Maad Semou Njekeh Joof (English spelling the Gambia. Variations: Maad Semou Djiké Diouf - French spelling in

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

, Bour Sémou Djiké Diouf, Buur Sémou Djiké Diouf, Semou Njiké, Maat Semou Ndiké Diouf, etc.) was a member of the Joof Dynasty of the

Kingdom of Sine The Kingdom of Sine (also: ''Sin, Siine'' or Siin in the Serer-Sine language) was a post-classical Serer kingdom along the north bank of the Saloum River delta in modern Senegal. The inhabitants are called ''Siin-Siin'' or ''Sine-Sine'' (a Se ...

now part of independent Senegal. ''Maad'' means ''king'' and

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 ...

means king of Sine in Serer. He was the founder of

the Royal House of Semou Njekeh Joof The Royal House of Semou Njekeh Joof ( Serer : Mbind Sem-Jike,Buschinger, Danielle (ed & trans: Kloos, Jan Willem), ''Van den vos Reynaerde: mittelniederländisch – neuhochdeutsch'', Presses du Centre d'Etudes médiévales Université de Picar ...

, founded in the early eighteenth century. His royal house was the third and last royal house founded by the

Joof family Joof (English spelling in the Gambia) or Diouf (French spelling in Senegal and Mauritania) is a surname that is typically Serer. This surname is also spelt Juuf or Juf (in the Serer language). They are the same people. The differences in spel ...

of Sine and

Saloum The Kingdom of Saloum (Serer language: ''Saluum'' or ''Saalum'') was a Serer/ Wolof kingdom in present-day Senegal. Its kings may have been of Mandinka/Kaabu origin. The capital of Saloum was the city of Kahone. It was a sister kingdom of Si ...

. Since its foundation, at least seven kings of Sine from his royal house had succeeded to the throne including his son Maad a Sinig Boukar Tjilas Sanghaie Joof.Diouf, Niokhobaye. ''"Chronique du royaume du Sine."'' Suivie de notes sur les traditions orales et les sources écrites concernant le royaume du Sine par Charles Becker et Victor Martin. (1972). Bulletin de l'Ifan, Tome 34, Série B, n° 4, (1972). pp 722-732

Family

Semou Njekeh Joof is reported to have had at least thirty-five children including sixteen sons. Although some of his sons were eligible to succeed to the throne of Sine, many died before succeeding to the throne and some of them died in childhood. Some of his children included the buumi - Maha Yandeh Mbouna Joof (variation: Mahawa Yandé Mbouna Diouf), whom according to some was the father of Boucar O ngoni (variation: Boucary Ngoneh Joof - the Serer prince and advisor to the King of Sine -

Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof Maad a Signig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof (variations : Mad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof, Mad a Sinig Coumba Ndoffène Fa mak Diouf, Coumba N'Doffène Diouf, Coumba N'Doffène Diouf I, Maat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof, etc. - c. 1810 � ...

and killed at the surprise attack of ''Mbon o NGOOR'' variation: ''Mbin o Ngor'' which spearheaded

The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune (or Thiouthiogne), also known as the Battle of Somb or the Battle of Somb-Tioutioune, occurred on 18 July 1867.Sarr, Alioune. ''Histoire du Sine-Saloum.'' Introduction, bibliographie et Notes par Charles Becker ...

in July 1867); the

thilas Thilas (or tjilas, Djilas Tilas, etc.) was an ancient title of nobility used in the Serer pre-colonial Kingdoms of Sine, Saloum and previously the Kingdom of Baol, which are all now part of modern-day Senegal. The ''Thilas'' was the second in the ...

- Jogo Gnilane Mbouna Joof and the

Loul The title Loul (or Lul) is an ancient royal title used in the pre-colonial Serer kingdoms, such as the Kingdom of Sine, the Kingdom of Saloum and formerly the Kingdom of Baol. These three pre-colonial kingdoms are now part of independent Senega ...

- Biram Pateh Yandeh Mbouna Joof. They were all children of Semou Njekeh and his first wife (the ''Linguere-Awo'') Yandeh Mbouna Faye daughter of Maad a Sinig Wagane Kumba Sandiane Faye. His youngest son with Yandeh Mbouna Faye (Princess of Sine, later Queen Mother) - was Maad a Sinig Boukar Tjilas Sanghaie Joof, the first from his royal house to succeed the throne of Sine. Most of the kings of Sine in the 19th century came from The Royal House of Semou Njekeh Joof including the last king of Sine

Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof (English spelling in the Gambia; variations: Maad a Sinig Mahécor Diouf - French in Senegal; ''Maad Siin'' or Mad a Sinig Mahekor Juuf, also ''Maye Koor Juuf'' - in Serer-Sine language) was the last king to rule the ...

Status in religion

In the

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 ...

, Semou Njekeh Joof is immortalized in the cult of Tagdiam. The principle

shrine A shrine ( la, scrinium "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French: ''escrin'' "box or case") is a sacred or holy space dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon, or similar figure of respect, wherein they ...

of Tagdiam is named after him.See also: Fleurentin, Jacques. ''"Des sources du savoir aux médicaments du futur".'' IRD Editions, 2002. p 343. Tagdiam in present-day

was where he lived.

Notes

{{authority control Serer royalty Joof family Former monarchies of Africa Maad 18th-century monarchs in Africa Former countries in Africa