DOI: 10.25592/uhhfdm.10314
title: A Translation of a Script in Arabic on The History of The Jaxanka People, The Islamisation of West Africa, The History of Niani And Sandu (NCAC_RDD_TAPE_0168A_B)

description: <strong>Side A: History of The Jaxanka People</strong>

When the Arabs left from Arabia, they headed to Africa through Babel Mandabi.  

Islam came through Sudan to Bahrulahon Asobia Habsa country and then to Misira (Egypt) and in 642 after the death of Christ.  

Islam started spreading from there to Nobatou a town located by sea where Ham, son of Noah, had his twins. They were black in complexion and that was embarrassing to him and he absconded to another land.

When the children grew older they went to search for their father and they arrived in Noba at a time when Islam got there, and that was at 652 after the death of Christ. War broke out between Noba and the Roman Catholics in 1323 at Baja.

The Arabs went to Sudan through Misira and then to Darfur. Islam spread in Darfur and to Chad and then to the West African coast and to other parts of Africa. Islam spread in these regions during 668 after the death of Christ.

The first Jihad leaders were Uthba Bin Nafiyou, Asan Bin Noman and Tarik Bin Jab. 

Arabs became rivals and some left and headed to Africa. Jihad broke out in the Sahara region at Jenne and Asab as well.

Islam got to Gana to the Yorubas, Hausas and Fulani. The Hausas spread Islam in Sierra Leone and the Mandinkas spread Islam in Gana, Guinea up to the coast where the two Islamic parties met.

Gambia emanated from the Gana empire. The king then was Basarang Colley who was around Mali. Mali and Songhai were together.The first king in Mali was Sunjata Keita in 1545, he was the most popular king in Mali. He conquered Jenne and the Mossi ruler.

Mansa Musa the king of Kankan died on his way from performing pilgrimage in Mecca. Sulayman took over the throne in 1500 and 1570 at Kawong.  

When Askia Muhamed was the king, he opened many Islamic learning centers in 1600. He ruled for some time. Later the king of Morocco took over the land and that was Gao, Jenne and Sudan.

Mamadi Coulibally was the ruler of Sikasso, Jenne and Timbuktu in 1650. Alhagi Umaru from Sundan fought Mamadi Coulibally and killed him. He left Madina to Segou and conquered Segou and then settled his son Amadou at Hamdallaye and continued to Banjagara. After 60 years at Banjagara, Amadou Segou left to Hausa land.

When the Europeans came to the region, they invited all the rulers and warned them to seize the war between them. Amadou and the Europeans fought for 18 years. They met at Bisandugu and he fought with Colonel Arsenal at Kankan. One of Amadou’s sons supported the Europeans and fought the ruler of Sikasso who was referred to as, very cruel.

Before the arrival of the Europeans, there were Muslims and non-Muslims in the region. The most popular kingdom was Ndungu Sine. The ruler Mansa Bari Camara was in Kataba, a small town East of Kuntaur. There was a ruler called Wally at Niani who settled a village called Walliya.

People came from the East to the West Africa. They first settled at Kupantum Mandinka Kunda were Wally Camara was the ruler. Members of the Camara clan wer known to be the first settlers of Niani. Other people settled at Kissang, Jambur and Jumbiya and the capital was Ndungu Sine. 

The first Jaxanka that settled in the region came from Masina and were known to be knowledgeable and Islamic scholars. When they left Masina, they first settled in Bambuku Jarka in Tukulor land. Some of them left to Fouta and some went to Bundu. After a while some left Bundu because of the war and headed to the Gambia.This was during Jihad war of Sheik Muhamed Lamin Drammeh.

Sheik Muhamed Lamin Drammeh, a Soninke, who hailed from Gunjur was fighting a holy war against the Non-Muslims. He was attacked by the Europeans and fled to Bundu. While he was there the Europeans attacked him again and he left but he was blocked by Bundu Seykunda and he fought with them and both sides suffered.

Muhamed Janteh was a great Islamic scholar at Seykunda who left to Niani Sukuta and wanted to cross to the other side of the river but could not and he turned to Niani Kayai.

The people of Niani attacked and killed him. They took his head to the Europeans and they buried his body at Yonna. Now his grave cannot be traced.

The Jaxanka clans that first came to the Gambia were great Islamic scholars like, Kabaa, Jakite, Gasama and Jaabi. The most popular among the Gassama clan was Sambu who settled at Wulli Sutukoba. He had a big family and among his family was Yusufa his last son whom he loved a lot. When he grew up, he went to study with Alhagi Salim Suware. When Yusufa came to visit his family he returned with his father and some of the family members went to settle in Fata Tenda. Others left to settle in Foni and they became the Kujaabi last names. Sambu continued with Yusufa to his teacher Alhagi Salim Suware, on their way Yusufa threw his father’s idol in the river.  Sambu later converted to Islam and married Salim Suware’s daughter. They got children and they were called Foday Yonankoolu. The children of Yusupha were called Yamayankoolu.

<strong>History of Niani</strong>

The ruler of Niani Kataba used to get the best share of all what the people got. After a long time in that state of oppression on the people of Niani the Muslims made plans to find a solution to their condition. The first European who came there was Mungo Park, who was killed and buried at Karantaba Tenda in Sandu.

The Camara clan rule became so terrible for the Muslims and there was a marabout called Hafoday Jawla at Kupantum. Hafoday went to the East to seek blessings and found and old man who prayed for him so as to keep him from spilling the blood of Muslims. Hafoday later went to settle at Kunting and became the village chief.

When the Non-Muslims suffered so much in the hands the Niani ruler who was at Lamin Koto, they went to Fouta Jallon to look for spiritual support. The found a marabout there who prayed for them and God accepted his prayers.  

After that, the people of Kunting went for fishing and they caught a big fish. One of the ruler’s men wanted to take the big fish for the ruler but Hafoday refused to give it out. Kolli, the ruler’s man, went to the Mansa Wally Camara and told him about it and he was angered by that.

Hafoday knew well that there would be war between him and the ruler, so he mobilized the men of Kunting and the attacked the ruler on that night. They silently crept in and knocked at his door and he opened and they grabbed and killed him.

When they killed him they left to Kunting. On their way through Kujaw they met Foday Alhagi Kanyi, Karang Kajali’s uncle, and they told him that they killed the Mansa Wally Camara and he asked them to go for his head. They went back and cut off his head and took it along.

<strong>References to entities made in the recording</strong>

<strong>Culture:  </strong>Jaxanka, Mandinka, Soninke, Ajamaataw

<strong>Language: </strong>Translated from Arabic to Mandinka

<strong>Persons:  </strong>Ham, Uthba Bin Nafiyou, Asan Bin Noman, Tarik Bin Jab, Andrusi, Basarang Colley, Sunjata Keita, Mossi ruler, Mansa Musa, Mamadi Coulibaly, Alhagi Umaru, Colonel Arsenal, Amadou, Mansa Bari Camara, Sheik Muhamed Lamin Drammeh, Muhamed Janteh, Kaba Jaiteh, Sambu, Yusufa, Alhagi Salim Suwareh 

<strong>Relationships:</strong>

Mamadi Coulibaly was the king of Sikasso

Amadou was the son of Alhagi Umaru

Basarang Colley was the ruler of Ghana Empire

Mansa was the king at Kankan and was succeeded by Sulayman

Andrusi was an Arab king at Marakisa

<strong>Places:  </strong>Babel Mandiba, Bahrulahon Asobia Habsa, Sudan, Darfur, Egypt, Tunisia, Noba, Baja, Chad, Gambia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Nigeria, Mali, Masina, Gao, Timbuktu, Sikasso,Segou, Mandina, Hamdallaye, Banjagara, Bisadugu, Marakisa, Ndungu Sine, Kataba, Kuntaur, Niani, Walliya, Kupantum Mandika Kunda, Kissang, Jambur, Jumbiya, Bundu Jarka, Fouta, Bundu, Bundu Jannah, Bakkel. Bundu Seykunda, Niani Sukuta, Niani Kayai, Yonna, Wulli Sutukoba, Fata Tenda and Foni

<strong>Movements:</strong>

Sambu and his son Yusufa left Sutukoba a went to live with Alhagi Salim Suware

Some of Sambu’s family members went to settled at Fara Tenda and others went to Foni

<strong>Actions:</strong>

Alhagi Umaru killed Mamadi Coulibaly the ruler at Sikasso

Mansa Musa died on his way back from pilgrimage at Mecca

Sambu converted to Islam while living with Alhagi Salim Suware

<strong>Time references:  </strong>None

<strong>Side B: History of </strong><strong>Sandu</strong>

After Mansa Wally was killed, the men from Kunting called for a war against the non-Muslims to vacate the land. They called the rulers Mansa Wally and Kolli and informed them that their next target was Mansa Bari Camara at Kataba. Hafoday mentioned that fighting him would not be prolonged, and Karang Kajali advised them to wait.  

He went on in the hills to pray for days, and God accepted his prayers. He warned Hafoday and his men to that they should wait forty-three days before attempting to fight Mansa Bari Camara. Hafoday ignored his advice and went on to fight him, but he was defeated and killed. 

When the forty-three days ended, Karang Kajali attacked Ndungu Sine captured Mansa Bari Camara, and killed him. They traveled to Kujaw, and raised the Islamic flag in Niani.  

When Karang Kajali killed Mansa Bari Camara, there was a disagreement over whom taxes should be paid to after Karang Kajali killed Mansa Bari Camara. Then the people of Niani began to pay their taxes to Karang Kajali, who shared the tax between his uncle Foday lilay Kanyi and the people of Kunting.  

Following the death of Mansa Bari, the spread of Islam became influential in Niani, and Fantamang Jawla became the ruler of there.  The arrival of the Europeans coincided with his death and they gradually gained control.

The colonial masters appointed Hafoday (Jr) as chief of Niani, who served for a short term but was later dismissed.  Afang Alieu Sona Jawla became the next chief. His successor Nfally Sona Jawla was the last chief during the colonial era.

In Kunting, the Jawla and Komma clans coexisted and Suntu Komma was a great politician among them. Bukari Nyanto, a slave of the Komma clan, and Mamud Fatuma, a slave of the Jawla clan, were both present at Nyankuy.  

These slaves became very powerful in Niani.  Suntu Komma deceived the Jawla clan, and their slave Mamud Fatuma was killed by Musa Molloh. 

When Jimamang at Misira heard about it he resolved to kill Suntu Komma. However, Suntu fled to Jarumekoto and then to Kujaw.  Suntu continued to settle in Manna. His brother sent for him to return home, but he refused. 

Njol Kah, Kebba Touray, and Umaru Mbacke were all chiefs in Sami.  

Niani was governed by the Sabally and Camara clans.  Later, the Ceesay clan who were Muslims arrived from Manding and their leader was Jamang. They were followed by the Touray, Janneh and Bereteh clans all of whom originated from Manding.  These clans were praised as; Ceesay Manding Mori, Touray Manding Mori, Janneh Manding Mori and Bereteh Manding Mori.

The Ceesay clan had a mysterious vulture that accompanied them from Manding. The vulture’s presence was to provide them with information.  

When the Ceesay clan first arrived in Bundu Balang, the people of Balang wanted them to stay. They however, continued to Niani and settled in what is now known as Manna.  Katibu advised them to leave, and they continued to Jarumekoto, where they settled.  

The arrival of the Ceesay clan from Balang to Jarumekoto spanned one hundred and four years. The Jaxankas settled at other places including Kujaw, Ceesay Kunda, Jamala, Kayai, Touba, Sukuta, Barajali and Bakadaji.

During this period, all taxes from Niani were sent to Ndungu Sine, and the towns Walliya and Kumbija.

The first settlement in Bundu was destabilized by the Holy war (Jihad), headed by Alhagi Umar Futi. The people converted to Islam and became his followers. Some of them migrated toward the West in Niani, Jarra, Badibou, and Pakau. Once the war subsided, some returned, but others stayed.

After 26 years or more, Muhamed Lamin Drammeh arrived in Bundu, and Muhamed Lamin Kemoring Jaiteh a prominent Islamic scholar was living there. Muhamed Lamin Drammeh was among the Muslim Tijania Sect.  He introduced the Tijania School of thought to the West at a time when many followers of the Qadiria School of thought for almost a century, but none of the Jahankas followed.

Muhamed Lamin Drammeh was born in Gunjur, Gidimaka near Kaye in Mali and studied at Tabajang. During his studies, he would pass through Tanda and Bundu in search of food.  Tanda was a town comprised of non-Muslims, who frequently harassed them. This impelled Muhamed Lamin Drammeh to wage a holy war against them. 

When Muhamed graduated from Islamic studies he went on a pilgrimage to Mecca and prayed for victory in his planned holy war.  He later returned to his hometown and advocated for a war against the non-Muslims.  A large number of Sarahulles, Mandinkas and Jahankas joined him.  The King of Bundu heard about it and was greatly worried.

Muhamed Lamin left with his men to Tanda, during this route, he passed through Bakkel, where he was joined by other men.

Upon hearing about him, Umaru Penda Sey sent his son to see them.  During this time there was a fight between Umaru and his brother.  The brother wanted to prevent Muhamed Lamin Drammeh from undertaking his journey to Tanda. They clashed and Muhamed Lamin Drammeh defeated them, forcing Umaru Kasse to flee to the King of Bakkel.  

At that time Bakkel’s king was powerless.  As a result, they requested the support of General Bruno in Bamako. When they were given arms and soldiers, Usman Kasse continued to follow and fought with Muhamed Lamin Drammeh.

Muhamed Lamin Drammeh stayed on for some time with Alasana Sillah at Jannah.  He later left Jannah to meet Foday Kaba Dumbuya in Foni.  On his way, he went up to Niani Kayai and was unable to cross to the other side of the river so he remained there.

According to some people, it is alleged that Muhamed Lamin Drammeh was killed by the Europeans. While others claimed he was killed by the people of Niani.  This was around the time when Alfa Yaya was captured.  The Europeans cooked Muhamed Lamin’s head and it was scraped off leaving just the skull. It was later handed to their captain at Sandugu Touba.

When the European army and their commander, Captain Corr arrived in Yonna, they were shown Muhamed Lamin’s skull as a form of threat. The people were told that the army’s next target was Iburayma Tanding at Tankong Kunda, Kemo Kajali Kanyi at Kujaw, and Mamud Fatuma at Sandu Misira. It was said that Suntu Komma was an ally to the Europeans, while Musa Molloh provided an interpreter and riches to be spared by them.

After hearing about the plot against him, Kemo Kajali fled to Niamina Kuwonku.  A request was made to Musa Molloh that he kill Mamud Fatuma.

Jahankas are acknowledged to be brilliant Islamic scholars and knowledgeable in general, but there are no clear reports about who converted them to Islam first.

 

<strong>References to entities made in the recording</strong>

<strong>Culture: </strong>Jaxanka, Mandinka

<strong>Language: </strong>Translation from Arabic to Mandinka

<strong>Persons: </strong>Mansa Wally, Mansa Bari Camara, Kolli, Hafoday, Karang Kajali, Foday Lilay Kanyi, Karamo Kanyi, Fantamang Jawla, Hafoday Jr., Nfally sona Jawla, Suntu Komma, Bukari Nyanto, Mamud Fatuma, Musa Molloh, Jimamang, Njol Kah, Kebba Touray, Umaru Mbacke, Jamang Ceesay, Alhagi Kawsu Muhamed Sanusi Sillah,Alhagi Umar Foutee, Muhamed Lamin Drammeh, Muhamed Lamin Kemoring Jaiteh Umaru Penda Sey, Usman Kasse, General Bruno, Alasana Sillah, Foday Kaba Dumbuya, Alfa Yaya, Musa Molloh, Captain Corr, Iburayma Tanding, Kemo Kajali Kanyi, Mamud Fatuma.

<strong>Relationships: </strong>

Mansa Wally was a ruler at Lamin Koto

Mansa Bari Camara was a ruler at Kataba

Bukari Nyanto was a slave of the Komma clan

Mamud Fatuma was a slave of the Jawla clan

Muhamed Lamin Drammeh was a scholar and a jihadist

Captain Corr was a European army commander

Jamang was the leader of the Jahankas who came from Bundu Balang

<strong>Places: </strong>Kunting, Kataba, Ndungu Sine, Kujaw, Niani, Nyankoy, Misira, Tandi, Jarumekoto, Manna, Walliya, Demfai, Karantaba, Sami, Bundu Balang, Ceesay Kunda, Jamala, Kayai, Touba, Kumbija, Bamako, Sankuli Kunda, Bundu, Jarra, Badibou, Pakaw, Gunjur Gidimaka, Tanda, Bundu, Bakkel, Jannah, Foni, Sandugu Touba, Yonna, Tankong Kunda, Sandu Misira, Niani Kuwonku

<strong>Movements: </strong>The Ceesay clan led by Jamang left Manding and came through Bundu Balang and later settled in Jarumekoto

<strong>Actions:</strong>

Hafoday and his men killed Mansa Wally

Mansa Bari Camara killed Hafoday

Karang Kajali killed Mansa Bari

The Islamic flag was raised in Kujaw after the killing of Mansa Bari Camara

Muhamed Lamin Drammeh fought a jihad war and conquered Bundu and Tanda

Muhamed Lamin Drammeh was killed at Kayai on his way to meet Foday Kaba

<strong>Time references: </strong>The capture of Alfa Yaya by the Europeans

<strong>Additional inf</strong><strong>ormation:  </strong>The manuscript was translated by Alhagi Kawsu Sillah from Sankulli Kunda

<em><sup>Alternative names: Jaiteh, Jaite, Jayte, Gaiteh, Geiteh, Alhagi, Alhagie, Alhajie, Kemoring, Alagi, Alagie, Alajie, Ceesay, Cisse, Seesay, Sissay, Sise, Sisse, Sillah, Kawsu, Sidibeh, Bakari, Bakary, Bakery, Kebba</sup></em>
description: Published by NCAC - National Dgital Archive of The Gambia, initiated by University of Hamburg, Asia- Africa-Institute, Germany, founded by Gerda Henkel Foundation, Germany