During the Guelowar Era the region was named after Sine-o-Méo Manneh (Serer proper: Siin o Meo Maane), sister of Maysa Wali Manneh.[2] The inhabitants are called Siin-Siin or Sine-Sine (a common structure for demonyms in Senegal, e.g. Bawol-Bawol and Saloum-Saloum / Saluum-Saluum, inhabitants of Baol and Saloum respectively).
Portuguese explorers in the 15th century referred to Sine as the kingdom of Barbaçim, a corruption of 'Bur-ba-Sine' (Wolof for 'King of Sine'), and its people as Barbacins (a term frequently extended by early writers to Serer people generally, while others insisted that Serreos and Barbacins were completely distinct peoples.) Old European maps frequently denote the Saloum River as the "River of Barbacins/Barbecins".[3]Alvise Cadamosto, a 15th-century Venetian navigator, slave trader, and chronicler, mistakenly distinguished between the "Sereri" (Serer people) and the "Barbacini", which seems to indicate that he was referring to two different people when in fact, the Kingdom of Sine was a Serer Kingdom.[4]
The diverse peoples grouped under the term Serer include the Serer Seex (pronounced Seh or Seeh), subgroups with various dialects of Serer proper, and the Cangin speaking Serers, all of whom historically have moved across Senegambia.[6] According to historian Dennis Galvan, "The oral historical record, written accounts by early Arab and European explorers, and physical anthropological evidence suggest that the various Serer peoples migrated south from the Futa Tooro region (Senegal River valley) beginning around the eleventh century, when Islam first came across the Sahara."[7]
King War Jabi of Takrur first instituted Sharia law and persecuted any of his subjects who refused to abandon their traditional beliefs in favour of Islam.[8][9][10] In response, some began migrating south and west.[11][12] Over generations these people, possibly Pulaar speaking herders originally, moved through Wolof areas and entered the Siin and Saluum river valleys. This lengthy period of Wolof-Serer contact has left historians unsure of the origins of shared "terminology, institutions, political structures, and practices."[13] This migration was the process by which the Serer coalesced into a coherent ethnic group, separate from the Fula and the Wolof.[14]
The lamanes, in particular, who were the guardians of Serer spirituality, leaders and the landowning class, put up a strong resistance to conversion partly to preserve their religion, but also to preserve their assets and power from the centralizing tendencies of the state.[15] In some early Arab sources, the term lamlam became associated with "non-believers" in the region, which may have been a corruption of the Serer title Lamaan.[16] In summarizing the influence of Serer culture, history, religion and tradition on the Senegambia region in his paper "Vestiges historiques, trémoins matériels du passé clans les pays Sereer" (1993), historian and author Professor Charles Becker writes that:
Finally we should remember the important relic call Sereer in Fouta, but also in the former countries of the Ferlo, Jolof and Kajoor, which marked the migration of proto-Sereer, whose imprint on the Fouta was so significant and remains in the memory of the Halpulaareen.[17]
Lamanic Era
At the time of the Serer lamans, Sine was not called Sine. Instead, the roughly 60 villags were divided into states ruled by lamans, namely: Njafaj; Ña-UI; Joral; Ngohe-Pofin; Hiréna (west of Sine at the Petite Côte); and Singandum — which covers the two banks of the Sine valley.[18][19]
Niokhobaye Diouf notes that, just before the Guelowar's arrival in Sine, there were three notable rulers using the Serer title laman[20]:
Lam Sango, sometimes called Diarno Diouala (or Jarno Jouala), residing in Palmarin
Lam Diémé Fadial (or Lamaan Jame Faajaal), residing in Fadial (Faajaal in Serer)
Lam Wal Satim Ndok, residing in Ndok (east of current Sine)[20]
The Wagadou were century maternal dynasty of Soninke origin, descended from the Ghana Empire,[21] that ruled much of modern-day Senegal by marrying into Serer lamanic families.[22][23][24] Some of the notable Serer lamanic families included the Sarr family, the Joof family, the Ngom family, etc. These lamanic families formed a great council (the Great Council of Lamanes) to settle disputes. It was similar to a higher court where the lamanes sat to hear disputes brought in front of them so they could pass judgement. It was the last resort if a lamane from another part of Serer country could not decide on a case brought before him or the complainant was not satisfied with the judgment.[25][26][27] This Council would elect one of their own as head of the Council.
Founding of Sine
The actual foundation date of the Kingdom of Sine is unclear, but in the 13th or 14th century Mandinka migrants entered the area from the southeast. They were led by a matrilinial clan known as the Gelwar. Father Henry Gravrand reports an oral tradition that one Maad a Sinig Maysa Wali Jaxateh Manneh fled with his family from Kaabu following a battle in 1335 which he calls the Battle of Troubang, "troubang" meaning "genocide" ; "to wipe out"; or "to annihilate" a family, clan, or people.[28][29] Charles Becker pointed out that Gravrand actually described the 1867 (or 1865) Battle of Kansala, although he as well as Senegalese historians Babacar Sedikh Diouf and Biram Ngom agree that the Guelowar dynasty, offshoots of the Ñaanco dynasty of Kaabu, had lost a dynastic struggle there, forcing them to seek refuge in Sine.[30][29]
Near Niakhar, they encountered the Serer, the Council agreed to grant them asylum,[30] and they joined to create a Gelwaar-led state with its capital at or near a lamanic estate at Mbissel.[31][32][33] Under the Serer–Guelowar alliance, Serer men from the noble families of Sine and later Saloum, married Guelowar women and the offsprings of those unions ruled as kings. The children of such unions and their descendants identified as Serer, spoke the Serer language, and followed Serer religion and customs.[34][31][35]
Serer oral history says that after Maysa Wali assimilated into Serer culture and served as legal advisor to the laman council of electors for atime, he was chosen by the lamans and people to rule.[36] He served as King of Sine from c. 1350-1370. Lamaan Jame Ngom of Faajaal, a member of the Ngom family and head of the council, was the one who crowned Maysa Wali, and spoke the proclamation words or crowning speech to him so he could repeat it during his coronation ceremony. He was renowned for organising Serer wrestling tournaments in his country (Faajaal). It was through those tournaments that the patriarch of the Faye family, the "great Serer wrestler" Boukar Djillakh Faye demonstrated his skills and was given the hand of a princess in marriage.[37][38]
The end of the Lamanic period led to a waning of the power and influence of the Lamanes, although the positions did not disappear.[20][39][34][31] Lamanic families pre-Guelowar had real powers and wealth, were heads of their states, and were the custodians of Serer spirituality (A ƭat Roog). After the Guelowar they kept their wealth and titles but were merely provincial chiefs. However, due to their connection to Serer religion, they did maintain some power, and could dethrone a reigning monarch if threatened.[40][41][42]
Under the Jolof Empire
According to legend, Maysa Wali elected the legendary Ndiadiane Ndiaye (Serer proper: Njaajaan Njaay) in c. 1360 as first Emperor of the Jolof Empire. He was the first king of modern Senegal to voluntarily gave his allegiance to Ndiadiane Ndiaye and asked others to do so, thereby making Sine a vassal of the Jolof Empire.[43] Oral traditions hold that the Jolof Empire was not an empire founded by conquest, but through a voluntary confederacy of states.[44] More likely, however, Jolof grew by a process of conquest. In some Serer dialects 'Njaajan Njaay' can be translated as 'catastrophe', indicating what impact his rule may have had on the Serer people.[45]
Serer oral tradition says that Sine never paid tribute to Ndiadiane Ndiaye nor any of his descendants, that the Jolof Empire never subjugated the kingdom, and Ndiadiane Ndiaye himself received his name from the mouth of Maysa Waly.[46][43] The historian Sylviane Diouf, however, states that "Each vassal kingdom—Walo, Takrur, Kayor, Baol, Sine, Salum, Wuli, and Niani—recognized the hegemony of Jolof and paid tribute."[47]
The Serer Kingdoms of Sine and Saloum were the first to leave the Jolof Empire, at least twenty-nine years before the famous Battle of Danki in 1549, which saw the other kingdoms gained their independence from Jolof.[44][48]
Middle Ages
Mbegane Ndour was the king of Sine around the turn of the 16th century (approx. 1495-1514 [citation needed]). Lilyan Kesteloot and Anja Veirman advanced the claim that, Mbegane defeated the Takrurimarabout Moussa Eli Bana Sall, who at that time reigned over Saloum, by poisoning him with a viper.[49] The authors then went on to claim that, Mbegane Ndour was born of the matrilineal royal clan, but out of wedlock and with a relatively unimportant father. His marriage, they claim, with a princess and priestess of Baol propped up his legitimacy as well as helping him conquer Saloum.[49]
The rulers of Sine retained their title (Maad a Sinig) throughout the colonial period and did not lose official recognition until 1969 after the death of Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof.[55]
Post Colonialism
In 2019, the Serer people of Sine decided to reinstate their monarchy, and Maad a Sinig Niokhobaye Fatou Diène Diouf was crowned King of Sine (Maad a Sinig) on 8 February 2019 at Diakhao, the precolonial capital of Sine. He belongs the Royal House of Semou Njekeh Joof via the branch of Maad a Sinig Semou Maak Joof, and a member of the Guelowar matrilineage through his mother Lingeer Fatou Diène.[56][57][58][59] Since Sine is now part of independent Senegal, Niokhobaye Diouf is a constitutional monarch with no official powers. His role is simply ceremonial and diplomatic. He does however, have influence and has been able to utilise the old pleasant cousinship between the Serer and Jola people by liaising with the King of Oussouye (Maan Sibiloumbaye Diédhiou) to help effect economic and cultural development, as well as bring about peace in Casamance, following decades long of the Casamance conflict.[60][58][59]
Economy
The economic base of Sine was agriculture and fishing. Millet and other crops were grown. Sine was very reluctant to grow groundnut for the French market, in spite of French colonial directives. It was less dependent on groundnut than other states. Deeply rooted in Serer conservatism and Serer religion, for several decades during the 19th century, the Serer farmers refused to grow it or when they did, they ensured that their farming cycle was not only limited to groundnut production. Their religious philosophy of preserving the ecosystem affected groundnut production in Sine. Even after mass production was later adopted, succession struggles in the late 19th century between the royal houses hampered production. However, the Kingdom of Sine was less susceptible to hunger and indebtedness, a legacy which continued right up to the last absolute monarch of Sine – Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof. It was very common for people from other states to migrate to the Serer kingdoms of Sine and Saloum in search of a better life. The inhabitants of Sine (the "Sine-Sine") rarely migrated.[61]
Some of the king's government (or the political structure of Sine) include: the Lamanes (provincial chiefs and title holders, not to be confused with the ancient Serer Lamanes); the heir apparents such as the Buumi, Thilas and Loul (in that order); the Great Farba Kaba (chief of the army); the Farba Binda (minister of finance, the police and the royal palace) and the Great Jaraff (the king's advisor and head of the noble council of electors responsible for electing the kings from the royal family).[62][63]
Political structure of Sine
The following list gives a condensed version of the political structure of Sine:[63]
Great Jaraaf (head of the noble council responsible for electing kings; he is the equivalent of prime minister)
Great Farba Kaba (chief commander of the army)
Farba mbinda (minister of finance)
Lingeer (queen regnant/queen mother, head of the female court)—equivalent of minister for women, also judge cases relating to women))
Royal entourage
Paar no Maad (the chief griot of the king, who was very powerful and influential, usually very rich/financially well off due to their profession, knowledge, and master of speech), in Wolof kingdoms, they are referred to as buur geweel))
Family
Territorial command (the title holders)
Lamane (holders of noble title and land)—they are the descendants of the ancient Serer lamaans (the lamanic families))
^Page, Willie F., "Encyclopedia of African history and culture: African kingdoms (500 to 1500)." Vol.2, Facts on File (2001), pp. 199, ISBN0-8160-4472-4
^Oliver, Roland Anthony; Fage, J. D., "Journal of African history", Volume 10, Cambridge University Press (1969), p. 367,
^Mwakikagile, Godfrey, "Ethnic Diversity and Integration in The Gambia: The Land, The People and The Culture," (2010), p. 11, ISBN9987-9322-2-3
^Diop, Abdoulaye Bara, "Le tenure foncière en milieu rural Wolof (Sénégal): Historique et actualité." Notes Africaines, no. 118, (April 1968), IFAN, Dakar, pp. 48–52
^Kesteloot, Lilyan, Dieux d'eau du Sahel : voyage à travers les mythes, de Seth à Tyamaba, L'Harmattan, Paris, ; IFAN, Dakar, 2007, p. 123 (ISBN978-2-296-04384-8)
^Dispatch 175, March 23, 1863, CO 87/76, TNA, Kew. [in] Klein, 1968.
^Sanneh, Lamin O., "Beyond Jihad: The Pacifist Tradition in West African Islam." Oxford University Press (2016), p. 206, ISBN9780199351619[2] (retrieved 12 April 2024)
^Boursine.org (the official website of the Royal Institution of Sine), "Intronisation du Maad sinig Niokhobaye Diouf" (posted on 12 February 2020) [4] (retrieved: 27 March 2024)
^Actu Sen, "Intronisation du Roi “Maad a Sinig” de Diakhao : 51 ans après, le Sine restaure la couronne." By Matar Diouf (10 February 2020) [5] (retrieved: 27 March 2024)
^ abLe Quotidien, "Caravane de la paix : Les rois d’Oussouye et du Sine apôtres de la bonne parole." By Alioune Badara Ciss (27 May 2023) [6] (retrieved: 27 March 2024)
^ abThe Point, "King of Madala Sinic [Maad a Sinig] visits Senegalese Embassy in Gambia." By Adama Jallow (23 May 2023).[7] (retrieved: 27 March 2024)
^Seneweb, "Casamance : Le roi Niokhobaye Fatou Diène Diouf et le roi Sibiloumbaye Diédhiou cultivent la paix." By Absa Diongue (15 May 2023)[8] (retrieved: 27 March 2024)
Sarr, Alioune (1986). "Histoire du Sine-Saloum". Bulletin de l'IFAN. 46 (3–4).
Thiaw, Ibrahima (2013). "From the Senegal River to Siin: The Archaeology of Sereer Migrations in North-Western Senegambia.". In Bosma, Ulbe; Kessler, Gijs; Lucassen, Leo (eds.). Migration and Membership Regimes in Global and Historical Perspective: An Introduction Studies in Global Migration History. Brill. ISBN978-9004241831.
Further Reading
Almada, André Alvares (1594) Tratado breve dos Rios de Guiné do Cabo-Verde: desde o Rio do Sanagá até aos baixos de Sant' Anna 1841 edition, Porto: Typographia Commercial Portuense. online
Diop, Cheikh Anta & Modum, Egbuna P. Towards the African renaissance: essays in African culture & development, 1946–1960
Diouf, Mahawa. Ethiopiques n°54. Revue semestrielle de culture négro-Africaine. Nouvelle série volume 7. 2e semestre 199.
Teixera da Mota, Avelino (1946) "A descoberta da Guiné", Boletim cultural da Guiné Portuguesa, P. 1 in Vol. 1, No. 1 (Jan).
Boulègue, Jean. Le Grand Jolof, (XVIIIe – XVIe Siècle). (Paris, Edition Façades), Karthala (1987), p 16, 169
Research in African literatures, Volume 37. University of Texas at Austin. African and Afro-American Studies and Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, p 8. African and Afro-American Studies and Research Center, University of Texas (at Austin) (2006)
Taal, Ebou Momar, Senegambian Ethnic Groups: Common Origins and Cultural Affinities Factors and Forces of National Unity, Peace and Stability. 2010
Foltz, William J., From French West Africa to the Mali Federation, Volume 12 of Yale studies in political science, p136. Yale University Press, 1965
Kerr, Robert, "A general history of voyages and travels to the end of the 18th century." J. Ballantyne & Co. (1811), pp. 238–240
Verrier, Frédérique, "Introduction. Voyages en Afrique noire d'Alvise Ca'da Mosto (1455 & 1456)". Chandeigne, Paris (1994), p. 136.
Russell, Peter E., "Prince Henry 'the Navigator': a life." New Haven, contribution: Yale University Press (2000), pp. 299–300
Charles, Eunice A., "Precolonial Senegal: The Jolof Kingdom, 1800–1890", Boston University, "African Studies Program, African Research Studies, Issues 12-14", (1977), p. 3
Barry, Boubacar, "The Kingdom of Waalo: Senegal Before the Conquest", Diasporic Africa Press (2012), p. 19, ISBN9780966020113
NDao, Papa Lamine, "Cahier Historique Du Saloum." p. 13, ISBN9782952865395[9] (retrieved 28 March 2024)
Joof, Alhaji A.E. Cham Joof, "Chossani Senegambia", Weekend Observer, 19–21 July 1996, p. 11 [in] Gamble, David P., "The North Bank of the Gambia: Places, People, and Population, Volume 2." (Volumes 36-38 of Gambian studies The North Bank of the Gambia: Places, People, and Population, David P. Gamble), D.P. Gamble (1999), p. 21
Brigaud, Felix, "Histoire traditionnelle du Sénégal", Étude Sénégalaises n° 9, fascicule 9, CRDS — Sénégal, Saint-Louis du Sénégal, 1962, pp. 159–161
Keese, Alexander, "Ethnicity and the Colonial State: Finding and Representing Group Identifications in a Coastal West African and Global Perspective (1850–1960)." BRILL, (2015), p. 152, ISBN9789004307353[10] (retrieved 28 March 2024)
Shams, Feraidoon, "State and Society in Africa: Perspectives on Continuity and Change." University Press of America (1995), p. 98, ISBN9780819199775
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)
Coifman, Victoria Bomba, "History of the Wolof State of Jolof Until 1860 Including Comparative Data from the Wolof State of Walo, Volume 2." University of Wisconsin-Madison (1969)
Dyao, Yoro, "Légendes et coutumes sénégalaises. Cahiers de Yoro Dyao." Publiés et commentés par Henri Gaden, E. Leroux, (1912), p. 16
The Seereer Resource Centre, "Cosaani Sénégambie." Traduit et transcrit par The Seereer Resource Centre : Juillet 2014. « Cosaani Sénégambie » (« L’Histoire de la Sénégambie») : 1ere Partie relatée par Macoura Mboub du Sénégal. 2eme Partie relatée par Jebal Samba de la Gambie [in] programme de Radio Gambie: « Chosaani Senegambia ». Présentée par: Alhaji Mansour Njie. Directeur de programme: Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof. Enregistré a la fin des années 1970, au début des années 1980 au studio de Radio Gambie, Bakau, en Gambie (2eme partie) et au Sénégal (1ere partie) [in] onegambia.com [in] The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC) (« le Centre de Resource Seereer ») p. 21, [in] Doukument [11] (retrieved 28 March 2024)
Diouf, Sylviane, "Servants of Allah: African Muslims enslaved in the Americas" (New York: New York University Press, 1998)
Charles, Eunice A. "Precolonial Senegal: the Jolof Kingdom, 1800–1890." African Studies Center, Boston University, 1977.
Van de Walle, Étienne (2006). "African Households: Censuses And Surveys." M.E. Sharpe. ISBN978-0765616197.