Denanke
Encyclopedia
The Empire of Great Fulo, also known as the Denanke Kingdom or Denianke Kingdom was a pre-Islamic Pulaar kingdom of Senegal
, which dominated the Futa Tooro
region. Its population dominated its neighbors through use of cavalry and fought wars against the Mali
and Songhai
empires.
. Though without a fixed headquarters, Tengella's following grew so large that he was referred to as the "Great king of the Fulos" or the "Great Fulo" in Portuguese documents of the same period. From the Gambia he led his forces northeast against the growing Songhai Empire
where he was defeated and killed in 1512. Afterwards, power was passed to his son, Koli Tengella.
with great success. The growth of the empire of Great Fulo would hasten the breakup of the Jolof state into several warring kingdoms. This was followed by attacks on Mali's bambuk goldfields, which resulted in another serious defeat for the Fula. Koli died in 1537. By then, a fixed capital had been settled in Anyam-Godo in what is today Senegal's Futa Toro region.
under leader Abd-el-Kadr Toorodi in 1776 ushering in a near continuous era of Muslim Fula rule over the region.
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...
, which dominated the Futa Tooro
Futa Tooro
Futa Tooro refers to the region on the Senegal River in what is now northern Senegal and southern Mauritania.The word Fuuta was a general name the Fulbe gave to any area they lived in, while Tooro was the actual identity of the region for its inhabitants. The people of the kingdom spoke Pulaar, a...
region. Its population dominated its neighbors through use of cavalry and fought wars against the Mali
Mali Empire
The Mali Empire or Mandingo Empire or Manden Kurufa was a West African empire of the Mandinka from c. 1230 to c. 1600. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa I...
and Songhai
Songhai Empire
The Songhai Empire, also known as the Songhay Empire, was a state located in western Africa. From the early 15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest Islamic empires in history. This empire bore the same name as its leading ethnic group, the Songhai. Its capital was the city...
empires.
Tengella (1490-1512)
The state began as a violent migration of Fula nomads from Futa Djallon into the Gambia led by Tengella, their first king or manga, in 1490. His attack was directed against the remaining Atlantic provinces of the Mali EmpireMali Empire
The Mali Empire or Mandingo Empire or Manden Kurufa was a West African empire of the Mandinka from c. 1230 to c. 1600. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa I...
. Though without a fixed headquarters, Tengella's following grew so large that he was referred to as the "Great king of the Fulos" or the "Great Fulo" in Portuguese documents of the same period. From the Gambia he led his forces northeast against the growing Songhai Empire
Songhai Empire
The Songhai Empire, also known as the Songhay Empire, was a state located in western Africa. From the early 15th to the late 16th century, Songhai was one of the largest Islamic empires in history. This empire bore the same name as its leading ethnic group, the Songhai. Its capital was the city...
where he was defeated and killed in 1512. Afterwards, power was passed to his son, Koli Tengella.
Koli Tengella (1512-1537)
Koli Tengella redirected the fledgling state's military away from Songhai towards the Jolof EmpireJolof Empire
The Jolof Empire was a West African state that ruled parts of Senegal from 1360 to 1890.-Origins:Traditional accounts among the Wolof agree that the founder of the state and later empire was Ndiadiane Ndiaye who lived in the 13th century...
with great success. The growth of the empire of Great Fulo would hasten the breakup of the Jolof state into several warring kingdoms. This was followed by attacks on Mali's bambuk goldfields, which resulted in another serious defeat for the Fula. Koli died in 1537. By then, a fixed capital had been settled in Anyam-Godo in what is today Senegal's Futa Toro region.
Denanke Successors
The mangas that followed Koli Tengella were all descended from him and given the name Denyanke or Deny Kobe. They continued to be a major power in the region ruling as animist monarchs over an increasingly Islamic populace. Their dynasty was overthrown by the kingdom of Fouta TooroKingdom of Fouta Tooro
The Kingdom of Fouta Tooro or the Kingdom of Fuua Tooro was a pre-colonial West African state of the Fula-speaking people centered around the middle valley of the Senegal River...
under leader Abd-el-Kadr Toorodi in 1776 ushering in a near continuous era of Muslim Fula rule over the region.
External links
- http://www.san.beck.org/1-13-Africa1500-1800.html
- http://www.jamtan.com/jamtan/fulani.cfm?chap=4&linksPage=329
- http://www.jamtan.com/jamtan/fulani.cfm?chap=2&linksPage=214