The Kingdom of Saloum (Serer language : Saluum or Saalum) was a traditional kingdom in present-day Senegal. It was renamed Saloum in the late 15th century by the Serer king Maad Saloum Mbegan Ndour, the son of a Serer and a Guelowar from the kingdom of Kaabu to the south. The ancient and present capital of Saloum is the city of Kahone. Previous to that, it was known as Mbey. The Kingdom of Saloum is a sister kingdom of Sine both ruled and inhabitted by the Serer people. Their history, geography and culture were intricately linked and it was common to refer to them as the Sine-Saloum.

History[link]

Apartment of the Maad Saloum (king of Saloum) in 1821.

Carte des peuplades du Sénégal de l'abbé Boilat (1853): an ethnic map of Senegal at the time of French colonialism. The pre-colonial states of Baol, Sine and Saloum are arrayed along the southwest coast, with the inland areas marked "Peuple Sérère".

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Saloum, just like its sister kingdom (the Kingdom of Sine), is known for its many ancient burial mounds or "tumuli" containing the graves of kings and others. The kingdom has numerous mysterious stone circles whose functions and history were unknown until recently.^[3]

The Kingdom of Saloum was previously known as Mbey (in Serer), which was renamed Saloum by the Maad Saloum Mbegan Ndour in the later part of the 15th century (c. 1494).^[4] According to Serer oral tradition, it was named after Saalum Suwareh, a marabout of Maad Saloum Mbegan Ndour (variation: Mbegani Ndour). The tradition went on to say that, Saalum Suwareh agreed to give a juju fetish to Maad Saloum Mbegan Ndour (originally from the Kingdom of Sine) in order to defeat the Toucouleur conqueror and his Muslim marabouts provided he promised to rename the country after him once he is victorious. Mbegan Ndour agreed. After this oral contract, Mbegan Ndour defeated Ali Elibana and drove his Muslim marabout forces out of Saloum and reign over the country. The consensus among historians is that, it was probably an invasion of Saloum by its sister Serer Kingdom (the Kingdom of Sine). The previous assumption that Saalum Suwareh was a former king of Saloum who gave his name to the Country has been discarded. Instead, the consensus agrees pretty much with Serer account that Saalum Suwareh was not a king but a marabout, who settled in the Gambia where most of his descendants are found.^[5]

Like the Kingdom of Sine, the population is overrun and ruled by the Serer people. The two are generally referred to as the Serer Kingdoms. Many parts of present-day Gambia were former colonies of the Kingdom of Saloum. Originally, Saloum extended south to the north banks of the Gambia River. Present-day Gambia was referred to as Lower Saloum. Upper Saloum was where modern day Saloum is in Senegal. Saloum also had control for a time the Kingdom of Baol. The States of Sabakh and Sandial were ruled by the Farank Sabakh and Farank Sandial (respective titles of the chiefs), and were both tributary to the king at Kahone (the Maad Saloum). Around 1861, Sambou Oumanneh Touray, a deciple of Maba Diakhou Bâ launched a jihad in Sabakh and Sandial. Having defeated the Farank Sabakh and Farank Sandial, he joined the two countries together (hence : Sabakh-Sandial) and ruled it. The last ever Farank Sabakh and Farank Sandial died in that jihad.^[6] During the Serer paternal and Guelowar maternal dynasties from the 15th century to 1969, nearly 50 kings have been enthroned.^[7][8] The kings continued to hold their court in Kahone, but the city was eclipsed commercially by neighboring Kaolack.

Portuguese explorers in the 15th century referred to Saloum as the kingdom of Borçalo, after 'Bor-ba-Saloum' (Wolof corruption for "King of Saloum" - Maad Saloum).^[9]

Although the Kingdom won some major battles against the French, it was later defeated. However, like the Kingdom of Sine, the royal dynasty survived up to 1969 when the last king of Saloum Fode N'Gouye Joof died. His year of death corresponded with the death of Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof - the king of Sine. These two kings were the last Serer kings and the last kings of the Senegambia. After their deaths, both Kingdoms were incorporated into the new Republic of independent Senegal which gained its independence in 1960. Thus the Kingdom of Sine and the Kingdom of Saloum were the last pre-colonial kingdoms of Senegambia to have survived up to the 20th century.

People and Language[link]

Ethnically, Saloum has always been inhabited by Serers, but gradually the Wolof immigrants have settled in along with the Fulas, Mandinkas, etc.^[10][11] Unlike the Kingdom of Sine which is ethnically Serer and deeply rooted in "Serer-conservatism", such as the preservation of Serer religion, culture, traditions, etc., Saloum is more cosmopolitan. Although very cosmopolitan, it is also ethnically Serer, the other ethnic groups are migrants.^[12][13] The Serer language and Wolof are both widely spoken in Saloum. The Cangin languages are also spoken.

Commerce and geography[link]

Saloum includes flat, swampy tideland areas inland from the Saloum River delta. In recent years large areas of mangrove growth have been destroyed. There was a flourishing industry of salt-manufacture at the salt flats along the delta. Its economic base was groundnut trade, exporting large quantities of nuts to Europe.^[14]

See also[link]

	Senegal portal
	Gambia portal
	Serer portal
	History portal

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Almada, André Alvares (1594) Tratado breve dos Rios de Guiné do Cabo-Verde: desde o Rio do Sanagá até aos baixos de Sant' Anna 1841 edition, Porto: Typographia Commercial Portuense. online
• Clark, Andrew F. and Lucie Colvin Phillips, Historical Dictionary of Senegal, Second Edition Published as No. 65 of African Historical Dictionaries, (Metuchen, New Jersey: The Scarecrow Press, 1994) p. 246-247

• Teixera da Mota, Avelino (1946) "A descoberta da Guiné", Boletim cultural da Guiné Portuguesa, P. 1 in Vol. 1, No. 1 (Jan), p. 11-68.
• Sarr, Alioune, "Histoire du Sine-Saloum", Introduction, bibliographie et Notes par Charles Becker, BIFAN, Tome 46, Serie B, n° 3-4, 1986–1987
• Gravrand, Henry, "La civilisation sereer, I. Coosan." Dakar, Nouvelles Editions Africaines (1983)
• Klein, Martin A., Islam and Imperialism in Senegal Sine-Saloum, 1847–1914, Edinburgh University Press (1968)
• Diange, Pathé, "Les Royaumes Sérères", Présence Africaines, No. 54. (1965). pp 142–172
• Becker, Charles, "Vestiges historiques, trémoins matériels du passé clans les pays sereer", Dakar. 1993. CNRS - ORS TO M
• Ba, Abdou Bouri, "Essai sur l’histoire du Saloum et du Rip"(avant-propos par Charles Becker et Victor Martin), Bulletin de l'IFAN, tome 38, série B, numéro 4, octobre 1976

v t e Serer topics History Timeline of Serer history Serer ancient history Serer history (medieval era to present) Senegambian stone circles Cekeen Tumulus Kingdom of Sine kingdom of Saloum Kingdom of Baol Kingdom of Biffeche States headed by ancient Serer Lamanes The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune The Battle of Logandème People Serer people Ndut people Noon people Saafi people Niominka people Palor people Laalaa people Religion Serer religion Serer creation myth Roog (Serer deity) Koox Pangool Saltigue The legend of Jambooñ and Agaire Religion in Senegal Religion in the Gambia Junjung (sacred musical instrument) Sacred places Kingdom of Sine Tukar Fatick Senegambian stone circles Cekeen Tumulus The Point of Sangomar Sacred text Raampa Education Ndut Philosophy Jom Geography Serer countries Demographics Demographics of Senegal Demographics of the Gambia Demographics of Mauritania Culture and language Tassu (conservative and religious music) Njuup (conservative and religious music) Senegalese wrestling Mbalax (popular music) Sabar (music instrument) Tama (musical instrument, sacred through the Ndut-Woong) Serer language Cangin languages Ndut language Safen language Lehar language Palor language Kings Lamane Jegan Joof Ama Gôdô Maat Ma N'Dambao Lel Maad Ndaah Njemeh Joof Maad a Sinig Maysa Wali Jaxateh Manneh Bourba Jolof Ndiadiane Ndiaye Maad a Sinig Waagaan Tenin Jom Faye Maad Patar Kholleh Joof Maad a Sinig Niokhobaye Mane Nyan Joof Maad a Sinig Guejopal Mane Nyan Joof Maad Saloum Mbegan Ndour Maad Saloum Malaotan Joof Maad Semou Njekeh Joof Laasuk Fanaan Faye Waagaan Kumbasaanjaan Faye Maad a Sinig Boukar Tjilas Sanghaie Diouf Maad a Sinig Ama Joof Gnilane Faye Joof Maad a Sinig Mbackeh Kodu Njie Maad Saloum Balleh Njugou Ndaw Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof Coronation of Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof Maad Saloum Bala Adam Njie Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Fa Ndeb Joof Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof Maad Saloum Fode N'Gouye Joof Mama Tamba Jammeh Queens and queen mothers Lingeer N'Dambao Lel Lingeer Fatim Beye Lingeer Ndoye Demba Lingeer Yandeh Mbouna Faye Lingeer Ngoneh Jaay Lingeer Selbeh Ndoffene Joof Lingeer Gnilane Jogoye Joof Dynasties and royal houses Joof family Wagadou (Princesses from the Ghana Empire who married into the old Serer royal families) Faye family The Royal House of Boureh Gnilane Joof The Royal House of Jogo Siga Joof The Royal House of Semou Njekeh Joof Guelowar Joos Maternal Dynasty (of Waalo) Guedj Maternal Dynasty (of Cayor and Baol, founded by Lingeer Ngoneh Jaay of Saloum) Royal titles Lamane (Also connected to Serer religion through the Pangool) Maad a Sinig Maad Saloum Teigne Buumi Thilas Loul Lingeer Law Serer customary law Serer Categories Serer portal

Mababa "Pape" Diouf (born December 18, 1951 in Abéché, Chad) is a Senegalese former journalist, best known for being the president of French football club Olympique Marseille^[1] between 2005 and 2009^[2].

Diouf was born in Abéché, Chad, to Senegalese parents. The family returned to their native country shortly after Diouf's birth.

Career[link]

At the age of eighteen, Diouf moved to Marseille, and eventually became a journalist for a city newspaper.^[2] Diouf centred his work around sport, and particularly the local football club, Olympique Marseille^[1][2]. Eventually he turned his hand to being a sports agent^[2], with clients such as former French international defender Basile Boli, and Cameroonian goalkeeper Joseph-Antoine Bell playing for Marseille. He became closely linked with the Côte d'Azur side, and his intimate relationship with the club culminated in him becoming club president in 2005. Robert Louis-Dreyfus announced that Pape Diouf would leave on June 17, 2009.^[3] He was replaced by Jean-Claude Dassier.

References[link]

• (French) Sport fr (retrieved : 1 May 2012)