Second royal house founded by the Joof family during the Guelowar dynastic period of Sine
| The Royal House of Jogo Siga Joof |
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The antelope is the totem of the Joof family, the founders of this royal house. In the mythology of the Serer people, it symbolises grace, royalty, wisdom, hardwork and protector. |
| Parent house | Descendance of Lamane Jegan Joof (king and founder of Tukar) and Maad Ndaah Njemeh Joof (king of Laa, part of old Baol). |
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| Country | Kingdom of Sine, part of present-day  Senegal. |
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| Founded | c. 1461[1] |
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| Founder | Maad a Sinig Jogo Gnilane Joof |
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| Final ruler | Maad a Sinig Boukar Tjilas Jajel Joof (the last king of Sine from this royal house), Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof (last king of Sine, died 1969, member of the Royal House of Semou Njekeh Joof). |
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| Titles | Maad a Sinig |
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| Dissolution | 1969 - dissolution of Serer monarchies of Sine and Saloum following the deaths of Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof and Maad Saloum Fode N'Gouye Joof (king of Sine and Saloum respectively).[2][3] |
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The Royal House of Jogo Siga Joof (Serer : Mbin Jogo Siga Juuf or Mbind Jogo Siga,[4] other variation : Keur Diogo Siga, etc.) was the second royal house founded by the Joof family during the Guelowar dynastic period of Sine.[1][5] The Guelowar period commences from c. 1350 during the reign of Maad a Sinig Maysa Wali[6][7] and ends in 1969 following the deaths of the last Serer kings of Sine and Saloum (Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof and Maad Saloum Fode N'Gouye Joof respectively) and the disestablishment of the monarchies in Serer countries.[2][3] The pre-colonial Kingdom of Sine now lies within present-day Senegal.
History
The Royal House of Jogo Siga Joof was founded around the later half of the 15th[1] to early 16th century[8] by the Serer king Maad a Sinig Jogo Gnilane Joof (var : Diogo Gnilane Diouf,[8] following its French spelling in Senegal). Unlike the other royal houses founded by the Joof family of pre-colonial Senegambia, the Royal House of Jogo Siga Joof did not provide many kings. Only two (possibly one[9]) known Serer kings are attested to have belonged to this royal house, including the founder.[10] However, this royal house holds great significance in the survival of the Serer religion particularly in Sine and the independence of Sine, free from Islamisation. Maad a Sinig Jogo Gnilane Joof is reported to have defeated the Muslim marabout - Mamadou Koungo (of Koungheul) and kept the Islamic religion out of Sine.[1] Maad a Sinig Jogo Gnilane's victory against the jihadic expedition of the Muslim marabout was celebrated by depositing the "Eternal Stone of Sine" (called Sirat[11] by some) at Diakhao. The city of Diakhao was where the battle took place.[1] It is also the historical capital of many Serer Maad a Sinigs. The eternal stone is still found in Diakhao, at the same spot it was placed by the king[1] (see also Serer ancient history and Senegambian stone circles).
After the collapse of the Royal House of Jogo Siga Joof, the Joof family founded their third and last royal house - the Royal House of Semou Njekeh Joof, founded by Maad Semou Njekeh Joof.[12][13]
List of kings
This is a list of Serer kings of Sine reported to have belonged to the Royal House of Jogo Siga Joof.[14] Their royal title is Maad a Sinig (king of Sine).[15] This royal house is the most contentious of all the royal houses founded by the Joof family, as the year of reign varies from one source to the next.
- Maad a Sinig Jogo Gnilane Joof (var : Diogo Gnilane Diouf), founder of this house.[1] There is no consensus as to his exact date of reign. According to Diouf, he reigned from 1443 to 1461.[1] Teixeira da Mota postulates that he reigned in the 16th century (possibly early 16th century)[8]
- Maad a Sinig Boukar Tjilas Jajel Joof (var : Boukar Tjilas Diadiel Diouf[16] or Bukar Cilas Jajel Juf[17] / Juuf, following its pronunciation and spelling in Serer) is one of the most revered kings of Sine. Absolutely security and prosperity (through hardwork[16]) is reported to have prevailed throughout his dominion.[16] In spite of his historical account, the exact date of his reign is a matter of conjecture. Diouf provides a date range of 1698 - 1715,[16] whilst other sources with a degree of uncertainty[17] states that he probably reigned just after 1785.[17]
