Lamane
Encyclopedia
Lamane or Laman "master of the land" were the landed gentry
as well the title of ancient kings of the Serer people
of the Senegambia region which includes modern day Senegal
and The Gambia
. This Serer title was also borrowed by the old kings of the Wolof
kingdoms. The title is sometimes used interchangably with the old title Maat, Maad or Mad (ancient Serer Kings). These pre-Guelowar
Lamans should not be confused with the post Guelowar Lamans after the Battle of Turubang 1335 which led to the Guelowars migration to the Kingdom of Sine as refuges
. The pre Turubang (or Guelowar) Lamans were kings whilst the post Turubang Lamans were merely provincial chiefs answerable to the King of Sine and Saloum.
Although the post Turubang Lamans were always descendants of the ancient Serer village and town founders (the original Lamans), and their families indeed ruled the the Kingdoms of Sine, Saloum and Baol
etc, the power they previously enjoyed as Lamans became diminished post Turubang but were still titled and made up the class of the landed gentry
. Although their power was somewhat diminished, their economic and political power was intricately linked to Serer custom, Serer history as well as Serer religion
. As such, they were extremely powerful if not as true kings after Turubang (1335), as guardians of Serer traditions and beliefs and could dethrone a reigning monarch
if threatened.
. It was this Council that granted his family (the Guelowars
) asylum
after their defeat by the Nyanthio dynasty of Kaabu
at Turubang (a dynastic war between the royal houses of Guelowar and Nyanthio).
Landed gentry
Landed gentry is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income. Often they worked only in an administrative capacity looking after the management of their own lands....
as well the title of ancient kings of the Serer people
Serer people
The Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia....
of the Senegambia region which includes modern day Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
and The Gambia
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
. This Serer title was also borrowed by the old kings of the Wolof
Wolof people
The Wolof are an ethnic group found in Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania.In Senegal, the Wolof form an ethnic plurality with about 43.3% of the population are Wolofs...
kingdoms. The title is sometimes used interchangably with the old title Maat, Maad or Mad (ancient Serer Kings). These pre-Guelowar
Guelowar
The Guelowar was a Serer and Mandinka dynasty between 1350 to 1969. The dynasty was formed through marriage between the Serer paternal dynasties such as Joof or Diouf, Faye and Ndiaye and the Mandinka maternal Guelowar dynasty of Kaabu in modern day Guinea Bissau who escaped the Battle of...
Lamans should not be confused with the post Guelowar Lamans after the Battle of Turubang 1335 which led to the Guelowars migration to the Kingdom of Sine as refuges
Refuge
Refuge is a place or state of safety. It may also refer to a more specific meaning:*Area of refuge, a location in a building that may be used by occupants in the event of a fire*Mountain hut, a shelter for travelers in mountainous areas, often remote...
. The pre Turubang (or Guelowar) Lamans were kings whilst the post Turubang Lamans were merely provincial chiefs answerable to the King of Sine and Saloum.
Although the post Turubang Lamans were always descendants of the ancient Serer village and town founders (the original Lamans), and their families indeed ruled the the Kingdoms of Sine, Saloum and Baol
Baol
The Kingdom of Baol or Bawol in central Senegal was one of the ancient kingdoms of the Serer people pre-the Jolof Empire, an Empire it would later join voluntarily just like the other States. However it gained prominence after the split-up of the Empire in 1555...
etc, the power they previously enjoyed as Lamans became diminished post Turubang but were still titled and made up the class of the landed gentry
Landed gentry
Landed gentry is a traditional British social class, consisting of land owners who could live entirely off rental income. Often they worked only in an administrative capacity looking after the management of their own lands....
. Although their power was somewhat diminished, their economic and political power was intricately linked to Serer custom, Serer history as well as Serer religion
Serer religion
The Serer religion, Fat Rog is the original religious beliefs, practices and teachings of the Serer people. The Serer people believe in a universal Supreme Deity called "Rog. "The Serer people are found throughout the Senegambia Region...
. As such, they were extremely powerful if not as true kings after Turubang (1335), as guardians of Serer traditions and beliefs and could dethrone a reigning monarch
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
if threatened.
The Great Council of Lamans
The Great Council of Lamans was an ancient Council made up of Serer Lamans (Kings) who divided the Senegambia region into Lamanats (provinces or kingdoms) which they ruled. One of their constitutional duties were to hear legal cases like a Court of Appeal. The first Guelowar king in Sine (Maysa Wali Jaxateh Manneh commonly known as Maysa Wali Jon) was legal advisor to this Council for 15 years before his nomination an election as King of SineKingdom of Sine
The Kingdom of Sine was a pre-colonial Serer kingdom along the north bank of the Saloum River delta in modern Senegal. Much of the kingdom's population was and still is Serer.-History:...
. It was this Council that granted his family (the Guelowars
Guelowar
The Guelowar was a Serer and Mandinka dynasty between 1350 to 1969. The dynasty was formed through marriage between the Serer paternal dynasties such as Joof or Diouf, Faye and Ndiaye and the Mandinka maternal Guelowar dynasty of Kaabu in modern day Guinea Bissau who escaped the Battle of...
) asylum
Asylum
- Politics and society :* Asylum , places of refuge in ancient Greece and Rome* Right of asylum or political asylum* Church asylum or sanctuary, a right to be safe from arrest in the sanctuary of a church or temple...
after their defeat by the Nyanthio dynasty of Kaabu
Kaabu
The Kaabu Empire was a Mandinka Kingdom of Senegambia that rose to prominence in the region thanks to its origins as a former province of the Mali Empire...
at Turubang (a dynastic war between the royal houses of Guelowar and Nyanthio).
Some prominent Serer Lamans
- Laman Jegan Joof (also Djigan Diouf) - the 11th century founder and King of Tukar and Njujuf originally from LambayeLambaye ArrondissementLambaye Arrondissement is an arrondissement of the Bambey Department in the Diourbel Region of Senegal.-Subdivisions:The arrondissement is divided administratively into rural communities and in turn into villages....
in modern day Senegal. His historical account is part of the Senegal national curriculumNational curriculumA national curriculum is a school curriculum which is mandated by a government for schools within its jurisdiction.National Curriculum may refer to:...
. - Laman Jaw (or Lamane Diao) - King of Jolof 1285
- Laman Penga Yaye Sarr - 14th century Laman of the Kingdom of SineKingdom of SineThe Kingdom of Sine was a pre-colonial Serer kingdom along the north bank of the Saloum River delta in modern Senegal. Much of the kingdom's population was and still is Serer.-History:...
and a great opponent to the Guelowar refuges who were granted asylum by the Great Serer Council of Lamans.