hat to show that he has become Lante Ndang (brave and wise), and the following day he will be allowed to serve on the council of elders who manages village life. The ex-president of Guinea-Bissau Kumba Yalla is a member of

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