Joos Maternal Dynasty facts for kids
| Joos Maternal Dynasty |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
Quick facts for kids  The Star of Yoonir. Symbol of the Universe in Serer religion and cosmogony. It also symbolizes the Serer people of Sine. (O xoor paÿ). |
|||
| Country: | Kingdom of Sine, part of present-day  Senegal |
||
| Parent House: | Descendance of the Serer princess Lingeer Fatim Beye of Sine. | ||
| Titles: | Brak and Lingeer | ||
| Founder: | Lingeer Fatim Beye of Sine, established in Waalo by Lingeer Ndoye Demba of Sine. | ||
| Final Ruler: | Brak Kharfi Khari Daaro (reigned 1837–1840) | ||
| Founding Year: | c. 1367 (in Waalo) but much old in Serer country (Lamanic-Era). | ||
| Dissolution: | 1855 – dissolution of Waalo after Brak Mö Mboj Maalik Mboj (last Brak), and the defeath of Lingeer Ndateh Yalla Mbooj and her husband Morosso Tasse Jobe by the French. | ||
| Ethnicity: | Sine-Sine – inhabitants of Sine (present-day Senegal), ethnicity: Serer. | ||
The Joos Maternal Dynasty (in Serer: Joos Fadiou) was a royal family line that came from the Serer Kingdom of Sine in the 14th century. This family line then spread to the Wolof Kingdom of Waalo. A "maternal dynasty" means that power and family connections are passed down through the mother's side.
The main founder of this family line was Lingeer Fatim Beye. She was a princess and queen from the Kingdom of Sine. In Waalo, the dynasty was started by Princess Lingeer Ndoye Demba of Sine. Lingeer Ndoye Demba was the granddaughter of Lingeer Fatim Beye, and both were from the Serer ethnic group.
The ancient kingdoms of Sine and Waalo are now part of modern-day Senegal. However, in the past, the area known as Senegambia (which includes present-day Gambia) had open borders. People shared the same history and culture. The borders we see today were created by European colonial powers, with Britain ruling Gambia and France ruling Senegal.
From about 1367, this maternal dynasty provided many kings for Waalo. The Braks were the rulers of Waalo from the 14th century until 1855. In that year, Waalo was taken over by the French, and the monarchy (the system of kings and queens) ended.
Contents
What are the Origins of the Joos Dynasty?
The Joos family is one of many "matriclans" (maternal family groups) that existed during the time of the Lamanes. The Lamanes were the old Serer kings. We don't know exactly when the Joos matriclan became famous in the Serer lands. Some sources say it was well-known by the early 14th century. This was around the time the Lamanic Era was ending. The name of their clan, Joos Fadiou, means "the Joos of Fadiou," which is a place.
Important Events in Joos History
The Joos Maternal Dynasty was one of the important royal families in the Senegambia region before it was colonized. Princess Lingeer Ndoye Demba, who started this dynasty in Waalo, was from the maternal line of Lingeer Fatim Beye. Both were originally from the Kingdom of Sine and were Serer people. Lingeer Fatim Beye was Ndoye Demba's grandmother and is seen as the main founder of the Joos Dynasty.
Lingeer Fatim Beye lived around the same time as Njaajan Njie, who is said to be the founder of the Jolof Empire. Lingeer Fatim Beye was also married to Maad a Sinig Maysa Wali Jaxateh Manneh at one point. "Maad a Sinig" means "king of Sine." Maysa Wali was the first ruler from the Guelowar Dynasty to become king in Sine. His family, the Guelowars, had been defeated by another powerful family called the Ñaancos.
The Ñaancos ruled the Kingdom of Kaabu (in present-day Guinea-Bissau) for many centuries. After their defeat, the Guelowars left Kaabu. The Serer nobles, including Lingeer Fatim Beye's family, gave them a safe place to stay. Marriages between the Serer and Guelowar noble families helped to unite them. In 1350, Maysa Wali was chosen by the people of Sine to be their king. He ruled from 1350 to 1370.
The Joos family from Sine became important in the Wolof Kingdom of Waalo through Lingeer Ndoye Demba. Waalo was ruled by the Mbooj family, whose kings were called "Brak." To become a Brak, a person had to belong to one of three main maternal clans: the Joos (from Serer origin), the Tedyek (from Fula or Mende origin), and the Loggar (from Moorish origin). In the Wolof language, these maternal clans are called meen.
Lingeer Ndoye Demba, a princess of Sine, married the king of Waalo, Brak Caaka Mbooj. Their royal wedding happened in Sine, and then she went with her husband to Waalo. The Joos Maternal Dynasty was already strong in Sine, but it was the newest of the main maternal dynasties in Waalo. The Tedyek and Loggar dynasties were already well-known there.
For nearly 600 years, princes from these three maternal dynasties fought each other to become king. In the 18th century, Prince Mö Mbôdy Kumba Khedy Mbooj, who was the head of the Joos Dynasty, led an attack against the other maternal dynasties, especially the Tedyeks. Many important Tedyek family members were killed, including the king at that time, Brak Yerim Ndateh Boubou. This event led to a major battle called the Battle of Nder, or Talaata-i-Ndeer, which means "Tuesday of Nder."
Some people think the Joos family didn't cause the Battle of Nder, or that there were two such battles. However, most historians agree there was one main "Battle of Nder" between the Joos and Tedyek families. This confusion might come from mistakes in old records. The civil war started by the Joos lasted for many years.
After the "Joos Wars" led by Mö Mbôdy Kumba Khedy, the Joos family controlled the throne of Waalo for a long time. Later, the throne was peacefully given to a Tedyek king chosen by the Council of Electors. Even though Brak Mö Mboj Maalik Mboj (a Loggar) was the last king of Waalo before the monarchy ended in 1855, the Joos and Tedyek dynasties were the most powerful for almost 600 years. The Tedyeks were the biggest rivals to the Joos and provided more kings.
These maternal dynasties had real power. They could raise armies, like in the Battle of Nder. They also had money to help their family members become king. For example, Lingeer Njombot Mbooj, the sister of Ndateh Yalla, reportedly bribed a council member with money and gold to get her chosen candidate elected. Njombot Mbooj (born 1800, died 1846) and her younger sister Ndateh Yalla were two of the most powerful women in Senegambia in the early 1800s.
Before them, Lingeer Yassin (early 1800s) and Lingeer Mbarika Mbooj (1600s) were also very powerful women from the Joos matriclan. Lingeer Mbarika Mbooj was the mother of Brak Yerim Kode Ngone. He was the leader of 17 Joos princes. He spent many years fighting to free Waalo from the control of the Jolof Empire. He is remembered as one of Waalo's most respected kings for helping his country gain independence.
Kings from the Joos Maternal Dynasty
Here are some of the kings of Waalo, called "Braks," who belonged to the Joos Maternal Dynasty. Their family name was Mbooj:
- Brak Yerim Mbanyik Ndoye Demba Mbooj: He likely ruled from about 1403 to 1410. He was the son of Lingeer Ndoye Demba. When other families tried to remove him from power, he defeated them.
- Brak Kiou Kouli
- Brak Mayor Aissa
- Brak Fara Koy Jon: Ruled around 1676–1679.
- Brak Fara Koy Jobe
- Brak Fara Ko Ndaama: Ruled around 1670–1683.
- Brak Naatago Khari Daaro
- Brak Yerim Kode Ngone Mbooj: Ruled around 1673–1676. He died fighting the Jolof Empire. He was a very respected king of Waalo.
- Brak Fara Kumba: Ruled around 1665–1673 (first time) and 1664–1676 (second time). Some say he died in 1676 during wars against Muslim groups.
- Brak Mö Mbôdy Kumba Khedy Mbooj: Ruled around 1734–1735. He is known for starting the Battle of Nder, where the Joos family won. He was assassinated on the day he became king.
- Brak Yerim Kode Fara Mbune Mbooj: He became king by forming an alliance with his Joos family and the Loggars. He was later killed in battle.
- Brak Maboje Kumba: Ruled from November 1775 to May 1776. His rule saw battles between the Joos and Loggar families.
- Brak Saayodo Yaasin Mbôdy Mbooj: Ruled around 1801–1806 or 1805–1810.
- Brak Amar Fatim Borso Mbooj: Ruled 1812–1823 (possibly until 1826). He was known for not wanting to convert to Islam. He was the father of Lingeer Ndateh Yalla and Njombout.
- Kharfi Khari Daaro: Ruled 1837–1840.
Important Queens from the Joos Maternal Dynasty
This list includes some of the important queens or queen mothers from this family line. They held the royal title Lingeer:
- Lingeer Fatim Beye: The main founder of the Joos family, around 1335.
- Lingeer Ndoye Demba: She started the Joos dynasty in Waalo, around 1367.
- Lingeer Mbarika Mbooj: Mother of Brak Yerim Kode Ngone.
- Lingeer Yassin: Mother of Brak Saayodo Yassin Modi Mbooj.
