Soninke people

Soninke (also called Sarakole, Seraculeh, Maraka or Serahuli ) are a West African people. They belong to the Mande group.

History

They are descended from the Bafour, a putative ancient tribe in the Sahara, and would thus be relatives of the Imraguen who live on the Atlantic coast of Mauritania.

The Soninke are the founders of the ancient empire of Ghana, which had its peak between the 7th and the 10th century. By Stiru of the Almoravids in the 11th century it came to the fall, after the neighboring Mandé peoples had caused an internal collapse.

Dissemination

The Soninke live in vast areas in West Africa ( Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Mali, and Burkina Faso) - and occupy the banks of the Senegal River in the south of Mauritania, where they devote themselves to agriculture and trade. The language of Soninke is Azayr, a heavily -influenced Berber dialect. The majority has the languages ​​of the peoples accepted, under which they live.

Tradition

They are mainly Muslims. The Society of the Soninke is layered rigid and has little social mobility. The descent, the legacy and transmission of kinship and family authority are absolutely patrilineal. The payment of bride price is a well established custom, and the folklore and rituals are a part of life content in the Soninkés.

In earlier times there was slavery. Descendants of slaves still live in separate villages.