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Somb (in Serer, also Som or Sombe) is a town in Senegal situated in the west of the country.
History[edit]
Somb figure prominently in Serer religious affairs for a long part of its history. It takes its name from the Somb tree (Latin : prosopis africana a species of prosopis[1]) the symbol of immortality in the Serer creation myth.[2] The Somb tree was used for burial purposes.[2] The wood is very strong and resistant to rot. It is the wood found in many of the Serer tumuli which are still intact after a thousand years.[citation needed]
The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune (18 July 1867) more commonly known as the Battle of Somb took place in the vicinity of this town. In that battle, Maba Diakhou Bâ tried to launch jihad against the Serer people of Sine but was defeat by the King of Sine Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof.[3][4]
Administration[edit]
Somb is a town in the Département of Gossas, in the region of Fatick. It is part of the rural community of Patar Lia.
Geography[edit]
The nearest towns are Djilassene, Ndiayene, Ndiok Doumaleourou, Dok, Kodieri, Koral and the two historical towns of Fandène, Tioutoune (or Thiouthioune).
Notable people[edit]
- Yandé Codou Sène (1932–2010), the Serer Diva and griot of president Léopold Sédar Senghor
Notes[edit]
- ^ Kalis, Simone, "Médecine traditionnelle, religion et divination ches les Seereer Siin du Sénégal" – La connaissance de la nuit, L’Harmattan, 1997, p 292, ISBN 2-7384-5196-9
- ^ a b Gravrand, Henry, "La Civilisation Sereer - Pangool", vol. 2. Les Nouvelles Editions Africaines du Senegal (1990), pp 199-200, ISBN 2-7236-1055-1
- ^ Sarr, Alioune, Histoire du Sine-Saloum, Introduction, bibliographie et Notes par Charles Becker, BIFAN, Tome 46, Serie B, n° 3-4, 1986–1987
- ^ Klein, Martin A., Islam and Imperialism in Senegal. Sine-Saloum 1847-1914, p90. Edinburgh University Press (1968). ISBN 0-85224-029-5
External links[edit]
- Ba-Curry, Ginette. In Search of Maba: A 19th Century Epic from Senegambia, West Africa (Preface of the Play by Edris Makward, Emeritus Professor of African Literature, Univ of Wisconsin, USA), Phoenix Press International, Maryland, 2011 [Category: Drama].[1].
- Maps, weather and airports for Somb
- Somb on PEPAM site