Amar Godomat (or Amar Gôdômat) is the name given in oral tradition to an 11th-century Serer archer.
Mauritanian oral tradition claims Abu Bakr was killed in a clash with the "Gangara" (
Soninke Wangara
The Wangara (also known as Wakore, Wankori, Ouankri, Wangarawa, Dyula, Jula, Jakhanke, Jalonke) are a subgroup of the Soninke who later became assimilated (at varying degrees) merchant classes that specialized in both Trans Saharan and Secret ...
} of the
Tagant Region
Tagant ( ar, ولاية تكانت) is a region in south-central Mauritania named for the Tagant Plateau. Its capital is Tidjikdja. Other major cities/towns include Tichit and Rachid, Nbeika. The region borders the Mauritanian regions of Adrar t ...
of southern
Mauritania), relating that he was struck down by an arrow from an old, blind Gangara chieftain in the pass of Khma (between the Tagant and Assab mountains, en route to Ghana). According to
Wolof
Wolof or Wollof may refer to:
* Wolof people, an ethnic group found in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania
* Wolof language, a language spoken in Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania
* The Wolof or Jolof Empire, a medieval West African successor of the Mal ...
oral tradition, a
Serer bowman named Amar Godomat killed him with his bow near lake Rzik (just north of the Senegal) (Godomat's name apparently originates with this death). The battle is reported to have taken place near ''Khoo mak'' in Serer country, commonly known as Lake Cayor.
One source discussing this oral tradition says that "almoravid Abu Bakar Ben Umar wad killed by the arrow of serer warrior Amar Godomat, in the month of shaa'ban 480 (november 1087). this regicide potentially signals his exodus after taking the name "Amar god o maat", "Amar (which) killed (the) king"."
Another source for Abu Bakr's death says "In the region of Tagant on his way to Djabal al-Dbahab, the Mountain of Gold, he was wounded, according to the chronicles, by a
poisoned arrow
Arrow poisons are used to poison arrow heads or darts for the purposes of hunting and warfare. They have been used by indigenous peoples worldwide and are still in use in areas of South America, Africa and Asia. Notable examples are the poisons se ...
, shot by an old black bowman who could not see unless his eye- lids were raised up to uncover his eyeballs. The black bowman asked his daughter to hold open his eyes so that he could aim his arrow. It struck the Amir in the knee. Abu Bakr turned his horse around and rode off..." dying when he arrived in
Tagant.
See also
*
Serer people
*
Serer Religion
The Serer religion, or ''a ƭat Roog'' ("the way of the Divine"), is the original religious beliefs, practices, and teachings of the Serer people of Senegal in West Africa. The Serer religion believes in a universal supreme deity called Roog ...
*
Serer history (medieval era to present)
The medieval history of the Serer people of Senegambia is partly characterised by resisting Islamization from perhaps the 11th century during the Almoravid movement (which would later result in the Serers of Takrur migration to the south), to the ...
Notes
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ama Godo Maat
Archers
Military history of Africa
Serer royalty
Maad
Serer patriarchs