The name of God in Mandingo society is no different to the ones use today. God (Ndamanso--Creator)) Mmariyo (our owner)...
The same concepts were found amongst the Arabs before Islam. They were using Allah, however, they knew that, Allah is beyond Idols or images they themselves carve. Allah cannot be made into plural like gods. This is why, they invented names like Al-Lat, Al-Uza, Al-Manat etc.
So in Mandingo pre-Islamic territories, each idols has a name, for instance, Talinding-Kunjan was an idol, Kan-Ten-Ten Suto was an Idol, Kabentu Sito was an Idol, Bere Kolon in Cassamance is still an Idol etc.
Idol (Jalang) is a deep root Mandingo word derive from Jan Lanfe (my personal breakdown of the word) meaning to avoid a place. Jalangs are usually places left untouched. Therefore, the superstitions have to be elevated to give more credence to the place were only the Custodian have the means to communicate with the spitits ie the Jinns.
However, pre-Islamic Mandingo society understands that, the Jalangs are part of the sophisticated means to reach out their ultimate Creator, (Idamanso or Imariyo). This is why, it wasn't too difficult for them to abandon Idolatry in practise when Islam came to them. Superstition is very tough stuff, everything is mystified, and the cumbersome rituals alone was the catalyst for its demised. The remnants of those old believes is what is still making ideas of witch craft exist, something close scrutiny reveals is impossible. It is not possible for any human being to change into a Lion, Hyena, Cat, Dog, Bird etc... You will also notice that, the same concepts are found in the Serre society, the Wollof reference for Doma and not forgetting my Uncles.
Hence, people use to fear Cobblers. The belief is they can turn into a Hyena. And the Sanyang Kunda people can turn into a Lion. The believes that, people can disappear is all unreal. Hence, God has always been understood as the Creator, but the approach to him became the sources of all the mediums. Does Jalangs have powers, can it affect people, can it be use to cause harm?
The reality is, whether ancient or modern contemporary society, the force of good and evil will always exist. Jalangs according to Mandingo history depends on the Jinn or Daafenw (something unidentified) that is the force of the Tree, the Rock, River, etc. The oracles will always tell the visitor to their place that, they will have to make contact with that Jinno or Daafenw. The rituals will begin and then, he/she will say the things to offer as rituals...So the metamorphoses of the old customs into some marabourism is very similar. Instead of spooky isolated places, a more approachable and acceptable form is invented.
Can you imagine seeing a Sanyang kunda man turning into a Lion? I will slap him. Lol
Thanks Sal
Suntou
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