Cayor

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kingdom of Cayor
Kajoor
1549–1879
StatusKingdom
Capital (traditional)
Common languagesWolof
Religion
African traditional religion, Islam
GovernmentMonarchy
Kaabu Mansaba 
• 1549 - ?
Dece Fu Njogu (first)
• 1879
(last)
History 
• Established
Cayor defeats Jolof at 1549
• French colonization
1879
CurrencyGold dust|cowries
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Wolof Empire
French West Africa
Senegalese states circa 1850. Cayor is at left, center.

Cayor (Wolof: Kajoor; French: Cayor) 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 of Jolof, and north of Baol and the Kingdom of Sine.

History[]

In 1549, the damel (dammeel in Wolof,[1] often translated into European languages as "king") Dece Fu Njogu became independent from Jolof and set Cayor's capital at Mboul. The French, under governor Louis Faidherbe, annexed Cayor in 1868; Cayor re-established independence in 1871. France invaded again and annexed Cayor again in 1879, when it ceased to be a sovereign state. The kingdom was extinguished in its entirety October 6, 1886.

In addition to Cayor, the damels also ruled over the Lebou area of Cap-Vert (where modern Dakar is), and they became the "Teignes" (rulers) of the neighboring kingdom of Baol.

Traditionally the damel himself was not purely hereditary, but was designated by a 4-member council consisting of:

  • the Jaudin Bul (Diawdine-Boul), hereditary chief of the Jambur ("free men"; French Diambour)
  • the Calau (Tchialaw), chief of the canton of Jambanyan (Diambagnane)
  • the Botal (Bôtale), chief of the canton of Jop (Diop), and
  • the Baje (Badgié), chief of the canton of Gateny (Gatègne).

A great hero in Senegal history, for his defiance and battles against the French, was Lat Jor. He was defeated at the battle of Dekheule, and was deposed twice, in 1869 and 1879. He converted to Islam around 1861.

The 30th and last damel of Cayor was Samba Laube Fal (1858–1886), killed at Tivaouane, Senegal.

Culture[]

Cayor society was highly stratified. The damel and nobles (Garmi) were at the top of the hierarchy followed by free men (including villagers and marabouts) who were known as Jambur. Below the Jambur were the Nyenoo, members of hereditary and endogamous castes that were metalworkers, tailors, griots, woodcarvers, etc. The lowest group of the hierarchy consisted of Dyaam, or slaves. Slaves were generally treated well and those that were owned by the kingdom often exercised military and political power.[2]

Since the 16th century, traces of Islamic influence were felt in the kingdom and in certain rituals among the nobility. Literate marabouts settled in the area from Mali or Fouta. With the conversion of Lat Jor to Islam, the inhabitants began to quickly adopt the religion as well.[2][3]

List of rulers[]

Names and dates taken from John Stewart's African States and Rulers (1989).[4]

  1. Detye Fu-N'diogu (1549)
  2. Amari (1549-1593)
  3. Samba (1593-1600)
  4. Khuredya (1600-1610)
  5. Biram Manga (1610-1640)
  6. Dauda Demba (1640-1647)
  7. Dyor (1647-1664)
  8. Birayma Yaasin-Bubu (1664-1681)
  9. Detye Maram N'Galgu (1681-1683)
  10. Faly (1683-1684)
  11. Khuredya Kumba (1684-1691)
  12. Birayma Mbenda-Tyilor (1691-1693)
  13. Dyakhere (1693)
  14. Dethialaw (1693-1697)
  15. Lat Sukaabe (1697-1719)
  16. Isa-Tende (1719-1748)
  17. Isa Bige N'Gone (1758-1759) (First Reign)
  18. Birayma Yamb (1759-1760)
  19. Isa Bige N'Gone (1760-1763) (Second Reign)
  20. Dyor Yaasin Isa (1763-1766)
  21. Kodu Kumba (1766-1777)
  22. Birayama Faatim-Penda (1777-1790)
  23. Amari (1790-1809)
  24. Birayama Fatma (1809-1832)
  25. Isa Ten-Dyor (1832-1855)
  26. Birayama-Fal (1855-1859)
  27. Ma-Kodu (1859-May 1861)
  28. Ma-Dyodyo (May 1861-December 1861) (First Reign)
  29. Lat-Dyor (1862-December 1863) (First Reign)
  30. Ma-Dyodyo (January 1864 – 1868) (Second Reign)
  31. Lat-Dyor (1868-December 1872) (Second Reign)
  32. Amari (January 1883-August 1883)
  33. Samba (1883-1886)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Papa Samba Diop, Glossaire du roman sénégalais, L'Harmattan, Paris, 2010, p. 140-143
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Lewis, I. M. (2017). Islam in Tropical Africa. Taylor & Francis. pp. 167–168. ISBN 978-1-138-23275-4.
  3. ^ Lewis, I. M. (2017). Islam in Tropical Africa. Taylor & Francis. pp. 167, 172. ISBN 978-1-138-23275-4.
  4. ^ Stewart, John (1989). African States and Rulers. London: McFarland. p. 150. ISBN 0-89950-390-X.

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