Faye family

History

The early history of the Faye family goes back to Lamanic times, however they did not achieved particular fame and notoriety until the 14th century. The Faye family that had ruled the pre-colonial kingdoms of Sine trace descent to Boukar Djillakh Faye (variation: Bougar Birame Faye), an early 14th century professional wrestler called njom in Serer and patriarch of this patriclan. In the early 14th century, Boukar Djillakh Faye was regarded as one of the best wrestlers in Serer country. The Guelowar princess Lingeer Tening Jom was given to him in marriage. Tening Jom was the niece of Maysa Wali who later became a Maad a Sinig (title for the king of Sine) — ruling from c. 1350–1370. From that marriage, they had several children including Tasse Faye (or Tassé Faye, the first from this family to rule Sine as Maad a Sinig during this era) and Waagaan Tening Jom Faye (the king with at least 24 children including 9 daughters) — one of the better known kings from this family. Dinned into Senegambian and Serer history, the Faye family, like their Joof counterparts are one of few Senegambian families that have a family anthem (boom). The name of their anthem is "Waagaan Koumbassandiane", (proper: Waagaan Kumbasaanjaan) who actually was a medieval king of Sine (Maad a Sinig Waagaan Kumbasaanjaan Faye) reported to be one of the longest reigning kings of Sine and ancestor of this family. This family's anthem forms part of the overture of the Epic of Sanmoon Faye, which relates the history and deeds of Maad a Sinig Sanmoon Faye, the controversial king of Sine who succeeded Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof in 1871. Their family totem is the African warthog (called "ruul a koб" in Serer, variation: "ruul-a-koƥ") — (previously grouped with the boar). In the early part of the Guelowar dynastic period (1350–1969), the Faye paternal dynasty was dominant in Sine, providing many of the Serer kings. However they were eventually overtaken by the Joof family who provided more kings of Sine, even from the 19th century to 1969. Notwithstanding the rivalries between these two patriclans, alliances were formed on certain occasions in order to repulse those they perceived as the greater enemy. One of these medieval alliances was between Maad a Sinig Diessanou Faye and Jaraff Boureh Gnilane Joof (founder of the Royal House of Boureh Gnilane Joof). That historical alliance was brought about when the Muslim marabout—Mohammadou of Koungo launched jihad in the Sine, threatening the survival of Serer religion in the country. Diessanou Faye, who was on the throne of Sine requested the assistance of the Joof family. Assistance was granted, with the Joof clan led by Boureh Gnilane Joof (son of the warlord king of Laah and conqueror of Baol - Maad Patar Kholleh Joof). The Joof—Faye alliance led to the defeat the Muslim army. For his part in achieving victory, Boureh Gnilane was made Jaraff (equivalent of prime minister) and given the sister of Diessanou Faye (Lingeer Gnilane Faye) in marriage.

Historical battles involving this family

The table below lists some historical battles in Senegambia involving the kings or princes from this patriclan :

Genealogy

This abbreviated genealogy shows the descendants of Boukar Djillakh Faye.

Boukar Djillakh Faye = Lingeer Tening Jom of Djillakh (Dieghem) │ queen mother ___________________________________________________│_________________________________________ │ │ │ │ Maad a Sinig Tasse Faye Maad a Sinig Waagaan Tening Jom Faye Mabane Faye Lingeer Gnilane Faye (Maad a Sinig, king of Sine) (king of Sine) (prince of Sine) (princess of Sine) reigned 1370 │ │__ ___________________________________________________│_____________________________________________________________________ │ │ │ │ │ │ │Mba Waagaan Faye Ndougou Waagaan Faye Yakis Waagaan Faye Karabel Waagaan Faye Biram Jakar Waagaan Faye* Ngom Waagaan │ _______________________________________________│ Faye │ │ │ ____________________________│ _________________________________________________________________________│ │ │ │ _________________________________│_____________________________________________________________________ __________│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ Khanjang Waagaan Faye Njein Waagaan Faye Lassouk Waagaan Faye Jokel Koly │ Toma Waagaan Faye Waagaan Faye Mbeggaan │_________________ Faye │ │ Maad a Sinig Waagaan Kumba Saanjaan Faye (king of Sine)

* It is his name people cite when they make a short praise to the Faye family, i.e. "Fay Biram" which may signify, "Faye! From the line Biram." For the Joof family, it is the name of Maad a Sinig Niokhobai Mane Nyan Joof they recite, i.e. "Juufa Niokhobai Samba Lingeer" (var. Dioufa Niokhobaye), which means "Joof! The great nobles." These short family poems or proverbs are called lastangol la (or ndakantal) in Serer.

Status in Serer religion

The Faye family's involvement in Serer religion is linked to the Pangool (the Serer saints and ancestral spirits). During the reign of Maad a Sinig Waasila Faye (in the fifteenth century), the Fangool Laga Ndong was canonized king of the Pangool (singular: Fangool). Between c. 1750–1763, the then king of Sine — Maad a Sinig Boukar Tjilas Mahe Soum Joof is reported to have come into conflict with the Fangool Tamba Faye (the "great Fangool of Ndiob").

In Senegambian culture

The Senegalese artist Youssou N'Dour himself of Serer heritage dedicated his 1985 track Wagane Faye to this family. In that song, he recite the genealogy of this family with particularly emphasis on the branch of Waagaan Faye (i.e. Maad a Sinig Waagaan Tening Jom Faye).

Yandé Codou Sène, the late Serer Diva, sings the deeds of Maad a Sinig Waasila Faye in her song Moon and that of Maad a Sinig Sanmoon Faye (also called Salmon Faye) from her 1997 album (Night Sky in Sine Saloum) — Salmon Fay, which she sang in a cappella.

Serer personalities with the surname Faye or Fay

The following list is a sample of those personalities who are ethnically Serers of Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania partaining to the Serer patronym Faye or Fay :

Kingdom of Sine

Maad a Sinig Waagaan Tening Jom Faye

Maad a Sinig Wassyla Faye (or Wassila Faye)

Maad a Sinig Diessanou Faye

Lingeer Gnilane Faye, sister of Maad a Sinig Diessanou Faye and wife of Jaraff Boureh Gnilane Joof

Maad a Sinig Waagaan Kumbasaanjaan Faye

Maad a Sinig Laasuk Fanaan Faye

Lingeer-Awo Yandeh Mbouna Faye, first wife of Maad Semou Njekeh Joof (founder of the Royal House of Semou Njekeh Joof). She was princess of Sine later the queen mother.

Lingeer Gnilane Faye, she is the mother of Maad a Sinig Njaak Faye (from her first marriage) as well as the mother Maad a Sinig Ama Joof Gnilane Faye Joof (from her second marriage to the warlord Sandigue Ndiob Niokhobaye Joof). This queen mother was highly involved in the political affairs of Sine. The Battle of Ndoffène was a family crisis for Lingeer Gnilane, because it involved her second husband from the family Joof fighting for the succession of their youngest son (Ama Joof) against her eldest son Njaak Faye who was the king of Sine. Maad a Sinig Njaak Faye was defeated and killed in that battle.

Maad a Sinig Sanmoon Faye (var: Sanoumon Faye, sometimes called Salmon Faye) – reigned 1871–1878 A controversial king regarded as a great warrior king, but also viewed by his notables as a wicked king. When his notables headed by the Farba—Mbar Yandé Ndiaye Faye(his general) called his nephew Semou Maak Joof (the future king of Sine whom Sanmoon previously defeated and driven out of Sine) to help them defeat Maad a Sinig Sanmoon Faye, he sought French protection and practically ceded to the French the sovereignty of Sine, though he never kept to the terms of the treaty. There was little support from the French. It was during and after his reign that the Kingdom of Sine was ravaged with dynastic struggles, where the kings succeeded one another at an astounding rate.

Jolof

Lingeer Gnilane Faye (of Sine), she was married off to the Njie royal family of Jolof, some of which later settled in Saloum. Her son Waljojo (or Waldiodio) did became king of Sine.

Academia

Louis Diène Faye (born 1936), Senegalese scholar of Serer religion and history

Souleymane Faye, Senegalese professor of linguistics and author on Serer and Cangin languages

Politics

Caroline Faye Diop (1923–1992), a Senegalese politician during the First and Second Republic. Daughter of Diène Faye and wife of Demba Diop (the Senegalese minister).

Saliou Diodj Faye (1941 - ), a Senegalese ambassador to the United Kingdom (1976 - 1980) and to Canada (1980 - 1986)

Military

Farba Mbar Yandé Ndiaye Faye, the general and commander of the Sine army during the reign of Maad a Sinig Sanmoon Faye. He wrote a letter to the French in 1876 relaying the cruelty of the king of Sine.

Mbaye Faye (born 1948), Senegalese field officer and colonel

Leopold M'Bar Faye: Senegalese field officer and colonel

Art and entertainment

Safi Faye (born 1943), Senegalese film director and ethnologist

Abdala Faye (born 1971), Senegalese mixed media artist

Mbaye Dieye Faye, Senegalese singer and percussionist

Habib Faye, a Senegalese bassist, keyboardist, composer and grammy-nominated producer

Sport

Fary Faye (born 1974), Senegalese footballer

Ibrahima Faye (born 1979), Senegalese footballer

Maodomalick Faye (born 1987), Senegalese footballer

Abdoulaye Diagne-Faye (born 1978), Senegalese football

Amdy Faye (born 1977), Senegalese football

Pape Omar Faye (born 1987), Senegalese football

Mathieu Faye (born 1958), a former Senegalese basketball player

Mouhammad Faye (born 1985), a Senegalese basketball player

Gnima Faye (born 1985), a Senegalese track and field athlete

Khadim Faye (born 1970), a former Senegalese goalkeeper

Apollo Faye (born 1951), basketball player originally from Senegal

Ibou Faye (born 1969), Senegalese 400 metres hurdler

Mareme Faye a Senegalese swimmer

Assassins

Abdou N'Daffa Faye (died 1967), a reported assassin (o pôbôm in Serer) charged with the assassination of a Senegalese politician in 1967. He was found guilty and sentenced to death.