Lingeer facts for kids
 |
|
| Royal titles
|
|
| Lamane (also religious) | |
| Maad a Sinig | |
| Maad Saloum | |
| Teigne | |
| Lingeer | |
| Line of succession | |
| Buumi | |
| Thilas | |
| Loul
Religious titles |
|
| Saltigue |
The Lingeer (pronounced Lin-geer) was a special title given to important women in the old kingdoms of Senegal. This title was used by the Serer kingdoms like Sine and Saloum, and also by the Wolof kingdoms such as Cayor and Waalo.
A Lingeer was usually the mother or sister of the king. Sometimes, the king's first wife was also called Lingeer. The word "Lingeer" means "queen" or "princess" in the Serer and Wolof language. People saw the Lingeer as a very important royal princess.
These kingdoms had a unique system where a person could only become king if their mother belonged to the royal family line. This meant the Lingeer's family background was very important. Serer people, who kept many of their old traditions and beliefs, gave women a very strong role.
Contents
What Made a Lingeer Special?
The title Lingeer could mean a few things. It often referred to the king's mother or sister. Sometimes, it was given to the king's first wife, who was called the "Lingeer-Awo".
But the title could also mean a royal princess. This was a woman who had royal family members on both her father's side and her mother's side. In Wolof and Serer traditions, if a woman had royal blood from both parents, she automatically became a Lingeer. The male version of this title was Garmi. Kings often chose to marry Lingeers because they had pure royal blood.
The Lingeer's Power and Influence
Historians say the Lingeer had a lot of power in these old kingdoms. They could even help decide who became king and who didn't!
In the Wolof kingdoms, the Lingeer had many important jobs:
- They controlled some of the king's land. They used workers to manage these lands.
- They provided food and support for their helpers.
- They were an important part of the family system.
- If someone wanted to have a political job, they often needed to get the Lingeer's approval.
In the Serer Kingdoms of Sine and Saloum, the Lingeer was very powerful. She was crowned Lingeer by the King of Sine (Maad a Sinig) or the King of Saloum (Maad Saloum) after his own crowning ceremony.
Lingeers also had economic power. They controlled several villages, and they could use the money or goods from these villages as they wished. People in these villages would even grow crops just for their Lingeer.
Many noble families sent their daughters to serve the Lingeer. Sometimes, captives also filled these roles.
A Lingeer always had a female géwél with her. A géwél was a professional singer or musician, also known as a griot. The géwél would sing to the Lingeer to help her sleep and wake up. They sang special songs to honor the Lingeer's power.
The Lingeer's position was very high. She often acted as a co-ruler with the king. If there was a disagreement between a Lingeer and the king, the Lingeer might even form new political alliances.
Towards the end of the 1600s, Lingeers in many Wolof lands started working with the Idaw al-Hajj. These were Saharan immigrants who created a trading network. The Idaw al-Hajj often served as the Lingeer's religious advisors.
Important Lingeers in History
Many Lingeers are not remembered by name today, but some became famous for their leadership. Later, some were known for fighting against colonial invaders.
One of the earliest known Lingeers was Lingeer Fatim Beye (around 1335). She was a Serer Princess and Queen of Sine. She was married to King Maad a Sinig Maysa Wali. She is an ancestor of many important people, including her granddaughter Lingeer Ndoye Demba (around 1367). Lingeer Ndoye Demba, also from the Serer people, became queen of the Wolof kingdom of Waalo.
The Lingeer's role sometimes included removing the current king from power. In 1673, a Lingeer who had been removed by a new king offered marriage and military help to a religious leader named Ndyai Sal. Together, they defeated and killed the king. Then, they chose a new king who was of royal birth but might be easier for them to control.
Lingeers also helped manage relationships between the Wolof and Serer kingdoms. For example, Lingeer Djembet (Njembot Mbodj) married the king of Trarza (in Mauritania) in 1833. This marriage helped them control both the Waalo and Trarza regions. Djembet made this alliance to stop French expansion in the area, even though many people in Waalo disagreed.
Ndaté Yalla Mbodj was Djembet's sister and became Lingeer in 1846. She also made big political decisions. She famously refused an alliance with the French. She wanted to keep the kingdom strong and united.
Lingeers in Stories and Films
The character of the Lingeer has appeared in Senegalese books and movies.
- In Cheikh Hamidou Kane's novel Ambiguous Adventure, the "Most Royal Lady" is a character like the Lingeer. She reminds people of real historical heroines.
- In Serer oral poetry and songs, performers show the Lingeer as a very important person in their society.
- Films like Abderrahmane Sissako’s Timbuktu (2014) and Djibril Diop Mambety's Hyènes (1992) feature Lingeer characters. In Hyènes, the main character, Linguere Ramatou, is described as a kind of queen.
Where Lingeers Were Buried
All crowned Serer Lingeers from the Sine were buried at Tioupane, in Diakhao (modern-day Senegal). The historic village of Tioupane was where the crowned Lingeer, usually the king's mother, lived. Only Lingeers are buried in Tioupane; the Serer kings are buried in other places.
Even Lingeers who were not crowned were buried in Tioupane, but in a different part of the graveyard. Like the graves of the kings, the Lingeers' graves are marked. Historians are often on site to share their family history. Tioupane is considered a very important historical and sacred place by the Senegalese Ministry of Culture.
Some Famous Lingeers
- Lingeer Fatim Beye (around 1335)
- Lingeer Ndoye Demba (around 1367) – She was the granddaughter of Fatim Beye.
- Lingeer Ngoné Dièye (17th century) – She was Queen and Queen Mother of Cayor and Baol.
- Lingeer Djembet or Njembot Mbodj (active in the 1830s; died September 1846).
- Lingeer Ndaté Yalla Mbodj – She took over after her sister Djembet in 1846.
- Lingeer Selbeh Ndoffene Joof – She was the daughter of King Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof of Sine. She was taken during an attack and forced to marry one of the king's enemies. After her father won a big battle, he punished the man who forced his daughter into marriage.
