HISTORY OF NIANI

When Mamud Fatma was killed at Nawdeh, Jimamang Jawla became the ruler and governed for thirty-five years.  At that time, Nfally Sona was the ruler at Kunting.  The British colonial era was ushered in at the time of Nfally Sona. During this period the British raised a flag in MacCarthy.  The flag signified  and was referred to as the Freedom flag.’ if a slave fled and reached to the flag, they would become a freeman. Musa Molloh married Jali Madi’s daughter called Ndela while she was trading at Karantaba.  She had a great profitable business where people credited items from her on loan. There was an incident with a customer whom she sent her men to collect the payment of what he owed for money owed to her, but they fought with him and they killed him a fight ensued and the creditor was killed.  This matter was kept a secret after bribing Nfally Sona. When the British heard about this incident, Nfally Sona and Jali Madi were arrested and taken to Banjul. This happened at the time when Ngari Sabally the chief at Nyanga Bantang built constructed a police post and the governor set the building ablaze.  Ngari was angered by this and he attempted to kill the governor, who luckily escaped to Niani Maro.  The British deceived him by inviting him to a boat that was on the river.  When he got on the boat, they took him away to Banjul. When King George was appointed in Banjul, there was a grand celebration ceremony.  During the ceremony, Musa Molloh pleaded for the release of his father-in-law Jali Madi and Ngari Sabally, and that this was granted. Nfally Sona was later pardoned and was taken to Nyakoi Kerewan and his chieftaincy was forfeited as a result of the incident. 

References to entities made in the recording

Culture:  Mandinka

Language: Mandinka

Persons: Mamud Fatma, Jimamang Jawla, Nfally Sona, Musa Molloh, Jali Madi, Ndela, Ngari Sabally, King George 

Relationships:

Nfally Sona was the ruler at Kunting

Musa Molloh’s wife was Ndela. She was a trader at Karantaba

Jali Madi was Musa Molloh’s father-in-law

Ngari Sabally was the ruler at Nyanga Ban-tang

Places: Nawdeh, Kunting, MacCarthy, Karantaba, Banjul, Nyanga Bantang, Niani Maro, Nyakoi Kerewan 

Movements:

After Nfally Sona was released from Banjul he was taken to Nyakoi Kerewan

Actions:

Nfally Sona and Jali Madi were arrested after the killing of Ndela’s customer

Ngari Sabally was tricked and taken to Banjul in his attempt to kill the governor

Musa Molloh pleaded for the release of Jali Madi and Ngari Sabally and they were pardoned 

Time references:

British colonial era

Additional information:

None

Alternative names: Susso, Suso, Diaye, Ndiaye, N'Diaye, Njie, Njai, Mansour

Published by NCAC - National Digital Archive of The Gambia, initiated by University of Hamburg, Asia-Africa-Institute, Germany, funded by Gerda Henkel Foundation, Germany