Birayma N'dyeme Eler Explained

Birayma N'dyeme Eler
Burba Jolof
Reign:	c.1465 - c.1481
Predecessor:	N'Dyelen Mbey Leeyti
Successor:	Tase Daagulen

Birayma N'dyeme Eler, also spelled Biram Njeme Eler (ruled c.1465 - c.1481) was the seventh ruler, or Burba, of the Jolof Empire.^[1] He was a member of the Jonaï maternal lineage, which originated in Baol.^[2]

Reign

Information about Biram Njeme Eler, coming mostly from oral histories, is debated by scholars. Rokhaya Fall, relying on Senegambian oral histories as well as 15th century Portuguese sources, credits him with founding a new capital for the empire at Ceng as well as conquering Namandirou, Saloum, and the Mandinka kingdoms of the north bank of the Gambia river in the middle of the century.^[2] Oumar Kane, however, assigns responsibility for much of these deeds to a precursor, Cukli Njiklaan.^[3]

Eler was succeeded by his nephew, Tasé Daaguleen, after Tasé had defeated his son Bukar Bige in a power struggle.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Book: Stewart, John. African States and Rulers. Jefferson. McFarland. 2014. 978-0-78649-564-1. 76.
2. Book: Fall . Rokhaya . Fauvelle-Aymar . François-Xavier . Hirsch . Bertrand. Les ruses de l'historien. Essais d'Afrique et d'ailleurs en hommage à Jean Boulègue . 2013 . Karthala . Paris . 15–29 . 8 January 2024 . French . De la nécessité de réactualiser le recours à la « tradition orale » dans l’écriture du passé africain. Hommes et sociétés . 10.3917/kart.fauve.2013.01.0015 . 978-2-8111-0939-4 .
3. Book: Kane . Oumar . La première hégémonie peule. Le Fuuta Tooro de Koli Teηella à Almaami Abdul . Chapitre IV. Les lawakooɓe et la formation du royaume deeniyaŋke . Hommes et sociétés . 2004 . 114–157 . Karthala . Paris . 978-2-84586-521-1 .