History of Kaabu 

Kabu was ruled by the Mandinkas, and during Mansa Sala Manneh reign, war broke out between them and the Fulas.  They clashed because the Fulas were oppressed by the Mandinkas. Bakari Gidali and Mamadu Pateh Koyada travelled to Fouta Jallon to seek support from their Fula brothers. They took a large amount of silver for the leader, Almami Umaru at Timbo and reported their grievances.  During this period Fouta had other spiritual leaders, Samba Mbombeya, Cherno Alieu Bubandiyam, and Karamo Kutubo. When this happened, Almami Umaru mobilized men from Labe, Sannu, Popodara, and Timbo to support their brothers in Kabu to fight against the Mandinkas.   He mentioned that they were all descendants of Sira Meseng and Kumba Juba who hailed from Masina. Fouta Jallon went on to attack the Mandinkas in Kabu.  They fought and were defeated by the Mandinkas, then they retreated back home. While Mansa Sala Manneh was ill, they launched another attack on the Kabu Mandinkas.  Many Fula’s were killed, Mansa Sala Manneh exploded his gun house, and the Fulas were defeated again. When Mansa Sala Manneh died, he was succeeded by Janke Walley.   Janke Walley was attacked and defeated by the Fulas and he blasted the gunpowder house. This explosion was known as “Turu Bang’ which signifies ethnic cleansing.  Kabu kingdom was totally destroyed, and this was the end of Kabu’s empire. Kabu Sanneh came from Manding and settled in a town in Bundu called Kabu.  He then proceeded to settle in MacCarthy. Eventually, some Kusunkas came to settle with them, and MacCarthy grew bigger and bigger.  The people of MacCarthy fought and some were thrown to crocodiles in the river. Then the people said, “Makaati Janjantale,” which in Mandinka means MacCarthy has scattered. The name Janjambure emerged from that. Kabu Sanneh left MacCarthy to Ba Samba Dado, to a place that is known as Bansang today.  This is where his daughter Mama Sona was born and later got married at Korrop in Cassamance.  Korrop is the birthplace of the Fula Kingdom, and was later called Mama Kunda. Kabu Sanneh, had a son called Kama Sanneh who settled Kamako.  While Malang Bunku, son of Kabu Sanneh established Mambuwa.  Sankoli settlement was founded by Sankulla.  Malang Sona travelled to Jinane and settled at Mansonna.  Buwa Sanneh settled Kandul.  Balli Sanneh, Kumansi, and Walley traveled to Badora and established Mandina.  Malang Koteh went to dwell with the Jolas at Galumaru and founded the settlement of Kosse. Finally, Kolli Madi went to Kansonko and settled Kolbali.  This was the extent of their settlement of towns. The Fulas felt threatened and fled to a place called Foreya, which subsequently became Kubesegi.  The Fulas continued to settle Malibuna, Sanganabe, Bakari Lali, Pateh Windi and Kunta Bali. Kabu Sanneh’s son founded Poony, which later became the Kabu Kingdom. Poropana, Chanya, Pachis, Manna, Tumana, and Sama were all Mandinka settlements.   Fulladou included: Nyampayo, Pattin, Kamako, Mambuwa, Pahawolo, sofaniama, Kamfojang, Manka Jenung, Kansonko. Malang Bulafema was sent by the Kabu ruler to rule Hamdallaye.   While Sambu Manneh was at Bundu Sambu.  Mamadi Nyariya was at Sulabali which was later called Sare Sambel Demba. Sambu Manneh, Manka Jenung and Mamadi Nyariya were all Nyancho Rulers in Firdu.  Sankolli Jambang was also a ruler in Firdu. Slaves were sold in Korrop, at a place called ‘Fiiri dulaa,’ which in Mandinka means a market.  These slaves were later transported to Kossemar and Basse in the Gambia.

References to entities made in the recording

Culture: Mandinka and Fula

Language: Mandinka

Persons: Bakari Gidali, Mamdu Pateh Koyada, Sala Manneh, Almami Umaru, Samba Mbombeya, Cherno Alieu Bubandiyam, Karamo Kutubo, Sira Messeng, Kumba Juba, Kabu Sanneh, Kama Sanneh, Malang Bunku, Kabu Sanneh Jr., Sankolli Sanneh, Malang Sonna, Buwa Sanneh, Kamansi, Walley, Malang Koteh, Kolli Bali, Malang Bulafema, Sambu Manneh, Manka Jenung, Mamadi Nyariya, Sankolli Jambang

Relationships:

Mansa Sala Manneh was a ruler of Kabu

Mansa Sala Manneh was succeeded by Janke Walley

Almami Umaru was the Fouta Jallon leader at Timbo

Sira Messeng and Kumba Juba were the ancestors of the Fulas

Kabu Sanneh’s sons included, Kama Sanneh, Malang Sanneh, Sankolli Sanneh, Malang Sonna, Buwa Sanneh, Kumansi, Walley, Malang Koteh, Koli Madi, and Kabu Sanneh.

Places: Kabu Kingdom, Fouta Jallon, Timbo, Labe, Sannu, Popodara, Masina, Bundu Kabu, Maccarthy, Janjambure, Manding Kingdom, Banjang, Korrop, Mama Kunda, Kamako, Mansonna, Kandul bali Sanneh, Galumaru, kosse, Kansonko, Kolibali,  Foreya, Kubesegi, Malibuna, Sanganabe, Bakari Lali, Pateh Windi, Kuntabali, Poony, Poropana,Chanya, Pachis, Manna, Tumana, Sama, Nyampayo, Pattin, Kamako, Mambuwa, Pahawolo, Sofaniama, Kamfojang, Manka Jenung, Kansonko, Sulabali, Sare Sambel Demba,Bundu Kabu, Hamdallaye, Kossemar, Basse

Movements: Kabu Sanneh moved from Manding and settled Kabu in Bundu and MacCarthy while his children settled other towns which later included Kabu Kingdom.

Slaves were taken from Korrop in Firdu to Kossemar and Basse

Actions: Fouta Jallon attacked Kabu and was defeated twice, but they later conquered Kabu

Janke Wally exploded the gunpowder house for all to perish and that was called “Turu bang”

The people of Maccarthy clashed and many were killed and some thrown into the river

Time references: This occurred during the period of the slave trade

Additional information: The narrator did not provide more details about the Fouta Jallon war with Janke Walley 

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