Mamadu Diakhou Bâ (1809 – July 1867), also known as Ma Ba Diakhu, Ma Ba Diakho Ba, Ma Ba Jaaxu, Mabba Jaxu Ba, was a Muslim leader in West Africa during the 19th century. He was a disciple of the Tijaniyya Sufi brotherhood and became the Almami of Saloum.
Maba Diakhou Bâ combined political and religious goals in an attempt to reform or overthrow previous animist monarchies, and resist French encroachment. He is in a tradition of Fulani jihad leaders who revolutionized the states of West Africa at the time of colonialism.
A descendant of the FulaniDenianke Dynasty, Maba was born in 1809 a member of the Bâ family of the region of Rip, also known as Badibou. His grandfather had immigrated from Futa Toro, and the family were all teachers of the Quran. Maba studied in Cayor and taught in Kingdom of Jolof, where he married a member of the royal family, then returned to Rip around 1850.[1] After meeting El Hadj Umar Tall, he spent ten years teaching and preaching in the village of Keur Maba Diakhou near Kaolack.
During this time, French forces under governor Faidherbe had carried out a scorched-earth policy against resistance to their expansion in Senegambia, with villages razed and populations removed after each victory.
Beginnings of JihadEdit
The king of Rip in the 1850s was weak, and his warriors would frequently raid marabout villages in the area. After the marabouts retaliated, the king tried to crush them but Maba and his talibes (students) defeated them. This success attracted more supporters, and by 1861 Maba controlled all of Rip. At this point he launched his jihad into Serer territory and soon controlled most of Saloum and part of Niumi.[2] He founded the city of Nioro as his capital, named after El Hadj Umar's capital.[3]
Expansion and WarEdit
In 1862, the Damel of CayorLat Dior was overthrown by a French-supported rival. Maba Diakhou Bâ offered him asylum, and converted Dior and his soldiers from the traditional Tièddo animism to Islam. While his conversion may have been for reasons more political than spiritual, Lat Dior became a powerful ally. With his support, Maba's movement became more than a civil war in Saloum and grew to impact the entire region.[2] Maba would also convert Alboury Ndiaye [fr], the Buur of the Kingdom of Jolof, to Islam. This marked a decisive turning point in the history of Islam among the Wolof.[4]
Maba's forces soon clashed with the French and, despite a defeat, continued to attract new recruits. His army number up to 11,000 fighting men. In 1864 the French recognized him as Almamy of Baddibu and Saloum, but his growing power threatened to unify Senegambia against them.[4] In the spring of 1865 Lat Dior led an army to conquer the Kingdom of Jolof, alarming the French [5] In November, Maba and Lat Dior again faced the French at Kaolack, but were checked by a combined force of 2000 cavalry and 4000 colonial infantry under Émile Pinet-Laprade, allied with 1000 infantry and 500 cavalry from Waalo, Ndiambour and Ndiander.[citation needed]
In 1867, Lat Dior and Maba Diakhou Bâ reconquered Cayor from the king placed there by the French. Governor Pinet-Laprade had little choice but to accede to Lat Dior, confirming him as the French chef de canton in 1869 and Damel in 1871.[4]
Islamization and reformEdit
As well as converting traditional states and their populations to Islam, Maba Diakhou Bâ's forces sought to abolish the traditional caste system of the Wolof and Serer aristocratic states. In unifying with other Muslim forces, West African Jihad states aimed to end the reign of small regional kingships who kept the area in a constant state of war, and the farming and artisanal classes in slave conditions. This centralization caused friction within his realm, as Mandinka people near the Gambia river resented being ruled by Wolof judges from the north.[4] The Toucouleur Empire of El Hadj Umar Tall in Mali rose at about the same time had much the same goals, and Umar Tall himself was in contact with and recruited among Maba Diakhou Bâ's forces.[6]
In 1867, Maba Diakhou Bâ was killed leading forces against the animist Serer state of Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof. By 1871, the Serer had re-instated their traditional monarchy, which was soon to be supplanted by the French[dubious – discuss].
With the continued resistance of Sine, much of Serer territory remained animist or Christian into the 20th century. Sine resistance was likely as much nationalist as religious, with Muslims and animists fighting on both sides of these struggles.[7]
Maba Diakhou Bâ is an important link in the tradition of Senegalese marabouts who trace their lineage to Umar Tall. This tradition has continued to the present, with such notables as El Hadj Saidou Nourou Tall (the former grand marabout of French West Africa) the Tivaouane-based Sy family of El Hadj Malik Sy (1855–1922), and the Niass family of Abdoulaye Niass (1840–1922) and his son Ibrahim Niass in Kaolack. Tivaouane in the north among the Wolof and Kaolack among the Serer have become the two centers of Tijaniyyah Sufi teaching in Senegal, and both were founded as a direct result of Maba Diakhou Bâ's short-lived state.[7]: 67–68
He was interred in the village of Fandène (or Mbel Fandane), and his tomb, which has become a place of pilgrimage, is in the Diakhao Arrondissement, département of Fatick in Sine-Saloum, Sénégal.
^Bradford G. Martin. Muslim Brotherhoods in Nineteenth-Century Africa. Cambridge (2003), ISBN0-521-53451-8 p.78
^ abLeonardo Alfonso Villalón. Islamic Society and State Power in Senegal: Disciples and Citizens in Fatick. Cambridge (1995) ISBN0-521-46007-7. pp. 61–63.
Translation of Fr:Wikipedia.
Tidiane N’Diaye, MEMOIRE D’ERRANCE.
.
.
Joseph Hill. Màbba Jaxu Ba and Islamic Revolution[permanent dead link], 4 March 2006.
BibliographyEdit
(in French)Atlas du Sénégal, par Iba Der Thiam et Mbaye Guèye, édition Jeune Afrique, 2000.
Charles, Eunice A. (1977). Precolonial Senegal : the Jolof Kingdom, 1800-1890. Brookline, MA: African Studies Center, Boston University. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
(in French)L’épopée de Maba Diakhou Ba du Rip, mémoire de maîtrise, Dakar, Université de Dakar, Faculté des Lettres et Sciences humaines, Département de Lettres modernes, 1996. Mbaye, A. K.
(in French)Maba Diakhou Ba dans le Rip et le Saloum (1861–1867), mémoire de maîtrise, Dakar, Université de Dakar, 1970. Keita, Kélétigui S.
Ginette Ba-Curry, In Search of Maba: A 19th Century Epic from Senegambia, West Africa (Preface of the Play by Edris Makward, Emeritus Professor of African Literature, Univ of Wisconsin, USA), Phoenix Press International, Maryland, 2011 [Category: Drama].
Monteil, Vincent (1963). "Lat-Dior, damel du Kayor (1842-1886) et l'islamisation des Wolofs". Archives de Sociologie Des Religions. 8 (16): 77–104. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
maba, diakhou, mamadu, diakhou, 1809, july, 1867, also, known, diakhu, diakho, jaaxu, mabba, jaxu, muslim, leader, west, africa, during, 19th, century, disciple, tijaniyya, sufi, brotherhood, became, almami, saloum, combined, political, religious, goals, attem. Mamadu Diakhou Ba 1809 July 1867 also known as Ma Ba Diakhu Ma Ba Diakho Ba Ma Ba Jaaxu Mabba Jaxu Ba was a Muslim leader in West Africa during the 19th century He was a disciple of the Tijaniyya Sufi brotherhood and became the Almami of Saloum Maba Diakhou Ba combined political and religious goals in an attempt to reform or overthrow previous animist monarchies and resist French encroachment He is in a tradition of Fulani jihad leaders who revolutionized the states of West Africa at the time of colonialism Contents 1 Early Life 2 Beginnings of Jihad 3 Expansion and War 4 Islamization and reform 5 Death and legacy 6 See also 7 References 8 BibliographyEarly Life EditA descendant of the Fulani Denianke Dynasty Maba was born in 1809 a member of the Ba family of the region of Rip also known as Badibou His grandfather had immigrated from Futa Toro and the family were all teachers of the Quran Maba studied in Cayor and taught in Kingdom of Jolof where he married a member of the royal family then returned to Rip around 1850 1 After meeting El Hadj Umar Tall he spent ten years teaching and preaching in the village of Keur Maba Diakhou near Kaolack During this time French forces under governor Faidherbe had carried out a scorched earth policy against resistance to their expansion in Senegambia with villages razed and populations removed after each victory Beginnings of Jihad EditThe king of Rip in the 1850s was weak and his warriors would frequently raid marabout villages in the area After the marabouts retaliated the king tried to crush them but Maba and his talibes students defeated them This success attracted more supporters and by 1861 Maba controlled all of Rip At this point he launched his jihad into Serer territory and soon controlled most of Saloum and part of Niumi 2 He founded the city of Nioro as his capital named after El Hadj Umar s capital 3 Expansion and War EditIn 1862 the Damel of Cayor Lat Dior was overthrown by a French supported rival Maba Diakhou Ba offered him asylum and converted Dior and his soldiers from the traditional Tieddo animism to Islam While his conversion may have been for reasons more political than spiritual Lat Dior became a powerful ally With his support Maba s movement became more than a civil war in Saloum and grew to impact the entire region 2 Maba would also convert Alboury Ndiaye fr the Buur of the Kingdom of Jolof to Islam This marked a decisive turning point in the history of Islam among the Wolof 4 Maba s forces soon clashed with the French and despite a defeat continued to attract new recruits His army number up to 11 000 fighting men In 1864 the French recognized him as Almamy of Baddibu and Saloum but his growing power threatened to unify Senegambia against them 4 In the spring of 1865 Lat Dior led an army to conquer the Kingdom of Jolof alarming the French 5 In November Maba and Lat Dior again faced the French at Kaolack but were checked by a combined force of 2000 cavalry and 4000 colonial infantry under Emile Pinet Laprade allied with 1000 infantry and 500 cavalry from Waalo Ndiambour and Ndiander citation needed In 1867 Lat Dior and Maba Diakhou Ba reconquered Cayor from the king placed there by the French Governor Pinet Laprade had little choice but to accede to Lat Dior confirming him as the French chef de canton in 1869 and Damel in 1871 4 Islamization and reform EditAs well as converting traditional states and their populations to Islam Maba Diakhou Ba s forces sought to abolish the traditional caste system of the Wolof and Serer aristocratic states In unifying with other Muslim forces West African Jihad states aimed to end the reign of small regional kingships who kept the area in a constant state of war and the farming and artisanal classes in slave conditions This centralization caused friction within his realm as Mandinka people near the Gambia river resented being ruled by Wolof judges from the north 4 The Toucouleur Empire of El Hadj Umar Tall in Mali rose at about the same time had much the same goals and Umar Tall himself was in contact with and recruited among Maba Diakhou Ba s forces 6 Death and legacy EditMain article The Battle of Fandane Thiouthioune In 1867 Maba Diakhou Ba was killed leading forces against the animist Serer state of Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof By 1871 the Serer had re instated their traditional monarchy which was soon to be supplanted by the French dubious discuss With the continued resistance of Sine much of Serer territory remained animist or Christian into the 20th century Sine resistance was likely as much nationalist as religious with Muslims and animists fighting on both sides of these struggles 7 Maba Diakhou Ba is an important link in the tradition of Senegalese marabouts who trace their lineage to Umar Tall This tradition has continued to the present with such notables as El Hadj Saidou Nourou Tall the former grand marabout of French West Africa the Tivaouane based Sy family of El Hadj Malik Sy 1855 1922 and the Niass family of Abdoulaye Niass 1840 1922 and his son Ibrahim Niass in Kaolack Tivaouane in the north among the Wolof and Kaolack among the Serer have become the two centers of Tijaniyyah Sufi teaching in Senegal and both were founded as a direct result of Maba Diakhou Ba s short lived state 7 67 68 He was interred in the village of Fandene or Mbel Fandane and his tomb which has become a place of pilgrimage is in the Diakhao Arrondissement departement of Fatick in Sine Saloum Senegal See also EditMaad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof The Battle of Fandane Thiouthioune Muslim brotherhoods of Senegal The Tijaniyyah Expansion in West AfricaReferences Edit Charles 1977 pp 53 a b Charles 1977 pp 54 Monteil 1963 p 98 a b c d Isichei Elizabeth 1977 History of West Africa since 1800 New York Africana Publishing Company p 51 Retrieved 31 May 2023 Charles 1977 pp 58 Bradford G Martin Muslim Brotherhoods in Nineteenth Century Africa Cambridge 2003 ISBN 0 521 53451 8 p 78 a b Leonardo Alfonso Villalon Islamic Society and State Power in Senegal Disciples and Citizens in Fatick Cambridge 1995 ISBN 0 521 46007 7 pp 61 63 Translation of Fr Wikipedia Tidiane N Diaye MEMOIRE D ERRANCE Lat Dior Le Kayor l impossible defi Site officiel du Senegal Joseph Hill Mabba Jaxu Ba and Islamic Revolution permanent dead link 4 March 2006 Bibliography Edit in French Atlas du Senegal par Iba Der Thiam et Mbaye Gueye edition Jeune Afrique 2000 Charles Eunice A 1977 Precolonial Senegal the Jolof Kingdom 1800 1890 Brookline MA African Studies Center Boston University Retrieved 15 July 2023 in French L epopee de Maba Diakhou Ba du Rip memoire de maitrise Dakar Universite de Dakar Faculte des Lettres et Sciences humaines Departement de Lettres modernes 1996 Mbaye A K in French Maba Diakhou Ba dans le Rip et le Saloum 1861 1867 memoire de maitrise Dakar Universite de Dakar 1970 Keita Keletigui S Ginette Ba Curry In Search of Maba A 19th Century Epic from Senegambia West Africa Preface of the Play by Edris Makward Emeritus Professor of African Literature Univ of Wisconsin USA Phoenix Press International Maryland 2011 Category Drama Monteil Vincent 1963 Lat Dior damel du Kayor 1842 1886 et l islamisation des Wolofs Archives de Sociologie Des Religions 8 16 77 104 Retrieved 1 June 2023 Thiam Iba der 1978 Maba Diakhou Ba almamy du Rip Senegal in French Paris etc ABC etc ISBN 978 2 85809 102 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maba Diakhou Ba amp oldid 1165519821, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
