When Kolli Manka intentions to sell land to the British in Banjul was announced, the people of Niumi advised him against this.  By then he had already agreed to sell the land, and he asked instructed his men to measure the size of a cattle skin for them.The British shred the skin into a rope and it was used to measure the plot. During this period, some boys and girls from Buniadou who traveled to Banjul were captured and taken to Bajeba. They were called Tubabu Malango.  Among them was Bajeba Malamba. The people of Kombo believed the Island Banjul belonged to Madiba Banjul.  Others claimed that Mansa Kabu the ruler at Busumbala, sold the Island to the British but never collected taxes from them. It was common for the people of Niumi to collect taxes from the river.  When the Europeans passed through the river, they paid their taxes to Mansa Demba Sonko.  Kolli Manka owned the Island but he never collected taxes instead, taxes were paid to Mansa Demba Sonko. Two different stories were said about who owned Banjul.  However, Madiba Banjul was discovered on the Island cutting weaving materials.  When he was asked by the British, he said, ‘Banjulo’ from which the name Banjul emanated. The people of Niumi collected river taxes, while Madiba Banjul collected taxes from Banjul. According to some people, Mansa Kabu was the ruler when the collection of taxes began.  The first owner of Banjul is yet to be established according to the narrator.

References to entities made in the recording

Culture:  Mandinka

Language: Mandinka and translated into Wollof

Persons: Kolli Manka, Madiba Banjul, Mansa Kabu, Mansa Demba Sonko and Bajeba Malamba.

Relationships:

Kolli Manka was a ruler in Kombo

Mansa Demba Sonko was the ruler in Niumi

Mansa Kabu was also a ruler in Kombo

Madiba Banjul was living on the Island Banjul

Places:  Kombo, Niumi. Banjul, Buniadou, Bajeba and Busumbala

Movements:  Some boys and girls from Buniadou were taken to Bajeba

Actions:  Some boys and girls from Buniadou were captured in Banjul and taken to Bajeba

Time references:

The early arrival of the British

Additional information:

The first owners of Banjul are yet to be established, according to the narrator, Jali Bamba Susso

Alternative names: Jobarte, Jobarteh, Jobateh, Jebate, Amadou, Susso, Suso, Mansur, Diaye, Ndiaye, N'Diaye, Njie, Njai

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