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Kingdom of Fulladu, West
Africa |
Empires
Senegambian
Fulani Tribe
Introduction:
The Fulladu Kingdom
which was located in present-day
Gambia &
Senegal, was
established in 1870 after the people of
the Fulani tribe
overthrew the Kaabu Empire. One of the
men who figured prominently in bringing
about the fall of Kaabu was
Alpha Mollo
Baldeh. Originally known as Molloh Egge
Baldeh, he was given the title "Alpha"
and the leadership of Fulladu from the
Almamy of Timbo as a reward for his
leadership and assistance in the
Fula
campaign against Kaabu.
During
his reign, Alpha Molloh divided the 48
small mini states which comprised
Fulladu into five major provinces and
placed four of these provinces under
chiefs of proven valour. These chiefs
served as regional governors and also
acted as local judges. One of these
chiefs was Alpha Molloh's brother, Bakari Demba Baldeh, who governed the
province of Jimara while Alpha assumed
direct rule over Firdu. The other
provinces were Mambua, Patinkuta and
Kamako. While Alpha Molloh was reigning
he invited a number of Marabouts to
Fulladu with the intention of extending
Islam throughout the Kingdom. However,
he died at Dandu, present-day
Guinea-Bissau in 1874.
Oral
tradition has it that when the famous
Tukulor Marabout, Alhaji Omar Taal,
initially visited Alpha's house, his
wife greeted him very welcomingly.
Alhaji Omar was predicted that her son,
Demba Kunba Wude (Musa Molloh), would
one day be king. Alpha Moloh and his
son, Musa, expected Musa to succeed to
the throne of Fulladu because of the
prediction. However, when Alpha died the
religious elders of Fulladu met to
choose a new leader they chose Bakari
Demba who subsequently placed his
capital at Korop in Jimara in today's
Senegal.
With hesitancy Musa
reluctantly agreed to accept his uncle
as king, but only on the condition that
he would continue the policies of his
predecessor. However, once he was on the
throne, he threatened to dismiss the
chiefs and become the only authority
with power. He drove several Marabouts
out of his kingdom and tried to return
the area to
animist beliefs and
practices. Bakary Demba governed for 12
years during which time he had the
cooperation of Musa Molloh and his son
Dansa Sajel and Dikori Kumba who was his
brother. In the final year of his reign,
however, Bakari became increasingly
aware of Musa's opposition to his
policies. Meanwhile, Bakari Demba was
now facing growing opposition from
several subsidiary rulers of Fulladu
including Alpha Mbuko of Kolda
Karantaba. He and other Fulani's
violently objected to mixed Fulas being
the sovereign of the region and were
prepared to go to battle over this. The
Baldehs decided to take the chance and
march on Kolda Karantaba and suppress
the uprising.
However, when Musa
Molloh was ready to go to Kolda while
leading his soldiers Bakari Demba and
Musa's brother Dikori, refused to
accompany him. Musa's soldiers had
warned him that Bakari and others had
intended to be treacherous and were
planning to desert him at the height of
battle. He was advised to get the
assistance of Sheikh Sadibu Haidar who
told him that he would be victorious.
After 6 days of fighting in Kolda he
routed the pure Fulas.
After
other skirmishes and battles with the
armies of the Mandinka war leader Fode
Kaba Dumbuya, Musa returned to Fulladu
determined to extinguish all forces
opposed to the prophecy of his heirs
kingship. He started by getting his
brother, Kikori Kumba, out of the way.
He then marched on Bakari's town of
Korop which was vanquished but Bakari
escaped to Niani where he remained in
exile until he was later allowed to
return.
The only remaining
opposition was Danso Sajel who was
assassinated after talk that he was
preparing an army against Musa from Futa
Jallon. Thus with this final victory
Bakari Demba's reign had been ended and
Musa became the king of Fulladu.
Part II
States & Empires
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