Seereer Radio 

Date of broadcast : Saturday, 30th January 2016 

Presenter : Tamsier Joof 

Interviewee : Professor Issa Laye Thiaw

Interviewers : Tamsier Joof and Demba Sene

Other panel member : Njaga Gaye

Subjects : The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune (Battle of Somb); The proclamation of saltigis at the Battle of Somb; Saltigi Laba Jëën Ngum - his fame and wisdom; Saltigi Jaye Chas, Seereer festivals : Gamou, Gamou Kahone, Ndut, Mbooye, Tobaski, Njuud, Sowing and Harvest; Origin, meaning and etymology of Gamou; Etymology of the word julit (a term used by Senegambians to designate a Muslim); Seereer songs when a person dies; How the Seereer view death; Seereer funeral ceremony (Mbooye) and rituals when a person dies; Juuf, Joof or Diouf family consolation song when a member of the that family dies; Seereer view of heaven and death through songs; Prayers by patrilineal and matrilineal clan members when a member of that clan dies and the associated rituals; The Juuf family prayer; The Thiaw family prayer; The ritual when the deceased is being interred (for men and women and relation to Seereer numerology); Seereer paternal and maternal culture and the importance of matrilineality; Origin of Seereer matrilineality; Seereer creation myth : First human couple (female, then male) - including their names; Origin of Tobaski, Seereer Calendar (Yuuk in Seereer, Reeh in Saafi) – an agricultural calendar; The year the Seereer were supposedly driven out of Ancient Egypt : 522 BC; Kechan, Manja and Cosaan in reference to the Seereer Calendar; Seereer and Jola : The oldest inhabitants in Senegambia and the ones who brought civilisation to the Senegambia region.

Additional notes : This interview was recorded on 8th January 2015 on behalf of The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC). It was recorded in Professor Thiaw's house. Apologies for the noisy background from other members of the household.