Saloum

The Kingdom of Saloum in Senegal was a traditional kingdom which was founded in the late 15th century in the south of the " Gelwaar " or by the nobles of the kingdom of Kaabu. The ancient capital of the Kingdom of Saloum is the city Kahone, which is still residence.

Saloum includes the flat, marshy wetlands of the Saloum River with a. In recent years, large areas of mangrove forest have been destroyed but there. There was a flourishing industry of salt production at salt flats along the river deltas. Originally Saloum extended from the south to the northern shores of the Gambia River.

The original population was displaced in the 11th century by the Serer, who came from the Kingdom of Tekrur in the north of the Senegal Valley. During the Gelwaar period of the 15th century to today, over 100 kings dethroned. The Portuguese arrived in 1590 with the Kingdom in contact. The Kingdom of Saloum conquered the neighboring kingdom of Sine and controlled it for a long period, while the area as "Sine - Saloum " was known, but it was later split again. Saloum also had a time control of the kingdom of Baol. Although the Kingdom won some major battles against the French, it was finally conquered in 1850. The kings held their traditional courtyard in Kahone gone, but the place remained in the shadow of commercially successful neighboring city of Kaolack.

The present King of Saloum (2002), King Mbaye Badiane I. He is supported by various princes as dam Djaaraf of Saloum ( Fode Yacinthe NDour ) and Farba (EL Hadji Malick Sarr ). The ruling house is located in the capital, Kahone. The king has also a subordinate king (or " Bour Gandiaye " ) in the city Gandiaye in Saloum, who maintains his own dynasty.

Saloum is known for its many ancient grave mound or " tumuli " which contain the tombs of the kings and others. Also the Kingdom of numerous mysterious stone circles has the functions and history are unknown.

Ethnic was the Saloum Empire from the improvers, but gradually the Wolof took more influence, especially in the areas around Kaolack, where peanuts were grown. Serer - Sine and Wolof are the two languages ​​spoken in the Saloum.

The Gambian districts Lower Saloum and Upper Saloum in the Central River Region refer to this kingdom.