Fascinating indeed. I don't know the meaning or the story behind these
expressions, but I just thought about a few that comes to mind:

      Badjan -  Badjan ak sakura
      Badjie -   Badjie Baseng
      Joof   -    Joof  ak Njokobai
      Mendy -  Mendy Koto
      Gomez - Gomis ak Ngaina
      Njie   -     Njie Jatta
      Sowe -    Sowe Pulo
      Touray - Touray Mandimori
      Gaye - Gaye Njoro
      Secka - Secka Bai

     I think in Wollof, they call these expressions 'Dagantal". We have heard
our elderly folks used these expressions many a time when greeting with
people. These are some of our cultural heritage, which indeed requires
investigation. Some aspects of our culture need to be celebrated; those that are still
relevant to the social dynamics of our everyday living. There is so much beauty
in some of the cross cultural exchanges between our people, to the extend that
possibly it has contributed to the social cohesion, respect and accomodation
of the diverse and distinctive cultures that have examplified our way of life.

     One thing I also find very fascinating is 'KASAK' . These are the songs
that celebrate the rite of circumcision. I don't know if this is specifically
a Wollof traditon, because it has been quite prominent in Banjul and within
Wollof circles. I don't know either if this tradition still is in currency. I
always think about someone translating these songs into beautiful poetic verses,
if they are not already lost.


    Rene

NB: I may be wrong in the spelling of these expressions.

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