Damel was the title of the ruler (or king) of the
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 ...
kingdom of
Cayor
Cayor ( wo, Kajoor; ar, كاجور) was the largest and most powerful kingdom (1549–1879) that split off from the Jolof Empire in what is now Senegal. Cayor was located in northern and central Senegal, southeast of Walo, west of the kingdom ...
in what is now northwest
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤠(Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤠ðž ...
,
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Maurit ...
.
The most well-known ''damel'' is probably
Lat Dior Diop (1842–1886) who died in battle during the final French drive to capture his territory, which was one of the strongest areas of resistance. Lat Dior is a Senegalese national hero.
The 30th and last Damel of Cayor, Samba Laobé Fall, was killed by the leader of a French delegation, Captain Spitzer, at
Tivaouane
Tivaouane or Tivawan ( wo, Tiwaawan; french: Tivaouane) is a city located in the Thiès Region of Senegal.
History
Tivaouane was part of the Wolof kingdom of Cayor, and was at one time its capital. It was first described to Europeans in the 15th ...
, Senegal.
Description
Among the social classes found among the Wolof of Cayor, the Damel stood on the top of the hierarchy. The Damel were traditionally seen as great magicians and it was through female relatives that royal blood was transmitted.
List of damel
The following are the damel of Cayor, in order
World Statesmen.org list of the rulers of the precolonial kingdoms of Senegal
/ref>
*1697–1719, Lat Sukabe
*1719–1748, Isa-Tende
*1748–1749, Maissa Bigué Ngoné Fall Maissa Bigué Ngoné Fall or Ma Isa Bige Ngone Fall (Gambian English: Ma Isa Begay Ngoneh Faal; other spelling: ''Isa Bige N'Gone'') was the King of the Wolof Kingdom of Cayor during the 18th century. Cayor is now part of modern Senegal. He reigned ...
(1st term)[Stewart, John, ''African States and Rulers'', McFarland & Company (2006), pp. 131, 339, 371, ]Maissa Bigué Ngoné Fall Maissa Bigué Ngoné Fall or Ma Isa Bige Ngone Fall (Gambian English: Ma Isa Begay Ngoneh Faal; other spelling: ''Isa Bige N'Gone'') was the King of the Wolof Kingdom of Cayor during the 18th century. Cayor is now part of modern Senegal. He reigned ...
(2nd term)[IFAN (1974), (cont. ]Institut fondamental d'Afrique noire
IFAN (I.F.A.N., Institut fondamental d'Afrique noire or Fundamental Institute of Black Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, ...
), ''Bulletin de L'Institut Fondamental D'Afrique Noire: Sciences humaines. Série B'', pp. 119, 120, 144
*1759–1760, Birima Yamb
*1760–1763, Isa Bige Nagone
*1763–1766, Jor Yasin Isa
*1766–1777, Kodu Kumba
*1777–1790, Birima Fatim-Penda
*1790–1809, Amari Ngone Ndèla Kumba Fal
*1809–1832, Biram Fatma Cub Fal
*1832–1855, Maysa Tènde Jor Samba Fal
*1855–1860, Birima Ngone Latir Fal (d. 1860)
*1860–1861, Ma-Kodu Kumba Yande Fal
*1861 May Р1861 Dec 8, Ma-Jojo Jege̱ Kodu Fal (1st term)
*1862 – 1864 Jan, Lat Jor Ngone Latir Jop (1st term) (b. c.1842, d. 1886)
*1864 Jan Р1868, Ma-Jojo Jege̱ Kodu Fal (2nd term)
*1871 Feb 12 – 1882, Lat Jor Ngone Latir Jop (2nd term) (s.a.)
*1883 Jan – 1883 Aug 28, Amari Ngone Fal
*1883 Aug 28 – 1886 Oct 6, Samba Laobe Fal
*1979 oct 24 Papis Fall
*1982 dec 31 Ami Dieng
* 2007 jun 25 Daro Fall (d. 1886)
See also
* Teign
Teigne (also : Teign, Tègne, Teeñ, Tin or Tañ in Wolof language) was the title of the monarch of the pre-colonial Kingdom of Baol, now part of present-day Senegal.
In Wolof, "Teigne" means the support that is placed on the head to carry som ...
* Maad a Sinig
Maad a Sinig (variations : Mad a Sinig, 'Maad Sine, Maat Sine, Bour Sine, Bur Sine, etc.) means king of Sine. The ancient Kingdom of Sine, now part of Senegal, was a pre-colonial Serer kingdom . Their kings were titled ''Maad'' or ''Maad'' (also ...
* Maad Saloum
Maad Saloum (variations :Maad a Saloum, Mad Saloum, Maat Saloum, Bour Saloum, Bur Saloum, etc.) means king of Saloum, in the Serer language. The ancient Kingdom of Saloum now part of present-day Senegal was a pre-colonial Serer kingdom. Their ki ...
* Lingeer
Lingeer (also: ''Linger'' or Linguère) was the title given to the mother or sister of a king in the Serer kingdoms of Sine, Saloum, and previously the Kingdom of Baol; and the Wolof kingdoms of Cayor, Jolof, Baol and Waalo in pre-colonia ...
* Buumi
Buumi (many variations : Buumy, Bumy, Bumi, etc.) was a Serer royal title in the Serer pre-colonial
Kingdoms of Sine, Saloum and previously Baol. Diouf, Niokhobaye. ''Chronique du royaume du Sine''. Suivie de notes sur les traditions orales et ...
Notes
References
*Crowder, Michael (1968). ''West Africa Under Colonial Rule''. Northwestern University Press.
*Hale, Thomas A., Johnson, John William and Belcher, Stephen Paterson (1997). ''Oral Epics From Africa: Vibrant Voices From A Vast Continent''. Indiana University Press.
*Harney, Elizabeth, (2004). ''In Senghor's Shadow: Art, Politics, and the Avant-garde in Senegal, 1960-1995''. Duke University Press.
External links
Lat Dior, Le Kayor, l'impossible defi
African royalty
Noble titles
{{Africa-royal-stub