Birayma N'dyeme Eler, also spelled Biram Njeme Eler (ruled c.1465–c.1481) was the seventh ruler, or ''Burba'', of the

Jolof Empire The Jolof Empire (), also known as Great Jolof or the Wolof Empire, was a Wolof state in modern-day Senegal, that ruled portions of Mauritania and Gambia from the mid-14th centuryFage, J. D.; Oliver, Roland; "The Cambridge History of Africa." Vo ...

. He was a member of the Jonaï maternal lineage, which originated in

Baol Baol or Bawol was a kingdom in what is now central Senegal. Founded in the 11th century, it was a vassal of the Jolof Empire before becoming independent in the mid-16th century. The ruler bore the title of Teigne (title), Teigne (or Teeň) and re ...

Reign

Information about Biram Njeme Eler, coming mostly from oral histories, is debated by scholars. Rokhaya Fall, relying on Senegambian oral histories as well as 15th century Portuguese sources, credits him with founding a new capital for the empire at Ceng as well as conquering

Namandirou Namandirou (also spelled Nammandiru), also known as Njarmeew or Geremeo, was a kingdom in what is now eastern Senegal. Etymology The name 'Namandirou' means 'country of abundance'. It is the more ancient name, while 'Njarmeew' or 'Geremeo' was ...

Saloum The Kingdom of Saloum ( Serer: ''Saluum'' or ''Saalum'') was a Serer kingdom in present-day Senegal and parts of Gambia. The precolonial capital was the city of Kahone. Re-established in 2017, Saloum is now a non-sovereign traditional monarch ...

, and the

Mandinka Mandinka, Mandika, Mandinkha, Mandinko, or Mandingo may refer to: Media * Mandingo (novel), ''Mandingo'' (novel), a bestselling novel published in 1957 * Mandingo (film), ''Mandingo'' (film), a 1975 film based on the eponymous 1957 novel * ''Man ...

kingdoms of the north bank of the

Gambia river The Gambia River (formerly known as the River Gambra, French language, French: ''Fleuve Gambie'', Portuguese language, Portuguese: ''Rio Gâmbia'') is a major river in West Africa, running from the Fouta Djallon plateau in north Guinea westward ...

in the middle of the century. Oumar Kane, however, assigns responsibility for much of these deeds to a precursor,

Cukli Njiklaan Tyukuli N'Diklam, also spelled Cukuli Njiklaan, was the fourth ruler, or ''Burba'', of the Jolof Empire. Stewart places his rule between c.1420 and c.1440. Senegalese scholar Oumar Kane, however, proposes that he was born in 1433 and identifies him ...

. Eler was succeeded by his nephew, Tasé Daaguleen, after Tasé had defeated his son Bukar Bige in a power struggle.

References

{{Africa-royal-stub 15th-century monarchs in Africa Year of birth missing 1481 deaths People from the Jolof Empire