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Empire of The Wolof, West
Africa |
Empires
Senegambian
Wolof Tribe
Introduction:
The Wolof Empire
(also spelt Wollof, Jolof or Jollof) emerged soon after
300 AD in the Senegambia Valley between
the Gambia and Senegal rivers. To
the north east it was bounded by the
semi-desert ferlo, beyond which was
Futa
Toro. To the east it was bounded by the
states which came under the rule of the
Manding. And finally to the south lay
the Gambia River.
Origins:
It is thought the
Wollof people originated from the Sahara
before is became hostile to farming due to desertification. As the
environment deteriorated some of them drifted into the Senegalese
areas of Futa Toro and modern-day south eastern Mauritania. With the
Arab conquests of around 640 AD they were forced to move into north
and east Senegal where over time villages developed into autonomous
states such as Baol, Kayor, Saloum, Dimar, Walo and Sine the overall
ruling state being that of Jolof who came together voluntarily to form
the Jolof Empire.
Legend
has it that in Walo the fishermen from several villages argued
vehemently over firewood which lay along the edge of a lake at
Mengen. Just before matters developed
into violence a mysterious person called
Ndyadyane Ndyaye (Njanjan Njie) arose from the lake and shared
out the firewood fairly among the men and promptly vanished much to
their bafflement. The decision was made to try and catch him so they
feigned another argument and when he appeared he was caught. When
Mansa Wali Jon the ruler of Sine, who
was himself endowed with supernatural powers, heard about the strange
goings on in Mengen he shouted "Ndyadyane Ndyaye" which is an
expression of utter amazement. This name was given to the strange
visitor (actual name: Amadu Bubakar Ibn Muhammed). He became the first
ruler of the new empire with the title Burba
Jolof and other states voluntarily pledged allegiance to him.
Thus the new empire arose around 300 AD in the Senegambia valley which
stretched from the Gambia River and encompassed most of modern-day
Senegal.
Nationhood:
By the end of the 15th century, the Wolof states of Jolof, Kayor,
Baol and Walo had become united in a
federation with Jolof as the
metropolitan power. The position of king
was held by the Burba Wolof and the
rulers of the other component states
owed loyalty to him while being allowed
local sovereignty in internal state
matters. Saloum and Sine were
later brought within the union. Before
they became involved in trading with the
Portuguese merchants on the coast, the
Wolof people enjoyed the benefits of
long established trading and cultural
ties with the Western Sudanese
empires
and had also benefited from trading with
Futa Toro and the Berbers from North
Africa. Through these early trading
links and organisation the Wolof states
grew wealthy and had formidable
strength.
Emergence of
Cayor:
Starting in the 1440's
Portuguese soldiers and seamen
garrisoned the small island of Arguin,
on the northerly coast of Mauritania and
raided the Senegambian mainland for
captives whom they took back to Portugal
and sold as slaves. By the 1450's,
however, this form of kidnapping
gradually developed into regular trade
between the trade representatives of
Burba Wolof and his petty state rulers
and the Portuguese sea captains. The
kings of the various Wolof states proved
eager to exchange captives for European
goods such as textiles, firearms, metal
items and cotton.
Cayor state
benefited greatly from this trade
because it bordered the coast and
included the lands around Cape Verde
where the Portuguese set up their
initial trading links with the Wollof.
This geographical advantage gave the
prominent men of Cayor commercial
advantages which made them powerful and
gave them the desire to be independent
of Jolof's hegemony over them. In around
1556 the nobility of Cayor rebelled
against the Burba Jolof and gained its
independence. The new royal title of the
king of Cayor was Damel. Emboldened by
this success the Damel of Cayor invaded
and conquered the neighbouring state of
Baol. To cap it all Cayor later defeated
the Jolof army and their Burba leader.
Decline & Fall:
As a result of this new state of affairs
the prosperity of Jolof declined due to
the fact that its contact with the
European traders was severed by Cayor.
However, because the Damels of Cayor
late proved incapable of building a
cohesive and strong empire of their own
they were repeatedly attacked by the
northern Mauritanian Berbers.
This led to Baol severing the domination
of Cayor in 1686. Shortly after this
Jolof took advantage of this weakness in
Cayor's power and attacked. They had
partial success when the Damel was
killed. In later battles the Burba Jolof
was killed and his army forced back.
After this the king of Baol, Latir Faal
Sukabe, took control of Cayor and became
the new Damel. He ruled until 1702.
Such battles and wars continued between
the noble rulers of the Jolof states
until the late 19th century when they
were eventually subdued by the French
colonials.
States & Empires
See also
Wolof Tribe
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