al-Hajj Mahmadu Lamine (died 9 December 1887) was a nineteenth-century

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

ese

Tijani The Tijāniyyah ( ar, الطريقة التجانية, Al-Ṭarīqah al-Tijāniyyah, The Tijānī Path) is a Sufi tariqa (order, path), originating in the Maghreb but now more widespread in West Africa, particularly in Senegal, The Gambia, ...

marabout A marabout ( ar, مُرابِط, murābiṭ, lit=one who is attached/garrisoned) is a Muslim religious leader and teacher who historically had the function of a chaplain serving as a part of an Islamic army, notably in North Africa and the Saha ...

who led an unsuccessful rebellion against the

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

colonial government.

Early life, education, and hajj

Lamine, also known as al-Hajj Muḥammad al-Amīn, was born between 1830 and 1840 at Goundiorou, near Kayes in what is now Mali. Educated in the Qur'an first by his father, a cleric, Lamine studied as well at Tabajang and Bunumbu before later study under Fodé-Mohammed-Saloum at Bakel. He traveled to

Ségou Ségou (; bm, ߛߋߓߎ, italic=no, ) is a town and an urban commune in south-central Mali that lies northeast of Bamako on the right bank of the River Niger. The town is the capital of the Ségou Cercle and the Ségou Region. With 130,690 i ...

, probably after 1850, where he met

Umar Tall Hadji Oumarûl Foutiyou Tall (Umar ibn Sa'id al-Futi Tal, ar, حاج عمر بن سعيد طعل), ( – 1864 CE), born in Futa Tooro, present day Senegal, was a West African political leader, Islamic scholar, Tijani Sufi and Toucouleur ...

and may have served him. Some time between 1864 and 1874, Lamine went on a

hajj The Hajj (; ar, حَجّ '; sometimes also spelled Hadj, Hadji or Haj in English) is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried ...

, likely leaving Ségou a while after the death of

and returning between 1878 and 1880.

Uprising

Lamine traveled to

Upper Senegal Upper may refer to: * Shoe upper or ''vamp'', the part of a shoe on the top of the foot * Stimulant, drugs which induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical function or both * ''Upper'', the original film title for the 2013 found f ...

and began gathering followers using the prestige gained from his hajj and subsequent role in the Toucouleur

jihad Jihad (; ar, جهاد, jihād ) is an Arabic word which literally means "striving" or "struggling", especially with a praiseworthy aim. In an Islamic context, it can refer to almost any effort to make personal and social life conform with Go ...

. In February 1886, Lamine led his forces in armed rebellion against the French. By the end of the month, they had taken

Bundu Bundu may refer to: * Bundu (state), a former state in what is now Senegal * Also known as the place where Aditya Kumar (BE/10023/12) was born and brought up * Bundu, India, a town in Jharkhand, India ** Bundu block, the larger administrative uni ...

and Guoy, and vastly outnumbered the local French garrison at Medina Fort. When French reinforcements to

Kayes Kayes (Bambara language, Bambara: ߞߊߦߌ tr. ''Kayi'', Soninke language, Soninké: ''Xaayi'') is a city in western Mali on the Sénégal River with a population of 127,368 at the 2009 census. Kayes is the capital of the Kayes Region, administ ...

were delayed, Lamine began a siege of Fort Bakel. However, the siege was soon broken, and Lamine's forces retreated toward the

Gambia The Gambia,, ff, Gammbi, ar, غامبيا officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country within mainland AfricaHoare, Ben. (2002) ''The Kingfisher A-Z Encyclopedia'', Kingfisher Publicatio ...

n border, attacking villages in their path. Lt. Col.

Joseph Galliéni Joseph Simon Gallieni (24 April 1849 – 27 May 1916) was a French soldier, active for most of his career as a military commander and administrator in the French colonies. Gallieni is infamous in Madagascar as the French military leader who e ...

, the new French military commander for the region, sent more forces in pursuit. On

Christmas Day Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, ...

, 1886, the French entered Lamine's capital at Diana, though Lamine himself escaped. Following this defeat, Lamine took several months to regroup, launching his next attack at the

Ouli province Ouli is a town and commune in Cameroon. See also *Communes of Cameroon The Arrondissements of Cameroon are the third-level units of administration in Cameroon. The arrondissements are organised by divisions and sub divisions of each province (n ...

in July 1887. Galliéni again sent his troops in pursuit, seizing Lamine's stronghold at Toubakouta on 8 December 1887. This time, Lamine was captured, and was executed by French forces on the following day. His skull currently resides in the Musée de l’Homme.

References

External links

Notes on ''The Conquest of the Western Sudan''
1887 deaths People of French West Africa Senegalese Muslims Senegalese religious leaders Year of birth missing Tijaniyyah order {{Senegal-bio-stub