Brak (African kings)
Encyclopedia
Brak was the title of the kings of the kingdoms of Waalo
(or Oualo) and Biffeche
on the Senegal River
in Senegal
and Mauritania
in West Africa until the 19th century. The main Brak was the king of the Kingdom of Waalo
with capital at Diourbel
north of the river, and later at Nder on the west shore of Lac de Guiers
. The 'Petit Brak' was the king or seigneur of the Kingdom of Biffeche
, with his capital compound at Maka
on the Senegal River, near Saint-Louis, Senegal
.
The Kingdoms of Waalo
and Biffeche
were labelled as 'Brak' or 'Braque' on some French maps of the area, not to be confused with the moorish realm of Brakna
north of the Senegal River. Waalo was conquered by the French in the mid-19th century.
The Braks of Waalo were chosen from three leading families of Dyoos, Teedyo and Logar, and ruled through a council consisting of various officials with specific delegated functions. It has been claimed that the Brak of Waalo ruled through a local kind of African traditional democracy, but the rulership had definite patrilineal and matrilineal hereditary restrictions. They claimed descent from the legendary first Brak of Waalo and Jolof, Njajan Njay.
The word Brak may derive from the Arabic word for 'high'.
Waalo
The Kingdom of Waalo was a kingdom on the lower Senegal River in West Africa, in what are now Senegal and Mauritania. It included parts of the valley proper and areas north and south, extending to the Atlantic Ocean...
(or Oualo) and Biffeche
Biffeche
Biffeche or Bifeche is an area of Senegal centred on the town of Savoigne, some 20 miles north-east of the major coastal city of Saint-Louis....
on the Senegal River
Sénégal River
The Sénégal River is a long river in West Africa that forms the border between Senegal and Mauritania.The Sénégal's headwaters are the Semefé and Bafing rivers which both originate in Guinea; they form a small part of the Guinean-Malian border before coming together at Bafoulabé in Mali...
in Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
and Mauritania
Mauritania
Mauritania is a country in the Maghreb and West Africa. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the west, by Western Sahara in the north, by Algeria in the northeast, by Mali in the east and southeast, and by Senegal in the southwest...
in West Africa until the 19th century. The main Brak was the king of the Kingdom of Waalo
Waalo
The Kingdom of Waalo was a kingdom on the lower Senegal River in West Africa, in what are now Senegal and Mauritania. It included parts of the valley proper and areas north and south, extending to the Atlantic Ocean...
with capital at Diourbel
Diourbel
Diourbel is a town in Senegal lying east of Thiès. It is known for its mosque and local groundnut industry. It is the capital of the Diourbel Region. Estimated population 2007: 100,445- Transport :...
north of the river, and later at Nder on the west shore of Lac de Guiers
Lac de Guiers
The Lac de Guiers or Lake Guiers is a lake in northern Senegal, south of the city of Richard-Toll and in the Louga and Saint-Louis regions...
. The 'Petit Brak' was the king or seigneur of the Kingdom of Biffeche
Biffeche
Biffeche or Bifeche is an area of Senegal centred on the town of Savoigne, some 20 miles north-east of the major coastal city of Saint-Louis....
, with his capital compound at Maka
Maka
Maka may refer to:* Maka people, of Cameroon* Maká, a native American people from Paraguay* Lepidium meyenii, a vegetable of the Andes* Makaa language, of Cameroon* Maka, Biffeche, capital of the kingdom of Biffeche in pre-colonial Senegal...
on the Senegal River, near Saint-Louis, Senegal
Saint-Louis, Senegal
Saint-Louis, or Ndar as it is called in Wolof, is the capital of Senegal's Saint-Louis Region. Located in the northwest of Senegal, near the mouth of the Senegal River, and 320 km north of Senegal's capital city Dakar, it has a population officially estimated at 176,000 in 2005. Saint-Louis...
.
The Kingdoms of Waalo
Waalo
The Kingdom of Waalo was a kingdom on the lower Senegal River in West Africa, in what are now Senegal and Mauritania. It included parts of the valley proper and areas north and south, extending to the Atlantic Ocean...
and Biffeche
Biffeche
Biffeche or Bifeche is an area of Senegal centred on the town of Savoigne, some 20 miles north-east of the major coastal city of Saint-Louis....
were labelled as 'Brak' or 'Braque' on some French maps of the area, not to be confused with the moorish realm of Brakna
Brakna
Brakna is a region in south-west Mauritania. Its capital is Aleg. Other major cities/towns include Bogué. The region borders the Mauritanian region of Tagant to the north-east, the Mauritanian regions of Assaba and Gorgol to the south-east, Senegal to the south-west and the Mauritanian region of...
north of the Senegal River. Waalo was conquered by the French in the mid-19th century.
The Braks of Waalo were chosen from three leading families of Dyoos, Teedyo and Logar, and ruled through a council consisting of various officials with specific delegated functions. It has been claimed that the Brak of Waalo ruled through a local kind of African traditional democracy, but the rulership had definite patrilineal and matrilineal hereditary restrictions. They claimed descent from the legendary first Brak of Waalo and Jolof, Njajan Njay.
The word Brak may derive from the Arabic word for 'high'.