Mr. Baldeh, I agree with you that some of the European accounts of
Gambian/african history is full of holes. This is particularly true of
post 1800 writers like Reeve and Archer. Nonetheless I believe it is
possible to seive through all that to get a better understanding of what
really happened.

 From the little I read, many of the writers agreed on a few things;
1. At the time of European arrival  the people along river (primarily
Mandinka and some Wolof) were subjects of  "Boor Meli" or "Batti Mansa"
(somewhere in Mali).
2. The majority of these people (Wolof or Mandinka) were not muslims.
3.  settled among these largely non-muslim nations were muslim
Fulas/arabs who were allowed to co-exist

Moore 1730 wrote:
"In every Kingdom and Country on each side of the River there are some
People of a tawny Colour, call'd Pholeys, much like the Arabs; which
Language they most of them speak, being to them as Latin in Europe, for
it is taught in Schools, and their law, the Alcoran, is in that
language. They are more generally leaned in the Arabick, than the People
of Europe are in Latin, for they can most of them speak it, tho' they
have a vulgar Tongue besides, call'd Pholey. They live in Hoards or
Clan, build Towns, and are not subject to any Kings of the Country, tho'
they live in their Territories; for if they are ill-treated in one
Nation, they breakup their Towns, and remove to another. They have
Chiefs of their own, who rule with so much Moderation, that every Act of
Government seems rather an Act of the Prople than one Man. This Form of
Government goes on easily, because the people are of good and quiet
Disposition, and so well instructed in what is just and right, that a
Man who does ill, is the Abomination of all, and none will support him
against the Chief.
In these Countries the Natives are not avaricious of Lands; they desire
no more than what they use, and as they do not plough with Horse or
cattle, they use but very little, therefore the Kings are willing to
give the Pholeys leave to cultivate Lands, and live in their Countries.
..."
the grammar is his and the typos are mind.

Speaks volume of the people, education, land tenure, the process of
islamization and overall governance in 1730 Gambia.
I guess the questions are: when and  how did it all become bloody? Was
it Jihad or resistance to European colonization? Was it the scramble for
Africa? Was the scramble between Europeans powers (Britain and France)
or between religions (islam and Christianity)?

As for Sabiji/Sukuta - One town, two names, four legends. Another good
reason for history scholars to come to our rescue. Says much about the
history of the Gambia.

That said, Archer and later on Dr Mahoney  mentioned some important
facts and dates that may give clues to the conflict in the area
1. 1816 Banjul aquired as crown colony though a treaty with King of
Kommbo (annual payment $100 Spanish)
2. 1820 Arrival of colonists and missionaries
3.  1830s arrival of cargoes of liberated Africans from Sierra Leone
4. 1840 British Kommbo established to settle some of the liberated
Africans and make room to service Banjul. Yet another treaty between the
King and Britain. Border follows present day KMC. Must have been a
nail-biting moment for the people of Sabiji less 2 miles from their new
neighbors. Also it is worth noting that Sabiji was one of a handful
muslim towns in Kommbo at that time.
5. 1852. trouble brewing between Marabouts and the Sonninkees for
sometime in Kommbo surfaced. The govenment stepped in on the side of
King and his people (Soninkees). Sabiji openly defied the King of Kommbo
and prepared for War
6. 1853. British forces detroyed Sabiji and removed stockade. As
punishment, the Alcadie and leading Marabouts taken prisoner. 7. 1853.
Trouble again in Sabiji. Archer wrote "Sabiji was taken at the point of
baynet, the Frech troops assisting those of colony".. with heavy
casuality. It was later  "ascertained that the marabouts of Sabijee was
led my one Omar, a Moor, who had formerly been an officer in the army of
Abdel kader...." ala  Al Qaida in Gambia?
8. 1855. Salum Jartar, King of Kommbo, was shot dead in Busumballa
9. 1894 Brikama, Gunjour, Sukuta and Busumballa, under Fodi Silla's
occupation. Fodi was one of the Jihadists/resistance leaders of his
time  " it was against these towns a special demonstration was was
considered desirable." (Archer).  February that year Bakote was demolished.

Note the use of Sukuta instead of Sabiji.  It is not clear whether the
town became Sukuta after the 1850s destruction although the name existed
before Bakote's destruction or rebuilding.

Just one last additionto the already crowded field of theories.


Malanding

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