
Episodes

Saturday Mar 26, 2016
Saturday Mar 26, 2016
In December 2015, the Seereer Resource Centre in collaboration with our radio station (Seereer Radio) sent its research team to several parts of Seereer country to interview some notable and knowledgeable Seereer elders, historians / scholars on matters relating to Seereer religion, history and culture, so that we can document and preserve this before it is too late. This team was headed by Tamsier Joof and Demba Sene.
This is the second part of the interview they conducted with Professor Issa Laye Thiaw at his house in Diamagane Sicap. Dakar, Senegal. This audio is in two parts.
Date of first broadcast on Seereer Radio : Saturday, 16th April 2016
Presenters : Tamsier Joof, Demba Sene and Mamadou Fall
Interviewers : Tamsier Joof and Demba Sene
Interviewee : Professor Issa Laye Thiaw
Other panel members : Njaga Gaye and Momodou Secka
Source language(s) : Seereer-Siin, Saafi-Saafi, English, French and Wolof
Subjects covered : Seereer prayer; Original name of Siin and original Seereervillages/towns and Raampa script.
Radio program : Cosaan Seereer
Radio station : Seereer Radio
Owner : The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC)
Collection : The SRC Collection
Date of recording : 14th December 2015
Location : The compound of Professor Issa Laye Thiaw in Diamagane Sicap. Dakar, Senegal. Medium : Audio recording
Additional information : This audio was recorded for the SRC Collection, with permission to broadcast granted to Seereer Radio | The Voice of the Seereer Community (our 24 hour stream radio station). The research team was headed by Tamsier Joof (founder of the SRC and Seereer Radio) and Demba Sene. It was recorded on 14th December 2015 at Professor Thiaw's house. Apologies for the noisy background..
Information about Professor Issa Laye Thiaw : Professor Issa Laye Thiaw, also known as Mbañik Caw (his Seereer name, Thiaw is spelled Caw in Seereer) is a scholar of Seereer religion and history, but perhaps better known for his work on Seereer religion and culture. His work has been cited by several international scholars writing about Seereer religion and culture. Along with his writing, Professor Thiaw has also appeared as guest speaker on several inter-religious dialogue meetings. He is the author of that celebrated book "La femme Seereer." Other papers authored by Thiaw include:
- La religiosité Seereer, avant et pendant leur Islamisation
- Mythe de la création du monde selon les sages sereer
Professor Thiaw supports the Seereer Resource Centre (SRC) where he currently serves as Consultant on Seereer religion, History and Culture. Working in partnership with the Seereer Resource Centre, Professor Thiaw and the SRC are in the process of building a huge complex in Sanghe (or Sangue) - Senegal, which will be called "The Seereer Resource Centre and the Temple of Initiated Women." It will be the flagship office of the SRC where Seereer ancient religion, culture and medicine will be taught to those interested in these subjects. To learn more about this project and how you can part take in it, visit the Seereer Resource Centre's website or e-mail us at info@seereer.com.
Note : You can have your say about this audio by leaving a comment below. Keep it clean and relevant.
Download transcript « Télécharger la transcription » :
Visit the Seereer Resource Centre download page to download a transcript of this audio in English, French, Seereer a Sinig, Saafi-Saafi, Ndut, Sili-Sili, Noon and Laalaa.
Websites :
The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC) - www.seereer.org
Seereer Radio - www.seereerradio.com

Friday Mar 25, 2016
Friday Mar 25, 2016
In December 2015, the Seereer Resource Centre in collaboration with our radio station (Seereer Radio) sent its research team to several parts of Seereer country to interview some notable and knowledgeable Seereer elders, historians / scholars on matters relating to Seereer religion, history and culture, so that we can document and preserve this before it is too late. This team was headed by Tamsier Joof and Demba Sene.
This is the interview they conducted with Alhaji Momodou Marr and Fara Lam Saar in Kahone, Saluum, Senegal. The Kingdom of Saluum was one of the Seereer precolonial kingdoms and Kahone was its capital.
Date of first broadcast on Seereer Radio : Saturday, 19th March 2016
Presenters : Tamsier Joof, Demba Sene and Mamadou Fall
Interviewers : Tamsier Joof and Demba Sene
Interviewees : Alhaji Momodou Marr and Fara Lam Saar
Other panel members : Njaga Gaye and Momodou Secka
Source language(s) : Wolof, Seereer-Siin, Saafi-Saafi and English
Subjects covered : History of Kahone (Kawoon); History of Saluum; Maad a Saluum Mbeegaan Nduur; Laman; The mythical tree of Gouye Njuuli; The Gelwaar Maternal Dynasty; Maissa Wally Manneh (a.k.a. Maissa Wali Jon); Family of Mbeegaan Nduur; Kings of Saluum (citing the work of El Hadj Demba Lamine Diouf).
Radio program : Cosaan Seereer
Radio station : Seereer Radio
Owner : The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC)
Collection : The SRC Collection
Date of recording : 16th December 2015
Location : The compound of Alhaji Momodou Marr in Kahone, Saluum, Senegal.
Medium : Audio recording
Additional information : This audio was recorded for the The SRC Collection, with permission to broadcast granted to Seereer Radio | The Voice of the Seereer Community (our 24 hour stream radio station). The research team was headed by Tamsier Joof (founder of the SRC and Seereer Radio) and Demba Sene.
Note : There is a lot of controversy about this audio interview. Some of the views expressed here have not been backed up by scholarly papers or are contrary to the Seereer tradition. You can have your say about this audio by leaving a comment below. Keep it clean and relevant.
Download transcript « Télécharger la transcription » :
Visit the Seereer Resource Centre download page to download a transcript of this audio in English, French, Seereer a Sinig, Saafi-Saafi, Ndut, Sili-Sili, Noon and Laalaa.
Websites :
The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC) - www.seereer.org
Seereer Radio - www.seereerradio.com

Friday Mar 25, 2016
Friday Mar 25, 2016
In December 2015, the Seereer Resource Centre in collaboration with our radio station (Seereer Radio) sent its research team to several parts of Seereer country to interview some notable and knowledgeable Seereer elders, historians / scholars on matters relating to Seereer religion, history and culture, so that we can document and preserve this before it is too late. This team was headed by Tamsier Joof and Demba Sene.
This is the interview they conducted with Arona Puuy and Salieu Seck at Bandia in Joobaas, Senegal, regarding the historical Koffki shrine at Bandia. The Koffki was a sacred place of judgment and protection used by the Seereer, particularly the Saafi. It is a grove where libations were offered. It was, and is still headed by the Leemu matriclan. One of the powerful Saafi matriclans.
Date of first broadcast on Seereer Radio : Saturday, 12th March 2016
Presenters : Tamsier Joof, Demba Sene and Mamadou Fall
Interviewers : Tamsier Joof and Demba Sene
Interviewees : Arona Puuy and Salieu Secka
Other panel members : Njaga Gaye, Momodou Secka and Assane Sene
Source language(s) : Saafi-Saafi, Seereer-Siin, English and Wolof,
Subjects covered : History of Bandia, the Koffki shrine and Joonjoon; Etymology of Bandia, Koffki and Joonjoon; Yagap Mam; The three original Saafi matriclans, their meaning, etymology and origins (Leemu, Yandol and Laha matriclans) -, and a derived matriclan e.g. Yookaam; Other shrines in Bandia.
Radio programme : Cosaan Seereer
Radio station : Seereer Radio
Owner : The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC)
Collection : The SRC Collection
Date of recording : 17th December 2015
Location : The compound of Arona Puuy and Salieu Secka in Bandia, Joobaas, Senegal.
Medium : Audio recording
Additional information : This audio was recorded for the SRC Collection, with permission to broadcast granted to Seereer Radio | The Voice of the Seereer Community (our 24 hour stream radio station). The research team was headed by Tamsier Joof (founder of the SRC and Seereer Radio) and Demba Sene.
Note : There is a lot of controversy about this audio interview. Some ultra Seereer traditionalists believe that since some members of the Leemu matriclan have converted to Islam in recent times, especially the one leading this site, they should no longer head this Seereer sacred site. They believe that only those who adhere to the tenets of Seereer religion (a ƭat Roog) in its ultra-orthodox form should head this site, and the Leemu should pass it on to another family that follows the Ultra-Orthodox Seereer religious faith. They argue that the pouring of wine and invocation of Roog Seen or Kooh Seen (the Supreme Deity) were necessary parts of the ancient libation rituals. Since Islam forbids this and the man leading the site is estopped from doing so as a result of his newly found religion (Islam), he and his family (the Leemu clan) should be barred from leading this site. What do you think? You can have your say about this audio by leaving a comment below. Keep it clean and relevant.
Please also note that there was no Cosaan Seereer programme on Saturday 5th March 2016. Tamsier Joof and Demba Sene were in The Gambia on that date and were hoping to make the first ever joint broadcast on African soil rather than the usual where Tamsier broadcast from London and Demba joins him live on the phone from Senegal. Unfortunately the show had to be postponed because of The Gambia's poor internet connection. This show was actually the show they should have presented on that date. Seereer Radio would like to apologies to all its listeners who were looking forward to listen to the show on 5th March 2016.
Download transcript « Télécharger la transcription » :
Visit the Seereer Resource Centre download page to download a transcript of this audio in English, French, Seereer a Sinig, Saafi-Saafi, Ndut, Sili-Sili, Noon and Laalaa.
Websites :
The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC) - www.seereer.org
Seereer Radio - www.seereerradio.com

Saturday Feb 27, 2016
Saturday Feb 27, 2016
In December 2015, the Seereer Resource Centre in collaboration with our radio station (Seereer Radio) sent its research team to several parts of Seereer country to interview some notable and knowledgeable Seereer elders, historians / scholars on matters relating to Seereer religion, history and culture, so that we can document and preserve this before it is too late. This team was headed by Tamsier Joof and Demba Sene.
This is the interview they conducted with Wally Faye in Tukar (or Toucar), Siin, Senegal. Tukar was an ancient Seereer state with its own vassals founded by Laman Jeegaan Jaye Juuf (variations : Laman Djigan Diouf or Laman Jeegaan Joof). It is also a Seereer sacred place where the Raan festival is held once a year - on the second Thursday in April after the appearance of the new moon. During the Gelowar Maternal Dynasty (1350 - 1969), Tukar was incorporated into the Seereer precolonial Kingdom of Siin, however it retained great autonomy from the Seereer kings of Siin. For approximately 1000 years since its founding by Laman Jeegaan Jaye Juuf, the Juuf family have ruled Tukar and its vassals states as laman - title for the ancient Seereer kings and landowning class. Following Senegal's independence from France, Tukar is now another old and large Seereer village.
You can find out more about the Seereer ancient lamans by visiting the Seereer Resource Centre - see the following link: http://www.seereer.com/laman
Date of first broadcast on Seereer Radio : Saturday, 27th February 2016
Presenters : Tamsier Joof and Demba Sene
Interviewers : Tamsier Joof and Demba Sene
Interviewee : Wally Faye
Other panel members : Ablie Ndour as translator; Njaga Gaye and Momodou Secka
Source language(s) : Seereer-Siin, Wolof, Saafi-Saafi, French and English
Subjects covered : History of Tukar (or Toucar) - its founding and etymology; History of Laman Jeegaan Jaye Juuf; History of Fassamane Caw (adversary of Jeegaan); History of Siin; Kings of Siin; Laman; Lamabaye (in Baol); Seereer genealogy; The Raan festival, Seereer families : the Juuf and Thiaw (Caw) family.
Radio program : Cosaan Seereer
Radio station : Seereer Radio
Owner : The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC)
Collection : The SRC Collection
Date of recording : 20th December 2015
Location : The compound of Wally Faye in Tukar, Siin Region, Senegal.
Medium : Audio recording
Additional information : This audio was recorded for the SRC Collection, with permission to broadcast granted to Seereer Radio | The Voice of the Seereer Community (our 24 hour stream radio station). The research team was headed by Tamsier Joof and Demba Sene. It was recorded on 20th December 2015 at Wally Faye's house. When we met Mr. Faye he was enjoying his roasted groundnuts - hence some of the background noise. Apologies for the noise.
Information about Wally Faye : Wally Faye is in his 80's or 90's. He is literate and is regarded as one of the historians of the village. Some Senegalese journalists / researchers are reported to have visited him for interviews regarding the history of the area. He is a direct descendant of Fassamane Caw (the adventurer and contemporary of Jeegaan Jaye Juuf).
Note : There is a lot of controversy about this audio interview. Some of the views expressed here have not been backed up by scholarly papers and are contrary to the Seereer oral tradition. The head of the Juuf family of Tukar whose ancestor founded Tukar and who is responsible for the Raan festival attended a community meeting on the day of the interview, therefore we were unable to interview him and his family. Our research team will be revisiting Tukar in the near future to record their version. You can have your say about this audio by leaving a comment below. Keep it clean and relevant.
Download transcript « Télécharger la transcription » :
Visit the Seereer Resource Centre download page to download a transcript of this audio in English, French, Seereer a Sinig, Saafi-Saafi, Ndut, Sili-Sili, Noon and Laalaa.
Websites :
The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC) - www.seereer.org
Seereer Radio - www.seereerradio.com

Saturday Jan 30, 2016
Cosaani Senegambia (History of Senegambia) with El Hadj Demba Lamine Diouf
Saturday Jan 30, 2016
Saturday Jan 30, 2016
In this audio, El Hadji Demba Lamine Diouf of Senegal narrates the history of Senegambia. He touches on the meaning of the word Damel and Tëën (variations: teeñ, tégne, teen or teign). Demba Lamine also discusses the founding of several old villages and towns in the Senegambia region including Lambaye. The Battle of Danki (1549) is also discussed in this audio along with the enthronement of Amari Ngoneh Sobel Faal (king of Cayor and Bawol) and Maad a Saluum Mbegaan Nduur (or Mbegane Ndour) - King of Saluum, who reigned in 1494.
Area of history : Oral history of Senegambia
Narrated by : El Hadji Demba Lamine Diouf (from Senegal)
Program : Cosaani Senegambia [History of Senegambia]
Radio station : Radio Gambia (at the time)
Year (or approximate year of recording) : Late 1970s to early 1980s.
Collection : The SRC Collection
Additional information : From the archives of Radio Gambia and Radio Senegal's collaborative program: "Cosaani Senegambia". Courtesy of Onegambia.com. The late Alhaji Alieu Ebrima Cham Joof (also known as Cham Joof) was the Director of Program. The presenters were Alhaji Mansour Njie and Alhaji Ousman Secka - speaking from Radio Gambia Studios, Bakau, the Gambia. The interviewer was Dodou Jego Jobe of Radio Gambia visiting Senegal in order to interview the subject (El Hadji Demba Lamine Diouf). This audio is part of the Seereer Resource Centre's Collection : The SRC Collection.
Information about the griot : Demba Lamine Diouf was a renowned Senegalese oral historian and a regular at the then Radio Senegal’s history program: "Cosaani Sénégambie". This audio was recorded in Senegal. He was a Wolofized Seereer of the Seereer patronym Juuf. This audio is in Wolof.
Medium : Audio recording
Subjects covered : History of Senegambia, Meaning of Damel and Tëën (variations: teeñ, tégne, teen or teign).Founding some Senegambian villages and towns including Lambaye, The Battle of Danki (1549), The Enthronement of Amari Ngoneh Sobel Faal (King of Cayor and Bawol), The medieval Seereer king of Saluum - Maad a Saluum Mbegaan Nduur (Seereer proper, or Bour Saloum Mbegane Ndour).
Note: You can have your say about this audio by leaving a comment here. See the comment section below. Please keep it clean and relevant.
Download transcript « Télécharger la transcription » :
Visit the Seereer Resource Centre download page to download a transcript of this audio in English, French, Seereer a Sinig, Saafi-Saafi, Ndut, Sili-Sili, Noon and Laalaa.
Websites :
The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC) - www.seereer.org
Seereer Radio - www.seereerradio.com
Onegambia.com - onegambia.com
Radio Gambia (now GRTS) - www.grts.gm
Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision du Sénégal (ORTS) - www.rts.sn