Baboucarr,

Thank you for this wonderful lesson on the Soninke. yes, I remember studying 
about the Soninke empire, even though, in my opinion,not enough time was 
spent on teaching us our own history in those days at GHS. We certainly spent 
a lot of time learing about the history of the British Empire from an 
unbelievably thick book. I will never forget the colour, blue. Talk about 
brainwashing.
Speaking of the Soninke and commerce, engaging in commerce is a noble 
profession that allows one to be in control of your own time, and in Islam, 
it is the tradition of the Prophet because one can always set business aside 
and do one's prayers, and a white collar job does not accord one that. And, 
as I always tell my kids, there are two kinds of people in the World, those 
who work for others, and those who hire others to do that work, and you 
guessed it, the entrepreneur.  I am not sure I would want to change that, but 
that could be because I happen to like comemerce, as well as being teh 
offspring of someone who earned his living as a commercial trader.

 I have a very keen interest in African history, and there are so many 
wonderful things to learn.
I am also glad that the impending misunderstanding surrounding this post was 
seen as just that. 
At the same time, I would like to invite those who are well versed in our 
history or anyone with interesting historical facts to share them with the 
rest of the list. I think that will be something both interesting and 
educational, so how about it?

Jabou Joh
In a message dated 1/22/01 7:26:19 AM Eastern Standard Time, 
[log in to unmask] writes:

Siste Jabou,
 Thanks for your comments. There has been a lot of mis conceptions about the
 name of this ethnic group. There Real and Original name is SONINKE. They
 were the founders of the ancient Ghana Empire(also known as Wagadu) which is
 today covered by Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ginea
 Bissau, etc. They also built the Son-ghai Empire.
 They are known diffently according to which other ethnic group you listen
 to.
 The name "Sarahulle" has been given to them by the wolof and it is
 widespread IN Gambia. it is from the wolof word "KHOLL" or throat because
 most of the Soninke words are pronouced with emphasis from the throat. In
 senegal, they are known as Soninke so as n Mauritania. In Mali, Sierra
 Leone, Cote DÍvoire and Guinea Conakry, they are aknown as MARAKA (some
 parts of Mali refer them as SONINKE.
 In Guinea Bissau, they are known as the BADUGULA and Soninke. They are also
 know within the ethnic group as "Manda Saraholle"
 NB:The SONINKE belong to the Mande family of languages found in West Africa
 and Bilad-es-Sudan. (Mandika, Bambana are two examples of the Mande language
 family).
 I hope this will help us of us to understand the origin and names of the
 soninkes which is still not known to many. In the past the Soninkes were
 empire builders. But since the arrival of colonialism and its afteramath,
 their interest in politics faded away. Today commerce and labour commprise
 their noble objectives. Thats why it is rare to see them seeking
 white-collar jobs though it is gradually changing.
 
 May Soninke elders refer their motivation in Commerce to Sheik Muhammed
 Lamin Drammeh (of yona). He was a celebrated cleric and anti-colonialist
 who(looking back at the comercial successes of Ghana Empire) advised the
 Soninkes to follow commerce and trade with hard work for their future.
 There is still more to explain but till another time.
 
 your compatriot
 BUBACARR SANKANU
 
  >>

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