Ndaw Explained

Ndaw (also N'daw, Ndow or Ndao) is a typical Gambian and Senegalese patronym of the Serer people. They are the same people but because the French colonised Senegal and the British colonised the Gambia, they are spelt differently but pronounced the same way.^[1] This surname is also common among the Wolof people, but it is mainly due to Wolof absorption of Serer culture, and Wolof people having Serer ancestry.^[2]

People surnamed Ndaw, N'daw or Ndao include:

• Abdoul Aziz Ndaw, Senegalese politician and diplomat
• Guirane N'Daw, Senegalese footballer
• Moussa Ndao, Senegalese footballer

Notes and References

1. Liliane Kuczynski. Les marabouts africains à Paris, p146, 199, 200, 250 & 336. CNRS éditions, 2002.
2. David P. Gamble. The Wolof of Senegambia: together with notes on the Lebu and the Serer, Volume 4, Part 14, p14, 98 & 101. International African Institute, 1967.