Mawdo Yero,
I remember Dr. Wright requesting to be unsubscribed a while back because of
some inappropriate exchanges on the L.
I however, forwarded Suntou's initial write up to him earlier this morning
just to see if he has anything to add. He indeed did an extensive research
on Niumi and it was fascinating to read his book on Niumi.
Hope he response and once he does I will share.
Thanks
Demba
On Tue, May 31, 2011 at 9:28 AM, Y Jallow <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Professor Donald Wright, author of "The World and a Very Small Place in
> Africa" did his research mainly on Niumi. On page 71 (3rd Ed.), he talks
> about how the leadership of Niumi was shifting among three clains; the
> Jammehs, the Mannehs and the Sonkos. I was just wondering if he is still
> subcribed to the Gambia-L. If so, I would love to hear more on the 12 queens
> of Niumi. This is a part he probably missed to document. With our cultural
> set-up, to where women are not attributed with power, it is very interesting
> to know we had women leaders in the past, moreso at that age of Africa.
>
> Suntou, you might be able to add more to your story on Niumi by reaching
> out to him or buying his book if you don't have a copy. I recommend his book
> to all students of African history.
>
> Thanks,
> Yero.
>
>
>
>
> *There is no god but Allah (SWT) and Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger. Fear
> and Worship only Allah alone!*
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [>-<] RE: The Twelve Queens of Niumi
> Date: Tue, 31 May 2011 10:38:34 -0500
>
>
>
> *[The tradition to make women reign came to an end when the beautiful and
> most lust after Queen Mama Adama couldn’t find a suitable suitor. She was
> reigning unmarried for some time. The women league went into full gear in
> helping the Queen find a match, a Princely male. ]*
>
> Suntou:
>
> I wish we were able to reverse things back here. I tell you though, I can
> take on Prince Sankanu and win. Why would a princely male be needed? The
> picture you forwarded is nice, but it resembles more with the queen's guards
> then than it would resemble to the princely man they were looking for. From
> my mother side, my grandfather was a celebrated hunter, to the extent of
> taming wild animals. I would have still won this famous battle, don't you
> agree? (enough for the humor).
>
> Keep them coming.........& thanks for the history lessons.
>
> Yero.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: suntou touray <[log in to unmask]>
> To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Mon, May 30, 2011 8:23 am
> Subject: The Twelve Queens of Niumi
>
> The Twelve Queens of Niumi<http://suntoumana.blogspot.com/2011/05/twelve-queens-of-niumi.html>
>
> <http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SRYejh83LOw/TeNj4yWVwII/AAAAAAAAAPE/uTrZXGR_L5c/s1600/Chasseur_bambara%255B1%255D.jpg>
>
> By Suntou Touray (Oral narration by Finna Camara)
> Oral historians and bards salute the twelve queens of Niumi from the
> ancient past. Niumi lies at the coastal point of the present day Gambia. The
> Sonkos who emigrated from the Kaabu Empire settled largely in Niumi.
> The Sonko dynasty at some point had only Queens that succeeded each other,
> that is until love changes the tradition. The names of the Twelve Queens are
> not all recounted by the bards’, however, the number is not disputed by many
> oral commentators.
> The names frequently mentioned of the Queens are:
> *Mama Adama Sonko
> Calama Koi Sonko
> Nyanpuran Jan Sonko
> Sajike Sonko
> Sawuya Nding Sonko*
> The rest of the Queens are relics of history, all efforts will be made to
> try to find out who they are.
> The tradition to make women reign came to an end when the beautiful and
> most lust after *Queen Mama Adama* couldn’t find a suitable suitor. She
> was reigning unmarried for some time. The women league went into full gear
> in helping the Queen find a match, a Princely male. (An African hunter in
> the photo)
> One day, a hunter who frequents the river by *Berending* (a settlement)
> was spotted by local women doing their laundry. One of them immediately
> suggests that, they should inform the Queen about the man. *Hamadadou
> Seckan* is very handsome, tall and strongly built. The adoring women only
> wished him for the Queen.
> On return to the Village, they went straight to the Queen. The
> characteristics of the Hunter were recounted to the attentive Mama Adama.
> She without hesitation knew, the women folk at last found her a potential
> match, a suitable man.
> However, Hamadadou Seckan (*Mansa Demba Sonko*) belongs to the old
> tradition of hunters’ secrecy and dress code. This is what makes the story
> so intriguing. Hunters in the past wore strange clothes, *woven with
> horns, talisman, red ink, animal bones, cowry cells* etc. In short, they
> look fearful.
> With all the uncanny attire, the towns’ women knew the hunter is a handsome
> reveals that, women can tell a lot about men than they pretend to admit.
> The Queen instructed the women to be on the lookout for the Hunter. “Should
> he appear, tell him to come and see me”. The women went again to the river
> for their usual laundry. Again the Hunter arrives at his usual midday time.
> He usually collects water for his dogs, whilst he quenches his own taste.
> The women stood back and call out “Baba Nyima” Handsome man, “our Queen
> wish to see you”. Hamadodou Seckan (Mansa Demba) told them, “but you know
> that, the way I am dress, I cannot go into town this way”. Hunters enter
> their houses through the back door.
> The women again informed the Queen that, the hunter came but decline to
> visit because he was in traditional attire, he cannot violate that routine
> and enter the village the way he is dress. The Queen thinking on her feet
> rose up. She thundered that, “tell the hunter to wear whatever clothes you
> have that is not yet wet, and come to see me, it is a command”.
> The third time, the ladies were desperately waiting for the hunter. As soon
> as he surfaced, he was confronted with spear clothes to wear. As soon they
> told him you must see the Queen today, he gave them the usual excuses. They
> informed him that, he put on the unwashed clothes to see the Queen. To this
> suggestion, Hamadadou obliged.
> Love Conquers
> The fully dressed Hamadadou approached the village of Berending with the
> women. As soon as they arrived at the throne of Mama Adama Sonko, she stood
> up. She was mesmerised by the beauty of Hamadadou. She instructed him to
> seat on her throne. He declined. However, Mama Adama demonstrated her love
> by instructing, her largess to beat the *Tabalalo* (special Drum, an
> announcer).
> The Drum is only sounded on special occasions or in emergency situations.
> When the villagers heard the drum, they went straight to the Queen. There
> she was, beautiful, elegant and majestic with a broad smile. The elders
> enquire what the matter is. Mama Adama with a broad smile says “I have given
> myself and throne to this man; this is the man I love and wish to spend the
> rest of life with”.
> Hamadadou Seckan was Coroneted, *Mansa Demba Sonko*. His last name was
> replaced to that of the Queen and he became the King of Niumi who contracted
> the Kaabu warrior, the wandering Kelefa Sanneh to bring under the rule of
> Niumi the settlement of Barriar. *Kelefa Sanneh* was eventually betrayed
> by Mansa Demba himself after the fall of Barriar. Mansa Demba feared that,
> Barrair has been a strong antagonist of Niumi Berending. He couldn’t conquer
> the town.
> His fears were that, in the retelling of the battle of Barrair, the Sonkos
> of Niumi will not be narrated, because they relied on the bravery of a
> wandering Jawaro (warlord). Kelefa was ambushed by his own host unexpectedly
> and killed. Some historians believe that, all this event took place around
> the 1820s to 1840s.
> *‘Bimuso, muso kajelefe ila korokan, yeba nghee suutele,yaba batonkolon’
> Fena Camara is a bard from Sinbanding in Cassamance, his younger brother is
> the eloquent poet/historian Yahya Camara base in Dakar.*
> Posted by SUNTOU TOURAY at 02:23<http://suntoumana.blogspot.com/2011/05/twelve-queens-of-niumi.html>
>
> --
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