The Jihad of Maba Diakhou Bâ

~1861–1867 · Nioro du Rip

Born in 1809 at Tavacaltou in the Rip region, Maba Diakhou Bâ was a Tijaniyya Islamic scholar. After meeting El Hadj Omar Tall at Kabakoto in 1846, he proclaimed himself Almamy of the Rip — an Islamic state founded in the Badibu region with Nioro du Rip as its capital. Allied with Lat Dior, the exiled Damel of Cayor who had converted to Islam, he fought both non-Muslim kingdoms and the French. He conquered Jolof in 1865, ravaged Sine in 1866, and repelled French troops at Thiofack on 20 April 1867. He was killed on 18 July 1867 at the Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune, by the Ceddo warriors of Sine led by Coumba Ndoffène Famak Diouf. His burial place is today a pilgrimage site.

Sources

• Persée — Vincent Monteil, « Lat Dior, Damel du Kayor, et l'islamisation des Wolofs » (1963, couvre aussi Maba Diakhou)
• Wikipedia (EN) — Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune

Kingdom fact sheet : Le Rip, l’État de Maba Diakhou Bâ.

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