Jolof Empire
The term "Wolof" also refers to the Wolof language and to their states, cultures, and traditions. Older French publications frequently employ the spelling ; up to the 19th century, the spellings "Wolluf", "Volof", and "Olof" are also encountered, among rarer variants like "Yolof", "Dylof", "Chelof", "Galof", "Lolof", and others. In English, "Wollof" and "Woloff" are found, particularly in reference to the Gambian Wolof; for English-speakers, the spelling "Wollof" is closer to the native pronunciation of the name.) The spelling "Jolof" is also often used, but in particular reference to the Jolof Empire and Jolof Kingdom that existed in central Senegal from the 14th to the 19th centuries. Similarly, a West African rice dish is known in English as Jollof rice.