| Amary Ngone Sobel Fall | |
|---|---|
| Damel-Teigne | |
| Reign | 1549-1593 |
| Predecessor | Dece Fu Njogu |
| Successor | Massamba Tako (Cayor), Mamalik Tioro Ndjingèn (Baol) |
| Born | early 16th century Palene Ded |
| Died | 1593 |
| Father | Dece Fu Ndiogu Fall |
| Mother | Ngoné Sobel Ndiaye |
| Religion | Islam |
Amary Ngoné Sobel Fall – (or Amari Ngoneh Sobel Faal, orAmari Ngóone Sobel inWolof) was the secondDamel of the independent Kingdom ofCayor in modern-daySenegal. He was responsible for breaking Cayor's vassalage under theJolof Empire at thebattle of Danki in 1549, and reigned until 1593.
Amary Ngoné was the son ofLamaneDece Fu Njogu Fall and Ngoné Sobel Ndiaye, daughter of theSererLingeer Sobel Diouf. When Dece Fu fell ill, he failed to send the necessary tribute to their overlord, theBuurba of theJolof Empire, for several years. In 1549 Amary volunteered to go, leading an army recruited with the help of his maternal uncle Niokhor Ndiaye,Teigne (title) ofBaol.[1]: 8
To camouflage his movements Amary Ngoné marched the army east to lake Danki, on the southern edge of Jolof, rather than directly to the imperial capital of Ouarkhokh. He left the bulk of his forces there, heading to Ouarkhokh with only a small group. They buried javelins along the way. When thebuurba received them insultingly, Amary Ngoné publicly declared that theAajor (people of Cayor) had no need for such a chief. Offended, the Jolof-Jolof pursued them, but Amary and his companions kept them at bay thanks to the stashes of ammunition they had left. Arriving at Danki, the full Cayor army ambushed the pursuers and killed thebuurba.[1]: 9
Upon his return to Cayor, Amary Ngoné was received with a great feast to celebrate the kingdom's new independence from Jolof. Dece Fu Njogu was acclaimeddamel, meaning 'breaker', but during the celebrations was killed when a group of bulls brought to be slaughtered stampeded.[1]: 8 Amary was immediately electeddamel in his place. Upon his enthronement, he was ritually bathed by Islamicmarabouts.[2] Soon after his accession, Amary's uncle died as well, and he was electedTeigne of Baol, the first monarch to hold the dual title.[1]: 10
Amary Ngoné proclaimed a new constitution for the independent Cayor and founded a new, more centrally located capital at Mboul. He repelled multiple invasions from Jolof in the first years of his reign, each time killing thebuurba who led them.[1]: 11 He also led a force north into theSahara desert to chasten theHassaniya emirs who were raiding south of theSenegal river, reportedly going halfway toMorocco.[2] Amari Ngoné reigned for 44 years. Upon his death in 1593 he was succeeded in Cayor by his sonMassamba Tako and in Baol by his nephew Mamalik Tioro Ndjingèn, Massamba's son.[1]: 10
