Misplaced Pages

#430569

38-460: Oral histories claim that, before becoming a kingdom, the area of Waalo was ruled by a patchwork of Lamanes , a Serer title meaning the original owner of the land. Etymological evidence suggests that the area was ruled by the Jaa'ogo dynasty of Takrur . The exact founding date of Waalo is debated by historians, but is associated with the rule of the first king, the semi-legendary Ndiadiane Ndiaye , in

76-562: A bilineal system, as a candidate for kingship could not succeed to the throne if he was not a member of the reigning materlineage, and thus, the Lingeer's maternal lineage was highly significant. In similarity, a candidate could not succeed to the throne as king if he was not a member of the noble reigning patriclans. That was particular so among the Serer who retained much of their old culture, customs and traditional religion where women played

114-456: A Lingeer character. Djibril Diop Mambety's Hyènes (1992) features the character Linguere Ramatou as its protagonist. Her first name is an alternate spelling of Lingeer and she has in fact been described as a royal of sorts: film scholars write that she is “an outcast-cum-queen who sits contemplating the horizon”. All crowned Serer lingeers of Sine are buried at Tioupane , Diakhao (in modern-day Senegal). The historic village of Tioupane

152-592: A Lingeer who had been recently deposed by a new king. Together, they defeated and killed the king. They then proceeded to select a new candidate, royal by birth, but also potentially more malleable to their control. Historians have cited instances in which the Lingeer's role extended into negotiating the relationship between the Wolof and Serer kingdoms. One such example involves the Lingeer Djembet (many variations: Jembet, Njembot Mbodj ). In 1833, Djembet married

190-498: A field of grain for their Lingeer. Many noble families sent forth their daughters to be followers of the Lingeer; however, captives often filled this role as well. The Lingeer was accompanied by a female géwél , a professional singer or musician, regionally known as a griot . The géwél sang listeners to sleep at night and awakened them in the morning. The types of songs sung to honor a Lingeer's sovereignty include: taggate, màdd, woy u lingeer, and buur. The power position that

228-461: A kind of legislature, the Seb Ak Baor , that consisted of three great electors who selected the next king. Their titles come from Pulaar terms that initially meant 'masters of initiation', and originate from the period before Ndiadiane Ndiaye when Takrur dominated the area. There was also a complicated hierarchy of officials and dignitaries. Women had high positions and figured prominently in

266-584: A political career. In the Serer Kingdoms of Sine and Saloum , the Lingeer held significant power and was crowned Lingeer by the Maad a Sinig and Maad Saloum (King of Sine and Saloum respectively) after his own coronation ceremony. In the economic realm, like her Wolof counterpart, the Lingeer of Serer societies controlled several villages, the contributions of which she was free to utilize. The inhabitants of such villages would traditionally cultivate

304-652: A reigning monarch if threatened. The lamanes were the guardians of Serer religion . They created sanctuaries and shrines in honour of the Pangool ( Serer ancestral spirits and Saints ). They are the predecessors of the Serer priestly class (the Saltigue ). The Seereer Resource Centre, "Seereer Lamans and the Lamanic Era" (2015) [in] The Seereer Resource Centre, URL: http://www.seereer.com/laman Lingeer Lingeer (also: Linger or Linguère )

342-486: A significant role compared to the Wolof who adopted Islam. Various Lingeers have been noted for their resistance efforts to colonial conquest. Although the royal title Lingeer was generally given to the mother or sister of the king, and sometimes the first wife of the king (the "Lingeer-Awo" ), the title could also mean a royal princess . In this case, it meant a woman who could trace royal descent from both her paternal and maternal line . In Wolof and Serer tradition,

380-493: A vassal. Europeans first appeared off the coast of Waalo in the 15th century, and soon began trading. This caused a significant shift in economic power away from the Jolof heartland towards coastal vassals such as Waalo and Cayor . Buumi Jelen , a member of the royal family , may have established his own control over Waalo during this period, and is credited with creating a system of alkaldes who served as customs collectors for

418-467: A vast grouping of Saharan immigrants that established a commercial network linking Senegambia with North Africa and the western Sahara. In these instances, the Idaw al-Hajj served as the queen's religious advisors. While many of the Lingeer are no longer known of, some of these women made their way into the historical record for their leadership and, in later cases, resistance to colonial incursions. One of

SECTION 10

#1732766179431

456-471: A woman who could trace royal descent on both her paternal and maternal line automatically became a Lingeer. The male equivalent was Garmi (a man who could trace royal descent on both his paternal and maternal line). It is from these Lingeers (a woman of pure royal blood) that a king would seek to marry. The king himself was a member of the Garmi class. Historians are careful to not understate her influence in

494-709: Is the reflection of the historical heroines of the Senegalese past such as the heiress of the Waalo throne, Lingeer Jombot who was in charge of the political affairs of the Waalo region and was succeeded by her sister Nade Yalla, wife of Maroso, the Prince of Kajoor”. In artistic Serer expression, especially in oral poetry and the culture of the traditional griotte, performers depict the Lingeer character as playing an important role in their society's functioning. Films such as Abderrahmane Sissako ’s Timbuktu (2014) feature

532-640: The Damel of Cayor counterattacked, armed with English guns, and soundly defeated the Waalo-Waalo. After Naatago's death in 1766 a long civil war broke out, with the Moors constantly intervening and raiding. In 1775 the English took more than 8000 slaves from Waalo in less than six months. With recurring civil war and frequent foreign meddling in succession disputes, Waalo's power declined progressively in favor of

570-615: The Joos Maternal Dynasty in the Wolof kingdom of Waalo as the region's queen and Princess of Sine . Lingeer Fatoumata Sall was the mother of the possibly mythical monarch Ndiadiane Ndiaye , who was emperor of the Jolof in the 1360s. The Lingeer's role sometimes extended to overthrowing the current king. In 1673, Ndyai Sal or Sar , a marabout of likely Tukuloor descent, was offered marriage and military alliance from

608-796: The Serer people of the Senegambia region which includes modern day Senegal and the Gambia . This title was also used by some kings of the Wolof kingdoms. The title is sometimes used interchangeably with the old title Maad . After the Guelowars' migration to the Sine and the foundation of the Kingdom of Sine , "lamane" denotes a provincial chief answerable to the King of Sine and Saloum . Although

646-540: The 13th or 14th century. Ndiaye, originally a Fula from Takrur, united the Lamanes and ruled Waalo for 16 years as an arbiter or judge rather than king before, according to some oral accounts, being driven out by his half brother Barka Bo, or Barka Mbodj. After this, Ndiaye took control of Jolof and founded the Jolof Empire . Barka Mbodj was the first ruler to use the royal title ' Brak '. Ndiaye eventually made Waalo

684-767: The Buurba Jolof. He later attempted to ally with the Portuguese to take power, but was killed by his erstwhile allies in a dispute. The Jolof empire broke up in the aftermath of the battle of Danki in 1549, though the Brak continued to pay symbolic tribute to the Bourba Jolof until 1715. In 1638, the French established the first permanent European trading settlement at the mouth of the Senegal River, moving to

722-540: The Emir of Trarza in 1833. Faced with an alliance that could threaten the survival of the colony, Saint Louis attacked Waalo, deepening the long-running crisis. Njembot Mbodj was succeeded by her sister Ndate Yalle in 1847, but the French finally conquered the kingdom in 1855. The royal capital of Waalo was first Ndiourbel (Guribel) on the north bank of the Senegal River (in modern Mauritania ), then Ndiangué on

760-515: The Lingeer occupied was a bi- and sometimes tri-cameral one: her leadership activities were carried out at the highest tier, as a co-monarch. In the case of a conflict between a Lingeer and the king, a Lingeer would sometimes create new political alliances. Towards the end of the seventeenth century, a relationship was established throughout many Wolof lands between the Lingeers and the Idaw al-Hajj ,

798-602: The Moorish Emirate of Trarza. In the 1820s the marabout of Koki Ndiaga Issa, who had amassed significant political power in Cayor, was driven out by the damel . His forces, led by general Dille Thiam, took control of Waalo instead. The French intervened however, and killed Thiam. To stop the cripplying Moorish raids and present a unified front against the French, the Lingeer Njembot Mbodj married

SECTION 20

#1732766179431

836-577: The Senegal valley, in 1724 the French allied with Maalixuri, the lord of Bethio , to pressure the Brak Yerim Mbyanik and the Emirate of Trarza into concessions. His attempt at secession from Waalo failed when the French company stopped their support. By 1734 Yerim Mbyanik had the most powerful army in the region. His rule and that of his two successors, Njaam Aram Bakar and Naatago Aram, was

874-547: The apogee of Waalo-Waalo power. Through the middle decades of the 18th century, Waalo exerted hegemony over the entire Senegal estuary and dominated Cayor as well. When the English took Saint-Louis in 1758 they found that the Brak had total control over river trade. Naatago repeatedly demanded increases in customs payments and slave prices, and blockaded the island when necessary. In 1762 he appropriated payments from Cayor intended for Saint-Louis, and two years later invaded. In 1765

912-452: The earliest known Lingeer is Lingeer Fatim Beye ( c. 1335), the matriarch of the Joos Maternal Dynasty . She was a Serer Princess and Queen of Sine . She was once married to King Maad a Sinig Maysa Wali . She is an early ancestor of all the Joos who went on to rule Waalo , such as her granddaughter Lingeer Ndoye Demba (c. 1367). Lingeer Ndoye Demba, also of Serer origin, established

950-568: The king of Trarza (in Mauritania ), Mohamed El-Habib. This political marriage provided the couple with control over the Waalo and the Trarza . The alliance was prompted not by the threat of Moorish expansion – a position encouraged by the opposition – but rather to construct a more resistant bloc against colonial invasion. The marriage faced a not insignificant amount of opposition within Waalo, yet

988-624: The later lamanes were always descendants of the Serer village and town founders (the original lamanes), and their families ruled the Kingdoms of Sine, Saloum and Baol etc., the power they previously enjoyed as lamanes diminished, but they continued to make up the land-owning class. Though their power was somewhat diminished, their economic and political power was intricately linked to Serer custom, Serer history and Serer religion . As such, they were extremely powerful if not as true kings as guardians of Serer traditions and beliefs and could dethrone

1026-417: The old hierarchies, aligned with Arab Hassan tribes north of the river and vigorously supported by the French, re-asserted themselves. During this same period, Moroccan forces came south to the Senegal river, forcing the Brak to move the capital from Ngurbel to the south bank and permanently breaking the kingdom's control on the north side. In another attempt to further strengthen their economic position in

1064-532: The political and military history of Waalo. Provinces were ruled by semi-independent Kangam , such as the Bethio. Shifting allegiances between these powerful nobles, the Brak, other kingdoms, and the French of Saint-Louis led to a series of civil wars. Waalo had its own traditional African religion. Islam was initially the province of the elite, but in the aftermath of Marabout War the ruling class increasingly rejected it while it become more and more widespread among

1102-430: The pre-colonial period; the Lingeer is said to both make and unmake kings. In the Wolof state, the Lingeer's political significance traditionally included: control of some of the king's land, which they would administer by using captives; provision of food and maintenance for their retainers; and integration into the clan system. Members of the community needed to charm and persuade a Lingeer if they held hopes of acquiring

1140-445: The ruled. The Brak himself converted only in the 19th century. Waalo played an integral role in the slave trade in the Senegal river valley, with most captives coming from regions upriver, often captured in war or slaving raids. Other trade goods included gum arabic , leather , and ivory , as well as the foodstuffs, primarily millet upon which Saint-Louis depended. Waalo was paid fees for every boatload of gum arabic or slaves that

1178-678: The site of Saint-Louis in 1659 while facing consistent military and political pressure from the Brak . The French presence would have a decisive effect on the rest of the history of Waalo. Partly in response to the shift in trade away from Berber tribes to the French, Nasr ad-Din , a Berber Marabout , launched the Char Bouba War or the Marabout War, overthrowing the ruling aristocracy of Waalo (among other Senegal river kingdoms) in an attempt to establish an Islamic theocracy. Upon his death in 1674, however, his movement collapsed and

Waalo - Misplaced Pages Continue

1216-698: The south bank of the river. The capital was moved to Nder on the west shore of the Lac de Guiers . Waalo had a complicated political and social system, which has a continuing influence on Wolof culture in Senegal today, especially its highly formalized and rigid caste system. The kingdom was indirectly hereditary, ruled by three matrilineal families: the Logar, the Tedyek, and the Joos , all from different ethnic backgrounds. The Joos were of Serer origin. This Serer matriclan

1254-542: The throne. One scholar attributes this choice to N’Daate Yaala's desire to not “break up the power of the unified kingdom.” The character of the Lingeer has been featured in Senegambian literature. Ginette Ba-Curry writes of the Lingeer presence in Cheikh Hamidou Kane 's novel Ambiguous Adventure : “The Most Royal Lady is a female figure belonging to pre-Islamic society, recalling the 'Linguere' ... She

1292-429: Was carried through by Djembet in order to halt French political expansion in the region. In 1841, she chose the king to succeed Fara Penda Adam Sal upon his death. Ndaté Yalla Mbodj was the sister of Djembet and succeeded her in 1846. Her political action was similarly momentous and controversial; she is notable for her refusal of a French alliance. She prevented her son from contesting the accession of Djembet's son to

1330-517: Was established in Waalo by Lingeer Ndoye Demba of Sine . Her grandmother Lingeer Fatim Beye is the matriarch and early ancestor of this dynasty. These matrilineal families engaged in constant dynastic struggles to become " Brak " or king of Waalo, as well as warring with Waalo's neighbors. The royal title " Lingeer " means queen or royal princess, used by the Serer and Wolof. Several Lingeer, notably Njembot Mbodj and Ndaté Yalla Mbodj ruled Waalo in their own right or as regents. The Brak ruled with

1368-416: Was shipped on the river, in return for its "protection" of the trade. In all, Waalo had 52 kings since its founding. Names and dates taken from John Stewart's African States and Rulers (1989). Lamane Lamane or laman ( Serer : Laamaan or Lamaan, (Serer vocable : laam or lam (to inherit )) mean "master of the land" in Serer. The name was also sometimes the title of chiefs or kings of

1406-404: Was the title given to the mother or sister of a king in the Serer kingdoms of Sine , Saloum , and previously the Kingdom of Baol ; and the Wolof kingdoms of Cayor , Jolof , Baol and Waalo in pre-colonial Senegal . The word "Lingeer" means "queen" or " princess " in Serer and Wolof language . The Lingeer was considered the “great princess of royal courts.” These kingdoms utilized

1444-520: Was where the crowned lingeer, usually the Maad a Sinig 's mother, took residence. The Serer kings are buried elsewhere in Sine. Only the lingeers are buried in Tioupane. Non-crowned lingeers are also buried in Tioupane, but in a different section within the graveyard, away from the crowned lingeers. Like the graves of the Serer kings, the graves of the lingeers are also marked and there are historian on site that narrates their genealogy and history. Like

#430569