Faye family


The patronym Faye is one of the :Category:Serer surnames|typical surnames of the Serer people of Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania. In French-speaking Senegal and Mauritania, and English-speaking Gambia, the surname is spelled Faye.
This Serer surname is unrelated to the similar given name or surname in the Western world. They are also pronounced differently.
The name of their clan is Fayeen. The history of the Faye family is linked to Serer medieval history and :Category:Serer royalty|Serer royalty. During the Guelowar period, the Faye family provided many of the kings of Sine. This family's biggest rival to the throne of Sine were the Joof family, with whom they have a long joking relationship according to :Category:Serer culture|Serer and :Category:Senegambian culture|Senegambian culture.

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, 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 :Category:Serer country|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 — ruling from c. 1350–1370. From that marriage, they had several children including Tasse Faye and Waagaan Tening Jom Faye — one of the better known kings from this family. Dinned into :Category:History of Senegambia|Senegambian and Serer history, the Faye family, like their Joof counterparts are one of few Senegambian families that have a family anthem. The name of their anthem is "Waagaan Koumbassandiane", who actually was a medieval king of Sine 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 —. In the early part of the Guelowar dynastic period, 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. 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. The Joof—Faye alliance led to the defeat the Muslim army. For his part in achieving victory, Boureh Gnilane was made Jaraff and given the sister of Diessanou 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 :
: the Serer war drum of Sine
Name of the battleMember of the clanOpponentReason for the battleVictor
The Battle of Kalikounda*Maad a Sinig Waagaan Tening Jom FayeThe Mandinka marabout of Kalikounda Religious warMaad a Sinig Waagaan Tening Jom Faye was victorious. He is also reported to have had the marabouts' alwa destroyed.
One of many Serer-Marabout Wars'' of the 14th and 15th centuriesMaad a Sinig Diessanou Faye


Jaraff Boureh Gnilane Joof 		The marabout – Mohammadou of Koungo A religious war due to a jihadic expedition launched in Sine by the Muslim forces.Maad a Sinig Diessanou Faye, Jaraff Boureh Gnilane Joof and the Joof-Faye ally forces.
The Battle of NgaskopMaad a Sinig Latsouk Faniame Faye


The people of Dieghem		The criminals of Dieghem and Diohine This battle was between the people who adhere to the laws of the land against those who use murder and robbery to achieve their goal. It was a battle where the good citizens attempted to take back their country, led by their king and his army.Maad a Sinig Latsouk Faniame Faye and the good people of Dieghem.
The Battle of NdoffèneMaad a Sinig Njaak FayeThe Sandigue Ndiob Niokhobai Joof The Sandigue Ndiob Niokhobai Joof entered this battle to secure the succession of his young son Maad a Sinig Ama Joof Gnilane Faye JoofThe Sandigue Ndiob Niokhobai Joof
The Battle of LogandèmeMany members of this family. Allied with Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak JoofLouis Faidherbe

Émile Pinet-Laprade		Resistance against French colonialismFrance
The Surprise of Mbin o Ngor
.		Many members of this family. Allied with Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak JoofMaba Diakhou Bâ,

Damel-Teigne Lat Jor Ngoneh Latir Jobe

and their Marabout armies		Religion, vendetta and empire buildingIndecisive. The marabout army withdrew when reinforcement finally arrived, but caused severe damage before retreating.
The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune Many members of this family including Mbange Som Faye. Allied with Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof Maba Diakhou Bâ,

Damel-Teigne Lat Jor Ngoneh Latir Jobe

and their Marabout armies		Religion, vendetta and empire buildingMaad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof

Genealogy

This abbreviated genealogy shows the descendants of Boukar Djillakh Faye.
Boukar Djillakh Faye = Lingeer Tening Jom
of Djillakh │ queen mother
___________________________________________________│_________________________________________
│ │ │ │
Maad a Sinig Tasse Faye Maad a Sinig Waagaan Tening Jom Faye Mabane Faye Lingeer Gnilane Faye

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

* 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", which means "Joof! The great nobles." These short family poems or proverbs are called lastangol la in Serer.

Status in Serer religion

The Faye family's involvement in Serer religion is linked to the Pangool. During the reign of Maad a Sinig Waasila Faye, the Fangool Laga Ndong was canonized king of the Pangool. 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.

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.
  • 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 from her 1997 album — 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 pertaining to the Serer patronym Faye or Fay :

Royalty

Kingdom of Sine

  • Maad a Sinig Waagaan Tening Jom Faye
  • Maad a Sinig Wassyla 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. She was princess of Sine later the queen mother.
  • Lingeer Gnilane Faye, she is the mother of Maad a Sinig Njaak Faye as well as the mother Maad a Sinig Ama Joof Gnilane Faye 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 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 – 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 called his nephew Semou Maak Joof 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, she was married off to the Njie royal family of Jolof, some of which later settled in Saloum. Her son Waljojo did became king of Sine.

    Academia

  • Louis Diène Faye, Senegalese scholar of Serer religion and history
  • Souleymane Faye, Senegalese professor of linguistics and author on Serer and Cangin languages

    Politics

  • Caroline Faye Diop, a Senegalese politician during the First and Second Republic. Daughter of Diène Faye and wife of Demba Diop.
  • Saliou Diodj Faye, a Senegalese ambassador to the United Kingdom and to Canada
  • Marieme Faye Sall, the current First Lady of Senegal.

    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.
  • Waly Faye, General of the senior army corps commander of the national gendarmerie and director of military justice. Grand Chancellor of the National Order of the lion
  • Mbaye Faye, Senegalese field officer and colonel
  • Leopold M'Bar Faye: Senegalese field officer and colonel

    Art and entertainment

  • Safi Faye, Senegalese film director and ethnologist
  • Abdala Faye, 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, Senegalese footballer
  • Ibrahima Faye, Senegalese footballer
  • Maodomalick Faye, Senegalese footballer
  • Abdoulaye Faye, Senegalese football
  • Amdy Faye, Senegalese football
  • Pape Omar Faye, Senegalese football
  • Mathieu Faye, a former Senegalese basketball player
  • Mouhammad Faye, a Senegalese basketball player
  • Gnima Faye, a Senegalese track and field athlete
  • Khadim Faye, a former Senegalese goalkeeper
  • Apollo Faye, basketball player originally from Senegal
  • Ibou Faye, Senegalese 400 metres hurdler
  • Mareme Faye a Senegalese swimmer

    Assassins

  • Abdou N'Daffa Faye, a reported assassin charged with the assassination of a Senegalese politician in 1967. He was found guilty and sentenced to death.