The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune (or Thiouthiogne), also known as "The Battle of Somb", occurred on 18th July 1867. It was a religious war
between the Serer people
against the Muslim Marabout
of the 19th century in Senegal
and The Gambia
. Fandane-Thiouthioune was part of the old Serer Kingdom of Sine
now part of independent Senegal. Prior to this battle, the Muslims jihadists surprised the Serer people of "Mbin o Ngoor" (in the Serer language) or "Kerr Ngoor" in the Wolof language
- which is a small village in Senegal
) in the same year 1867, but were ultimately driven back by Serer people
. However, the Muslims' attack caused significant damage before they were finally forced to retreat. The Serer King of Sine, Maat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof
, sent a letter to the leader of the Muslim jihadists Maba Diakhou Bâ
inviting him to an open battle. For the Serer people
, it is "Mbin o Ngoor".
(the Muslim army from Nioro du Rip) army is approaching Sine.
The two men Maba Diakhou Bâ
and Maat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof are now face to face. Maba recited the Shahada
(Islamic declaration of faith) from the Quran as he had always done during his jihads.
The Serer army charged in. Since they asked for it, they must finish it. As Martin Klein puts it, “in one of the most decisive battles in what was then the Western Sudan, Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof defeated the marabouts”, their army and their leader - Maba Diakhou Bâ
was killed. Having killed Maba, Kumba Ndoffene Famak cut his head off and dismembered his limbs then sent the head and an a arm to the French at Gorée
to announce his victory and challenged anyone else who wishes to annihilate the Animist Serers to come down to Sine and meet the full force of Sine. Also evident in a letter he would later send to the French governor where he listed the names of Maba’s men whose blood was spilt on the land of Sine. That letter is considered by some historians such Sarr, Jange and Becker to be a threat to the French.
The rest of Maba’s body parts were sent to different areas and some scattered throughout the country. In a letter marked 31st July 1867, the French asked: "what do you want us to do with his parts?" To which he replied "give him to the Muslims to bury him in a Muslim cemetery."
At the Battle, Lat Jorr and his men realising that "the cause was lost", retreated. (Klein p91). As Cheickh Diouf puts it:
As regards to Maba's brother - Abdoulaye Wuli Bâ, (also known as "Abdou Ba" - not to be confused with "Abdou Boury Bâ" the historian and grandson of Mamour Nderi Bâ - brother of Maba) he was castrated but not killed even though the King of Sine had ample opportunity to kill him. To appreciate why Kumba Ndoffene Famak did not kill Abdou Bâ, one must refer back to the surprise attack at Mbin o Ngoor (Kerr Ngoor). After the Muslims captured members of the royal family in their surprise attack including the daughter of the King – Lingeer Selbeh Ndoffene Joof, Biran Ceesay, one of Maba’s men, wanted to marry her but Maba refused and insisted she should be married off to his own brother Abdoulaye Wuli Bâ. They forcefully “married” the Princess to Abdou and she was raped a rape which resulted in a pregnancy.
Kumba Ndoffene Famak wanted to humiliate Abdou Bâ for not only daring to part take in the kidnapping of his own daughter or having the nerve to forcefully “marry” his own daughter behind his back, but also for what he had done to his daughter. By only mutilating him and not killing him when he had ample opportunity to do so, it was to send a message that he (Abdou Bâ) would never again be able to exercise his duties as a husband to any woman. This is the reason why only one offspring resulted from that forced “marriage” - Maram Selbeh Bâ, who was the product of a rape and her mother Lingeer Selbeh Ndoffene was a victim of rape. The Muslim brotherhoods of Senegal
would not dare utter this. Instead, they try to pretend as if it was a marriage. There was no marriage. Although they are forced to admit that Abdou was castrated in the battle, due to the fact that, if they didn’t reveal that part of history, people would ask how come only one child (Maram Selbe) resulted from that marriage? Kumba Ndoffene Famak’s revenge for his daughter, after he had captured Abdou, in a way did ensure that, they would never be able to conceal that part of history as they have tried to do since the death of Maba.
The events at Fandane-Thiouthioune will send a terrifying shock wave not just to the Muslim Marabouts but also to the French who immediately sent a message to the British governor in The Gambia, that Maba is death. (Klein p 46, 79). Maba the jihadist, whom they at several occasions assisted when it was in their interest and tried to get rid of unsuccessfully when it suited them would be killed by the “Pegan” people they despised in the land of Animist Sine. As for the Muslim Marabouts, it showed that Maba was not invisible. As the historian Pathé Diagné puts it:
At the end of the Battle of Fandane-Tioutiougne, commonly known as the Battle of Somb, the victorious King of Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof nursed his injuries and led his brave warrior army back home. The griots of Sine beat the war drums (Jung-Jung
), whose job as it has been for generations beyond memory - was to preserve and relay history. The following is the victorious anthem of Sine against the Muslim Jihadists (see also explanations):
Religious war
A religious war; Latin: bellum sacrum; is a war caused by, or justified by, religious differences. It can involve one state with an established religion against another state with a different religion or a different sect within the same religion, or a religiously motivated group attempting to...
between the Serer people
Serer people
The Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia....
against the Muslim Marabout
Marabout
A marabout is a Muslim religious leader and teacher in West Africa, and in the Maghreb. The marabout is often a scholar of the Qur'an, or religious teacher. Others may be wandering holy men who survive on alms, Sufi Murshids , or leaders of religious communities...
of the 19th century in 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....
. Fandane-Thiouthioune was part of the old Serer Kingdom of Sine
Kingdom 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:...
now part of independent Senegal. Prior to this battle, the Muslims jihadists surprised the Serer people of "Mbin o Ngoor" (in the Serer language) or "Kerr Ngoor" in the Wolof language
Wolof language
Wolof is a language spoken in Senegal, The Gambia, and Mauritania, and is the native language of the Wolof people. Like the neighbouring languages Serer and Fula, it belongs to the Atlantic branch of the Niger–Congo language family...
- which is a small village in 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...
) in the same year 1867, but were ultimately driven back by Serer people
Serer people
The Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia....
. However, the Muslims' attack caused significant damage before they were finally forced to retreat. The Serer King of Sine, Maat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof
Maat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof
Maat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof Maat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof Maat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof (many variations as well as spellings: "Maad" or "Maat Siin Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof"; "Mad a Sinig" ; "Maat Sine Coumba Ndoffène Fa mak Diouf" ; "Maat Sin Coumba Ndoffène Fa mak Diouf";...
, sent a letter to the leader of the Muslim jihadists Maba Diakhou Bâ
Maba Diakhou Bâ
Maba Diakhou Bâ was a marabout from Rip, and a disciple of the Tijaniyya sufi brotherhood...
inviting him to an open battle. For the Serer people
Serer people
The Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia....
, it is "Mbin o Ngoor".
Fandane-Thiouthioune
After Kumba Ndoffene Famak’s invitation to Maba for an open battle following the surprised attack at "Mbin o Ngoor", Maba and his men came back having acquired arms and ammunition in British Gambia (A. Sarr; Klein p73, 87-88). On the 18th July 1867, the Watchers notified the King of Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak that the RipNioro du Rip
Nioro du Rip is a city in the south-west of Sénégal, situated about to the south-west of Kaolack and is from the border with The Gambia.-History:...
(the Muslim army from Nioro du Rip) army is approaching Sine.
The Battle
After the necessary rituals, King of Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof gathered his warrior army and led them straight to “Somb” (in Sine) the battlefield. It should be noted that although Somb was the starting point of the battle, it did not end there; it ended in Fandane-Thioutioune where the outcome was decided. This is the reason why the griots get angry when they hear those words “The Battle of Somb”. They accused the French archivist and academic historians (both Africans and Europeans) of using the shortcut and condensing the facts. For them it is 'the battle of “Tioutiougne” or “Fandane-Tioutiougne” - were the outcome was decided and not “Somb”' which was only the starting place.The two men Maba Diakhou Bâ
Maba Diakhou Bâ
Maba Diakhou Bâ was a marabout from Rip, and a disciple of the Tijaniyya sufi brotherhood...
and Maat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof are now face to face. Maba recited the Shahada
Shahada
The Shahada , means "to know and believe without suspicion, as if witnessed"/testification; it is the name of the Islamic creed. The shahada is the Muslim declaration of belief in the oneness of God and acceptance of Muhammad as God's prophet...
(Islamic declaration of faith) from the Quran as he had always done during his jihads.
The Serer army charged in. Since they asked for it, they must finish it. As Martin Klein puts it, “in one of the most decisive battles in what was then the Western Sudan, Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof defeated the marabouts”, their army and their leader - Maba Diakhou Bâ
Maba Diakhou Bâ
Maba Diakhou Bâ was a marabout from Rip, and a disciple of the Tijaniyya sufi brotherhood...
was killed. Having killed Maba, Kumba Ndoffene Famak cut his head off and dismembered his limbs then sent the head and an a arm to the French at Gorée
Gorée
Île de Gorée Île de Gorée Île de Gorée (i.e. "Gorée Island"; is one of the 19 communes d'arrondissement (i.e. "commune of arrondissement") of the city of Dakar, Senegal. It is a island located at sea from the main harbor of Dakar ....
to announce his victory and challenged anyone else who wishes to annihilate the Animist Serers to come down to Sine and meet the full force of Sine. Also evident in a letter he would later send to the French governor where he listed the names of Maba’s men whose blood was spilt on the land of Sine. That letter is considered by some historians such Sarr, Jange and Becker to be a threat to the French.
The rest of Maba’s body parts were sent to different areas and some scattered throughout the country. In a letter marked 31st July 1867, the French asked: "what do you want us to do with his parts?" To which he replied "give him to the Muslims to bury him in a Muslim cemetery."
At the Battle, Lat Jorr and his men realising that "the cause was lost", retreated. (Klein p91). As Cheickh Diouf puts it:
- "The Sine had mobilized all its fighting forces and terrorized the enemy. Sensing the danger, Lat-Dior fled, … the sun of victory pointed in horizon of the warriors of Sine." (C. Diouf)
As regards to Maba's brother - Abdoulaye Wuli Bâ, (also known as "Abdou Ba" - not to be confused with "Abdou Boury Bâ" the historian and grandson of Mamour Nderi Bâ - brother of Maba) he was castrated but not killed even though the King of Sine had ample opportunity to kill him. To appreciate why Kumba Ndoffene Famak did not kill Abdou Bâ, one must refer back to the surprise attack at Mbin o Ngoor (Kerr Ngoor). After the Muslims captured members of the royal family in their surprise attack including the daughter of the King – Lingeer Selbeh Ndoffene Joof, Biran Ceesay, one of Maba’s men, wanted to marry her but Maba refused and insisted she should be married off to his own brother Abdoulaye Wuli Bâ. They forcefully “married” the Princess to Abdou and she was raped a rape which resulted in a pregnancy.
Kumba Ndoffene Famak wanted to humiliate Abdou Bâ for not only daring to part take in the kidnapping of his own daughter or having the nerve to forcefully “marry” his own daughter behind his back, but also for what he had done to his daughter. By only mutilating him and not killing him when he had ample opportunity to do so, it was to send a message that he (Abdou Bâ) would never again be able to exercise his duties as a husband to any woman. This is the reason why only one offspring resulted from that forced “marriage” - Maram Selbeh Bâ, who was the product of a rape and her mother Lingeer Selbeh Ndoffene was a victim of rape. The Muslim brotherhoods of Senegal
Muslim brotherhoods of Senegal
This is a list of Muslim groups in Senegal . They are active Muslim organizations that can also be found in many other parts of Africa and the Islamic world.The three largest are:...
would not dare utter this. Instead, they try to pretend as if it was a marriage. There was no marriage. Although they are forced to admit that Abdou was castrated in the battle, due to the fact that, if they didn’t reveal that part of history, people would ask how come only one child (Maram Selbe) resulted from that marriage? Kumba Ndoffene Famak’s revenge for his daughter, after he had captured Abdou, in a way did ensure that, they would never be able to conceal that part of history as they have tried to do since the death of Maba.
The events at Fandane-Thiouthioune will send a terrifying shock wave not just to the Muslim Marabouts but also to the French who immediately sent a message to the British governor in The Gambia, that Maba is death. (Klein p 46, 79). Maba the jihadist, whom they at several occasions assisted when it was in their interest and tried to get rid of unsuccessfully when it suited them would be killed by the “Pegan” people they despised in the land of Animist Sine. As for the Muslim Marabouts, it showed that Maba was not invisible. As the historian Pathé Diagné puts it:
- "Coumba Ndoffene crushed their rebellion. Maba DiakhouMaba Diakhou BâMaba Diakhou Bâ was a marabout from Rip, and a disciple of the Tijaniyya sufi brotherhood...
, leader of the insurgent will be wiped out with his troops and buried without pomp in the heart 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:...
."
At the end of the Battle of Fandane-Tioutiougne, commonly known as the Battle of Somb, the victorious King of Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof nursed his injuries and led his brave warrior army back home. The griots of Sine beat the war drums (Jung-Jung
Jung-Jung
Jung-Jung is the name for the royal war drum of the Serer people in Senegal and Gambia. It was played on the way to battle as well as on special State occations.-See also :*Serer people...
), whose job as it has been for generations beyond memory - was to preserve and relay history. The following is the victorious anthem of Sine against the Muslim Jihadists (see also explanations):
| In Serer-Sine Language | In English |
|---|---|
Fap Hamad Joof Tandeh fo Kae O or Oleh hat Fandane Dala Ngot Bo fud es a buta Mbai a varan'am Sun ne'n Jahu Ye de bgara Me Somb a ndefu Yerer a Tutun Mbai Souka Ndella A raha O ndonga'nga Mbel Fandane eh Talaba a naga pitit pasar Ma Samba a humna Jahu dang O lol O ndongo sima Ya eh! Tig eh fuhuna Han O dal in eh Roog a taha Mbai, O Kor Nadi Vara ndongo yo! Yacine O! Mbombeh O! Kumba Ndoffene a var Maba O kor of eh Hoh um Tugal O! O bai um oleh Sedu Taf um Tangeget Sun neh na Jahu Dob Tonkater o mad. |
Father Hamad Joof, (A) Tandeh and Kaet, the devastation they left at Fandane and went to camp in Ngot. To calm and settle my stomach let Mbaye kill him. This bull of Jahu. (B) Coming back, he passed by Somb, he did not even have time to drink at Tioutiougne. Mbaye, son of Souka Ndella,(C) he pushed away the little talibeh (D) At the stream of Fandane, he! the drums beat loud Masamba is sealed, Jahu begins to cry The talibeh (E) leaves us in peace. He! My mother! There is no time for anger. But to laugh. It is Roog’s will that "Mbaye", brother of Nadi, had killed the Marabou. He Yassin! He Mbombeh! Kumba Ndoffene has killed Maba Your husband! His head is in Europe! his hands at Sedhiou! Sédhiou Sédhiou is a town of Senegal, in Casamance area, nearby the Casamance river.-History:The main historical culture of Sédhiou came from the Mandinka people, but many population is localisate on the area nowadays.-Geography:... (F) His feet at Tëngéej (Rufisque Rufisque Rufisque is a city in the Dakar region of western Senegal, at the base of the Cap-Vert Peninsula. It has a population of 179,797 . In the past it was an important port city in its own right, but is now a suburb of Dakar.... )! The bull of Jahu Dob (G) Will never offend the King. |
See also
- Maat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak JoofMaat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak JoofMaat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof Maat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof Maat Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof (many variations as well as spellings: "Maad" or "Maat Siin Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof"; "Mad a Sinig" ; "Maat Sine Coumba Ndoffène Fa mak Diouf" ; "Maat Sin Coumba Ndoffène Fa mak Diouf";...
(King of Sine Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof ) - Serer peopleSerer peopleThe Serer people along with the Jola people are acknowledged to be the oldest inhabitants of The Senegambia....
- Serer ReligionSerer religionThe 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...
- 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:...
- Kingdom of Saloum
- Maba Diakhou BâMaba Diakhou BâMaba Diakhou Bâ was a marabout from Rip, and a disciple of the Tijaniyya sufi brotherhood...