Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof

Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof
King of Sine. The antelope is the totem the Joof family, symbolizing grace, royalty, wisdom, hardwork and protector in Serer mythology. List Kingdom of Sine (1924–1969)
Reign	1924–1969
Coronation	Crowned king of Sine on 28 January 1924[1] - died : 3 August 1969
Predecessor	Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Fa Ndeb Joof
Born	Kingdom of Sine, present-day :  Senegal
Full name Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof
House	The Royal House of Semou Njekeh Joof, founded by Maad Semou Njekeh Joof.
Religion	Serer religion

Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof (English spelling in the Gambia; variations : Maad a Sinig Mahécor Diouf - French in Senegal; Maad Siin or Mad a Sinig Mahekor Juuf, also Maye Koor Juuf - in Serer-Sine language^[2]) was the last king to rule the Serer Kingdom of Sine now part of independent Senegal. Maad a Sinig means king of Sine in Serer language. He reigned from 1924 until his death in 1969 (3 August 1969, he died at Diakhao^[3]). After his death, the Kingdom of Sine was incorporated into independent Senegal.^[4]

Royal House

Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof came from the Joof paternal dynasty of Sine and Saloum, from The Royal House of Semou Njekeh Joof (the third and last royal house founded by the Joof family of Sine-Saloum, founded in the 18th century by Maad Semou Njekeh Joof). On his maternal line, he is a member of the Guelowar dynasty.^[5]

Legacy

By 1969, Maad Mahecor Joof although retired, was the only ruler in Senegal who possessed real power. The Serer kingdoms such as Sine and Saloum were the only pre-colonial kingdoms to survive up to 1969 (six years after Senegal gained independent from France). The Maad a Sinig (King of Sine) was very committed in the preservation of Serer culture and tradition. During his reign, the Kingdom of Sine was economically prosperous. Indebtedness and migration was rare in Sine than it was elsewhere. He performed the traditional role of the Maad a Sinig, presiding over the religious affairs of his subjects and became the focal point of the Sine-Sine (inhabitants of Sine).^[6]

In one of his last ever State address to his subjects regarding the oral history of Sine, he stated :

“	I, Mahecor Diouf, am the bearer of traditions of Sine and the heir of Maissa Waly Dione. (Maad a Sinig Maysa Wali, the first Guelowar to rule in Sine, in c. 1350[7]).	”
	— Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof,[8]

See also

• Kingdom of Sine
• Serer people
• Kingdom of Saloum
• Kingdom of Baol

Notes

1. Le Soleil
2. Other variants : Bur Sine Mahecor Diouf, Bour Sine Mahecor Diouf, Mahékor Diouf, Mahecor Joof, Mayekor, etc.
3. (French) Faye, Louis Diène. Mort et Naissance le monde Sereer. Les Nouvelles Editions Africaines, 1983. ISBN 2-7236-0868-9. p 59
4. Villalón, Leonardo Alfonso. Islamic society and state power in Senegal: disciples and citizens in Fatick. Cambridge University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-521-46007-7. p 53
5. Diouf, Niokhobaye. pp 722-732
6. Klein, pp 203-204
7. For Maad a Sinig Maysa Wali's reigne see: Sarr. p 21
8. For Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof's quote, see : Klein, p 235

Bibliography

• Diouf, Niokhobaye. "Chronique du royaume du Sine." Suivie de notes sur les traditions orales et les sources écrites concernant le royaume du Sine par Charles Becker et Victor Martin. (1972). Bulletin de l'Ifan, Tome 34, Série B, n° 4, (1972)
• Sarr, Alioune: " Histoire du Sine-Saloum (Sénégal). Introduction, bibliographie et notes par Charles Becker. Version légèrement remaniée par rapport à celle qui est parue en 1986-87"
• Villalón, Leonardo Alfonso. Islamic society and state power in Senegal: disciples and citizens in Fatick. Cambridge University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-521-46007-7
• Klein, Martin A. "Islam and Imperialism in Senegal Sine-Saloum, 1847-1914." Edinburgh University Press (1968)
• Faye, Louis Diène. Mort et Naissance le monde Sereer. Les Nouvelles Editions Africaines, 1983. ISBN 2-7236-0868-9. p 59