Seereer Radio 

In December 2015, the Seereer Resource Centre and the Seereer Radio team went to Tukar (or Toucar) in Senegal to carryout research on the historic and Holy village of Tukar. Founded by Laman Jeegaan Juuf nearly a thousand years ago and ruled by his descendants (the Juuf, Joof or Diouf family), Tukar is both significant in Seereer history and religion. Once a Kingdom with several vassal states, Tukar is now just a large village in Senegal. The area is also known as Njuujuuf in reference to the Juuf family member who founded it. Tukar is also where the Raan Festival is held on the second Thursday after the appearance of the new moon in April. Our narrator was Waly Faye, an old Seereer man and a direct descendant of Fassaman Thiaw, adversary of Laman Jeegaan Juuf all those centuries ago. Waly Faye is one of the respected historians in the area. He has been documenting the history of Tukar for many years. We were unable to interview the Juuf family that day as the head of the family and Saltigue (High Priest) responsible for the shrine was away on a community meeting. However we have been given an audience with him in the future so watch this space. Visit the Seereer Resource Centre at www.seereer.com to learn more about the history of Tukar and laman (ancient Seereer kings and the learning owning class). You can read more about this from their history page. See the link below for the etymology and history of Seereer lamans : http://www.seereer.com/laman