History Corner
With BY BERRAY SOWE
National Archives of The Gambia
The dismissal and detention of Chief Barra Touray of Lower Saloum District in 1942 triggered a prolonged struggle over the traditional leadership of one of the Protectorate’s strategically important districts.
For nearly four years, the British colonial administration was confronted with competing claims from prominent figures representing different communities and villages, while officials struggled to identify a candidate who could command broad acceptance among the people.
The political records preserved in the National Archives of The Gambia, particularly file PUB13/12, show that the authorities considered several options after Barra Touray’s removal. These included dividing Lower Saloum between neighbouring districts or establishing an interim Native Authority until a generally acceptable chief could be identified.
The eventual appointment of Ali Touray, a member of the Ballanghar ruling family, in 1946 brought the succession dispute to an end, although the process exposed the complex relationship between traditional authority, local rivalries and colonial administration in the Protectorate.
A HISTORY OF CONTESTED AUTHORITY
The crisis of 1942 did not emerge in isolation. It followed years of political and administrative changes in Lower Saloum, including the transfer of the chieftaincy from Kaur Janneh Kunda to Ballanghar.
The first two chiefs from the Touray family of Ballanghar were both removed from office and banished.
Ndery Jabou Touray, the first chief from Ballanghar, was dismissed in 1926 and banished to McCarthy Island. He was succeeded by his nephew, Barra Touray, who remained chief until his own dismissal in 1942.
The repeated removal of chiefs from the same family contributed to declining confidence in the ruling house among sections of the population. The archival records indicate that some residents had developed strong grievances against Barra Touray, particularly those who claimed to have been victimised during his administration.
The succession struggle that followed brought several prominent figures into contention.
Among them were Kebba Janneh, a Mandinka-backed contender and son of former chief Amulai Janneh of Janneh Kunda; Biran Bah, a respected elderly Tukolor; Ndogal Sowe, a prominent member of the Genjie Wollof community; and Ali Touray, son of former chief Ndery Touray and a popular figure within the Ballanghar ruling family.
The competing claims reflected not only individual ambitions but also the influence of village, family and ethnic affiliations in the selection of traditional leaders.
SALOUM BEFORE COLONIAL PARTITION
The history of Lower Saloum is closely connected to the wider history of the Saloum kingdom and the political transformations of Senegambia.
Records preserved at the National Archives of The Gambia, together with research by Professor David P. Gamble, indicate that Saloum, like several states in the region, maintained historical links with the ancient empires of Mali and Kaabu.
According to the historical tradition cited in these records, Mbengan Ndure, described as the grand-nephew of Mansa Wali John, established the state of Saloum after defeating the Tukolor leader Ali Elibana Salah. The state was renamed Saloum, while its capital was moved from Njop to Kahone.
Saloum’s establishment was also associated with the religious influence of Saloum Suwareh, a prominent marabout who, according to the tradition, prayed for Mbengan Ndure’s victory on the condition that the state would be named Saloum if he succeeded.
Although the kingdom was predominantly Serer, Mandinka, Wollof, Tukolor and Moor communities also lived within its territories.
Saloum and Sine were at one time vassal states of Jollof under the Burba Jollof. This political arrangement changed after Amari Ngone Sobel, the prince of Kayor, led his state to independence, creating conditions for other states in the region to assert greater autonomy.
MABA’S INCURSION
The political landscape of Saloum changed dramatically during the 19th century with the expansion of Islamic military leader Maba.
After conquering Badibou in 1861, Maba turned his attention towards Saloum. His campaign was supported by prominent Islamic clerics and military figures, including Sambou Qumani Touray and Handala Bury Ceesay.
According to the historical account, Handala Bury Ceesay entrusted two of his sons, Ndery Kani Touray and Sait Kani Touray, to Maba for Islamic education. Sambou Qumani Touray similarly entrusted Biram Ceesay and Ali Koja Ceesay to him.
Maba captured Kahone, the capital of Saloum, in 1865 before turning towards Kaolack. His disciple, Sambou Qumani, had earlier conquered Sabach and Sanjal and administered the territories on Maba’s behalf.
By the time of Maba’s death in 1867, much of Saloum had come under his control.
His death, however, created a succession struggle involving his brother Mamud Ndery, his son Sait Matty and his disciple and military commander Biram Ceesay.
Gedel Mboge, the king of Saloum, took advantage of the divisions to launch campaigns aimed at recovering territories lost during the expansion of Maba’s influence.
Faced with increasing pressure, Gedel Mboge appealed to the French for assistance. By the end of the 19th century, both Britain and France had intensified their efforts to consolidate territorial control in the region.
The French defeated Sait Matty Bah in 1886, forcing him to retreat into the British Gambia, where he remained until his death in 1897.
Following his defeat, territories associated with Maba’s family came under French administration, prompting strong British protests.
The political dispute was eventually addressed through the 1889 Boundary Settlement, which divided Saloum between the British and French spheres of influence. Roughly ten kilometres north of the Gambia River fell under British control, while the larger portion became part of French Saloum.
THE RISE OF BALLANGHAR
The political reorganisation of the region had a direct impact on Lower Saloum.
Shortly before his death in 1895, Gedel Mboge recovered some of his territories and converted to Islam. With French support, he was prepared to enter into a protectorate arrangement and appointed loyal individuals to administer different areas.
Jatta Seling Jammeh became associated with the Mandinka area in the Rip district, while Sait Kani Touray exercised authority in Sabach and established a fort at Kataba. Gumba Gaye lived in Sanjal.
The Ballanghar area was less independent under Sait Kani Touray of Passi Ngeyen, while Manjok Ceesay controlled the area stretching from Kaur to Panchang. The Mandinka communities around Janneh Kunda were under Bamba Janneh.
The original rulers of Ballanghar belonged to the Sanjako Chorowada branch of the Touray family. The last ruler before the consolidation of British and French authority was Sambou Qumani Touray, who was killed in battle.
The family had previously lived at Kataba in The Gambia before moving to Kerr Ndery in Senegal following the demarcation of the international boundary.
The French appointed Ndery Kani Touray as chief there, but he was later offered a position in The Gambia and returned.
In 1895, Arafang Madi Janneh of Kaur Janneh Kunda was appointed chief of the whole of Lower Saloum. By 1898, the district had been divided into two sub-districts: Genjie, probably headed by Macumba Sowe, and Ballanghar, headed by Juka Ndery Touray.
Arafang Janneh died in 1918 and was succeeded by Amulai Janneh, who remained chief until his dismissal in 1924.
The chieftaincy subsequently moved to Ballanghar. Ndery Jabou Touray was appointed chief but was dismissed in 1926.
Later that year, Barra Touray, a nephew of Ndery Touray, was appointed by Major Macklin.
BARRA TOURAY’S DISMISSAL
Barra Touray remained chief for 16 years, from 1926 until 1942.
His tenure came to an abrupt end during the Second World War period.
In a letter dated 22 July 1942, Colonial Secretary K. W. Blackburn informed the Commissioner of McCarthy Island Province that the Governor had ordered the detention of Barra Touray under Regulation 5B of the Alien Restriction Regulations No. 13 of 1939, as amended by Regulation No. 24 of 1942.
Three charges, including smuggling, were brought against him.
His removal created an immediate administrative problem. The colonial authorities had to identify a successor in a district where leading figures were divided along village, family and community lines.
A letter dated 4 September 1942 from George Lorimer, Commissioner of McCarthy Island Division, recorded the difficulty.
Lorimer observed that the tribal distribution, character and qualifications of the leading men made it impossible to identify a single candidate who was widely acceptable as head chief. He further indicated that no individual could secure a majority among the people without the involvement of the Commissioner.
The administration therefore established a three-member council comprising Ndogal Sowe, Kebba Janneh and Biran Bah to administer Lower Saloum.
Ali Touray, who was then a customs collector, was assigned the duties of clerk.
The arrangement reflected the administration’s reluctance to make a hasty appointment in a district where the leading candidates had substantial support among different communities.
THE SEARCH FOR A SUCCESSOR
The interim arrangement continued while the colonial administration considered the future of Lower Saloum.
The political records indicate that officials considered dividing the district between neighbouring administrative areas. One proposal involved placing parts of Lower Saloum under Upper Saloum, headed by Chief Matarr Cessay, and Upper Badibou, headed by Tamba Jammeh.
The alternative was to find a suitable person who could be accepted by the people as head chief.
The administration ultimately preferred the second option.
Its stated concern was to appoint an individual who would enjoy broad support among the people rather than impose a candidate without sufficient local backing.
This explains why the process took several years.
A report under reference DIL 30/1(34) records that the Commissioner eventually conducted a nomination among village heads on 22 April 1945.
Four principal candidates were nominated.
Ali Touray of Ballanghar received 14 nominations, while Ndogal Sowe of Genjie Wollof received 10. Ousman Bah of Jamwelli received five nominations, while Kebba Janneh of Janneh Kunda and Matarr Cessay each received two.
The result gave Ali Touray the largest level of support.
He was subsequently appointed head chief of Lower Saloum District on probation for six months, from 13 June to 13 December 1945.
His probation was extended for another six months, from 13 December 1945 to 13 June 1946.
His appointment was finally approved on 13 June 1946.
The nomination was significant because, according to the archival record, it represented the first recorded nomination for the Lower Saloum chieftaincy since the establishment of colonial rule in the Protectorate in 1894.
A CHIEFTAINCY SHAPED BY RIVALRIES
The Lower Saloum succession crisis demonstrates how traditional political institutions operated within the colonial administrative system.
The removal of Barra Touray did not simply create a vacancy. It exposed competing interests among prominent families and communities whose claims to authority were rooted in local history, social standing and previous chieftaincy appointments.
The prominence of Kebba Janneh, Ndogal Sowe, Biran Bah and Ali Touray illustrates the breadth of the competition.
The colonial administration’s response was also revealing. Rather than immediately selecting a successor, it established a temporary council and continued consultations before conducting a formal nomination.
For three years, Lower Saloum was therefore administered through an arrangement designed to accommodate competing interests while officials searched for a candidate with sufficiently broad support.
Ali Touray’s eventual appointment in 1946 brought the immediate succession dispute to a close.
The episode also marked another stage in the political transformation of Lower Saloum, where pre-colonial traditions of authority were increasingly incorporated into a colonial administrative structure.
The 1942 crisis, therefore, offers a window into the complexities of chieftaincy politics in colonial The Gambia: authority was shaped not only by hereditary claims, but also by local alliances, community support and the calculations of the colonial administration.
The story of Barra Touray’s dismissal and Ali Touray’s eventual appointment illustrates how the struggle for traditional authority could become a prolonged political process involving village leaders, competing families and colonial officials.
References
PUB13/12: National Archives of The Gambia.
Gamble, David P. (1999). Gambian Studies No. 37: The North Bank of The Gambia: Places, People and Population: The Wollof Area: Sabah & Sanjal, Lower Saloum, Upper Saloum. Brisbane, California.
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