The Bainuk people (also called Banyuk, Banun, Banyun, Bainouk, Bainunk, Banyum, Bagnoun, Banhum, Banyung, Ñuñ, Elomay, or Elunay) are an ethnic group that today lives primarily in Senegal as well as in parts of Gambia and Guinea-Bissau.

Etymology

The name Banyun is attributed to the Portuguese, who derived the word from Mandinka and applied it as a collective name for a number of groups settled at strategic sites along waterways, portages, and trade paths between the Gambia and Cacheu rivers.... Possibly Banyun served as a generic term for "trader," much as dyula identifies Mande traders engaged in long-distance commerce (Map 9).^[1]

Mandinka oral history from the Pakao area of the middle Casamance records that the name "Bainouk" was a pejorative term, first used after the Mandinka defeated them battle in the late 16th century, meaning "those who are chased away," from the Mandinka word "bai" meaning "chase away."^[2]

History

The Bainuk are believed to have been the first inhabitants of the lower Casamance.

In the fifteenth century, there were at least five Bainuk states including Bichangor, Jase, Foni, and Buguando. The Bainuk were also a major component of the population of the Kasa kingdom.^[3]

The Bainuk states dominated the riverine and coastal trade in the region, heavily restricting the activities of Portuguese traders and denying them access to inland trade routes. At the end of the 16th century they relaxed this policy as part of collaboration with the Portuguese against Kasa, but gradually clamped back down afterwards.^[4]

In modern times the Bainuk have heavily adopted Mande and Jola cultural customs.^[3]

Culture

Many Bainuk are adherents of Islam, a process that began around the 17th century due to the influence of Muslim Mande scholars and merchants settling in the region.^[5] Some also practice their traditional animistic religion.^[3]

The Bainuk are known as skilled dyers and weavers.^[3]