Tenemba

Modern African political establishments are so dominated by men, it might be hard to believe that many African peoples trace their origins back to women. We’ve spent the last couple of weeks discovering some of these remarkable women and the matrilineal legacies they left behind. We continue, in this episode, with the story of Tenemba and the foundation legend of the Gelwar clan of the Serer (Senegal, Gambia and Mauritania).

Femme Sérère by Moustapha Dimé (Image Credit: Smithsonian)

Can’t Get Enough?

• More on Serer Matrilineage

References

• Belcher, Stephen. African Myths of Origin (Penguin Classics) (pp. 428-429). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition pp. 428 - 430

• Dramé, Kandioura. “Barlaban: A Mandinka Epic (an Excerpt).” Callaloo, vol. 13, no. 3, 1990, pp. 435–66. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2931329. Accessed 20 Oct. 2024.

• Tenenbaa (Séculos XIII–XIV), Biografias de Mulheres Africanas

• Sadjo, Ibu. "Fulas e Mandingas na luta pelo poder e conquista do império de Kaabu: causas e consequências (século XVI-XIX)." Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-brasileiro – UNILAB. (2019)

Meanwhile…

Have you heard? “The Watkins Book of African Folklore” or the “Mythological Africans Book”, is now available for preorder! Click image for preordering options!

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