The hills and valleys of the upper Gambia, the Niokolo and the Futa Jallon foothills (round Kedougou, Salemata, Bandafassi, Koundara and Youkounkoun) belong to small peoples who govern themselves by villages and age-sets: the Bassari, the Konyagi (Coniagui), the Bedik and the Badyaranke.
Wikipedia notes that the Bassari still bury their dead in stone funerary huts much like the work of the megalith builders to the north-west. Who held the upper Gambia round Tambacounda in 1200 is not known; it is drawn with them for want of evidence.
Who holds it
- Title
- Village elders and the age-sets of initiated men
- Since
- Not known
- Confidence
- low
These peoples, speaking Tenda languages of the Atlantic family, are generally taken to be remnants of populations once spread more widely before the Mandinka and Fulbe; nothing is recorded for 1200.
How things stand that morning
Not known; presumably self-governing.
Customs
Age-set initiation cycles; village government by elders; their own religion (later evidence).
Assemblies
Village and age-set gatherings (later evidence).
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Linguistic and later evidence only.
On the map: A large block for a thinly known region.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.