Go to AfricaBib home

Go to AfricaBib home AfricaBib Go to database home

bibliographic database
Line
Previous page New search

The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here

Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The Wangara, an Old Soninke Diaspora in West Africa?
Author:Massing, Andreas W.ISNI
Year:2000
Periodical:Cahiers d'études africaines
Volume:40
Issue:158
Pages:281-308
Language:English
Geographic term:West Africa
Subjects:Soninke
long-distance trade
history
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
Urbanization and Migration
External link:https://doi.org/10.4000/etudesafricaines.175
Abstract:The Wangara are a central element of a Soninke diaspora in West Africa, from Mauritania to northern Nigeria, and go back to the Soninke kingdom of Ghana, where they were known as Wakoré, and obtained royal trade (gold dust) privileges. The author outlines the overall context of the Wangara diaspora and documents Wangara identity through an analysis of primary historical sources, cross-checking of secondary sources with contemporary oral testimony, and his own investigations into oral history of Malian, Ivorian, and Ghanaian settlements and clans. While the Wangara reveal slightly different identities at different times and in different regions, they nevertheless show a common denominator: involvement in the long-distance trade in precious commodities between desert-side and forest fringe, and in the propagation of the Islamic faith. Certain groups holding the imamates in key settlements such as the Sa(gha)nogo, Kamaghaté, Diaba(gha)té, Timité, Cissé-Haidara, Fofana and Bagayogo are of Soninke origin, but other groups identify themselves as 'Wangara'. Ann., bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in English and French.
Views
Cover