Kelefaa Saane

Kelefa Sanneh was the son of Kelefa Simbiring Sanneh who died earlier before he was born.  His mother Sankan Nanki was a very kind and generous to all.

Sankan Nanki was alleged to have poisoned a guest who died after eating her food.  She was taken to the ruler for interrogation and she admitted to serving him food, but not poison.  However, Sankan was detained along with her son Kelefa at the ruler’s place, and there she worked as a servant.

While living in the ruler’s palace Kelefa committed a crime. He scared away the ruler’s women when they came to collect water from the well.  This was incited by his griot who encouraged his actions, and that he would be remembered for this.

When this occurred, Kelefa was summoned to the palace and there the men apprehended, and tied him up.  They took him away to Malamba at Bajeba.

While in Bajeba, he requested a gun and bullets to compensate for his freedom.  When he received the gun, he went out and encountered some herders, whose cattle he seized and carried to Malamba for his freedom.  His freedom was granted and he was able to return home.

When he returned, he persuaded the ruler to attack other places to obtain their resources.  His request was shocking and perceived as a threat to the ruler who desired to eliminate him.  The ruler requested the sorcerers to eliminate him and they cast a spell that placed him amid the war between Niumi and Jokadou.

The last part of the audio is not audible.

References to entities made in the recording

Culture:  Mandinka

Language:  Mandinka and translated into Wollof

Persons:  Kelefa Sanneh, Kelefa Simbiring Sanneh, Sankan Nanki and Malamba

Relationships:

Kelefa Sanneh’s father was Kelefa Simbiring Sanneh and his mother was Sankan Nanki

Places:  Bajeba, Niumi and Jokadou

Movements: 

Kelefa Sanneh was captured and taken to Bajeba and he later returned home.  Afterwards, he went to support Nuimi in their war against Jokadou.

Actions:

Kelefa Sanneh scared the women in order to keep them from fetching water

Kelefa was captured and taken to Bajeba

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

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