The founder figure of the Wolof kingdoms.
On the chronology of Amadou Wade's Chronicle of Waalo he became the first brak of Waalo in 1186 and is ruling there on 1 January 1200, before leaving for Jolof. On every modern dating he is later, from the early thirteenth to the late fourteenth century, and Waalo in 1200 is still a land of lamanes. The record is here so the campaign can choose; the map does not draw him.
Who he is
- Name
- Ndiadiane Ndiaye
- Title
- Brak (king) of Waalo, later founder of Jolof, in the Wolof tradition
- Since
- 1186 on Amadou Wade's chronology (Chronique du Walo senegalais (1186-1855)); his sixteen years in Waalo would run to about 1202. Other datings: early thirteenth century (often ascribed), about 1300 (Boulegue 2013), second half of the fourteenth century (Fage; Ndiaye 2021 from the king lists)
- Born
- Not known; tradition says in the Futa Toro
- Family
- Tradition names his father as Abu Darday, Bubakar Omar or Boukar Ndiaye; some identify the father with the Almoravid Abu Bakr ibn Umar (died 1087), which Wikipedia notes is chronologically impossible for a reign of about 1360; Serer tradition makes him the son of the lamane Boukar Ndiaye. His son Sare Ndiadiane succeeded him in Jolof.
- Confidence
- low
The legend: the lamanes of Waalo quarrelled over a wood (or a catch of fish) by a lake; a stranger came out of the water, divided it fairly and vanished; they staged a second quarrel, seized him when he returned, and made him ruler. No Arabic source mentions him. Wade's chronology is a twentieth-century compilation from oral tradition and is not accepted by most historians.
What it holds
- On Wade's chronology only: the lamanic estates of Waalo, which accepted him as arbiter and king
How it was acquired
By the lamanes' choice after the legend of the wood by the lake (tradition).
Allies and rivals
Not recorded.
How things stand that morning
Not ruling on the modern datings. If the campaign adopts Wade's chronology, he rules Waalo (see Waalo Wolof) as its first king, in his fourteenth year.
Wealth
Not recorded.
Military
Not recorded.
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- About 1202 on Wade's chronologyHe leaves Waalo after sixteen years and goes on to Jolof, where his rule begins the Jolof kingship.Depends on: Adopting Wade's chronology. Stopped by: The modern datings, which put all of this a century or more later.
Where the sources disagree
- Wade 1186-1202 against the early thirteenth century, about 1300 (Boulegue), or about 1360 (Fage; Ndiaye 2021). The Rao tumulus sometimes linked to Jolof's founding is dated about 1300-1350.
Evidence: Oral tradition compiled in the twentieth century; the 1186 start is in the title of Wade's chronicle (Wikipedia: Mo Mboj Maalik Mboj, references); the sixteen years in Waalo are from Wikipedia: Ndiadiane Ndiaye.
On the map: Not drawn: Waalo is shown under its lamanes (Waalo Wolof).
Sources and studies
- Wikipedia: Ndiadiane Ndiaye
- Wikipedia: Mo Mboj Maalik Mboj (reference to Amadou Wade, Chronique du Walo senegalais (1186-1855), Bulletin de l'IFAN B 26, 1964)
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.