.mw-parser-output .hidden-begin{box-sizing:border-box;width:100%;padding:5px;border:none;font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .hidden-title{font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .hidden-content{text-align:left}@media all and (max-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .hidden-begin{width:auto!important;clear:none!important;float:none!important))You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (February 2018) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the French article. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia. Consider adding a topic to this template: there are already 1,530 articles in the main category, and specifying|topic= will aid in categorization. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. You must provide copyright attribution in the edit summary accompanying your translation by providing an interlanguage link to the source of your translation. A model attribution edit summary is Content in this edit is translated from the existing French Wikipedia article at [[:fr:Lébous]]; see its history for attribution. You may also add the template ((Translated|fr|Lébous)) to the talk page. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.

The Lebu (Lebou, Lébou) are a subgroup of Wolof in Senegal, West Africa, living on the peninsula of Cap-Vert, site of Dakar. The Lebu are primarily a fishing community, but they have a substantial business in construction supplies and real estate.[1][2] They speak Lebu Wolof, which is closely related to Wolof proper but is not intelligible with it.

Culture

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The Lebu political and spiritual capital is at Layene, situated in the Yoff neighborhood of northern Dakar. The largely Lebu religious sect and theocracy, the Layene, are headquartered there.[1][3] In addition to Yoff, other Lebu centres are nearby Ouakam, Cambérène and Ngor.

Lebu society emphasizes piety and respect for elders. Lebu families include not only living people but also associated ancestral spirits. The Lebu are noted for their public exorcism dances and rituals, often attended by tourists. Most Lebu are adherents of Islam.[4]

History

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The Lebu identity, separate from neighboring Wolof and Serer communities, goes back at least as far as the early 15th century, before European explorers arrived in the area.[5] The traditional date of the founding of Yoff is 1430.[citation needed]

Lebu traditions place their origins, like those of the Wolof and Serer, north of the Senegal river which is a frequent debate that sparks regarding the Lebu. There were Lebu at Lake Guiers by the 16th century, and by 1700 they had moved into the Cap Vert peninsula, expelling a few Mandinka tribes already there.[6]: 11  At the time the area was ruled by the Damel of Cayor.

In 1776 a marabout rebellion broke out in Cayor. When it was crushed, some of the defeated Muslims took refuge among the Lebou.[7] In 1790, despite the fact that most Lebous remained animist, Dial Diop [fr] led these marabouts to declare independence. After 20 years of war, in 1812 Cayor finally recognized their independence and Diop was proclaimed serigne (spiritual leader) of the community.[6]: 12  This 'Lebou Theocratic Republic' retains special legal autonomy to the present day.

Within the 'Lebou Republic', authority is vested in two assemblies: Diambouri Ndakarou and Diambouri Pintch, the assembly of Dakar and of the neighborhoods respectively. The neighborhood chiefs select the serigne from one of the Lebou aristocratic families, and he serves as a court of last resort. They also choose the diaraf, whose duty is to settle land and inheritance disputes. The Ndeyedy Rew serves as a sort of minister of interior and foreign affairs. Historically, he has managed relations with the French and served as the spokesperson for the community.[6]: 12 

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References

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  1. ^ a b Keese, Alexander, "Ethnicity and the Colonial State: Finding and Representing Group Identifications in a Coastal West African and Global Perspective (1850–1960)", BRILL (2015), p. 94, ISBN 9789004307353[1]
  2. ^ Gellar, Sheldon (2020). Senegal: An African Nation Between Islam And The West, Second Edition. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-000-31124-2.
  3. ^ Thomas, Douglas H., "Sufism, Mahdism and Nationalism: Limamou Laye and the Layennes of Senegal", A&C Black (2012), p. 57, ISBN 9781441169075 [2]
  4. ^ Yakan, Mohamad (2017). Almanac of African Peoples and Nations. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-28930-6.
  5. ^ Boulegue, Jean (2013). Les royaumes wolof dans l'espace sénégambien (XIIIe-XVIIIe siècle) (in French). Paris: Karthala Editions. p. 28.
  6. ^ a b c Johnson, Wesley (1971). 'The emergence of Black politics in Senegal:' the struggle for power in the four communes, 1900-1920. California: Stanford University Press. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  7. ^ Monteil, Vincent (1963). "Lat-Dior, damel du Kayor (1842-1886) et l'islamisation des Wolofs". Archives de Sociologie des Religions. 8 (16): 78. doi:10.3406/assr.1963.2004. JSTOR 30127542. Retrieved 1 June 2023.

Further reading

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