On Apr 22, 2011 7:30 AM, "suntou touray" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 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.
> Thanks Sal
> Suntou
>
> --
> www.suntoumana.blogspot.com
>
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