Serer maternal clans or Serer matriclans (Serer : Tim or Tiim; Ndut : CiiɗimDupire, "Totems sereer et contrôle rituel de l'environnement", p 40) are the maternal clans of the Serer people of Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania. The Serer are both patrilineal (simanGol Kalis, p 299 or Simangol) and matrilineal. Gastellu, Jean-Marc, "Petit traité de matrilinarité. L'accumulation dans deux sociétés rurales d'Afrique de l'Ouest", Cahiers ORSTOM, série Sciences Humaines 4 (1985) [in] Gastellu, Jean-Marc, "Matrilineages, Economic Groups and Differentiation in West Africa: A Note", O.R.S.T.O.M. Fonds Documentaire (1988), pp 1, 2-4 (pp 272-4), 7 (p 277) Inheritance depends on the nature of the asset being inherited – i.e. whether it is a maternal asset which requires maternal inheritance (ƭeen yaay Becker, Charles: "Vestiges historiques, trémoins matériels du passé clans les pays sereer", Dakar (1993), CNRS - ORS TO M. (Retrieved : 31 July 2012) or den yaay Dupire, Marguerite, "Sagesse sereer: Essais sur la pensée sereer ndut, KARTHALA Editions (1994). For tim and den yaay (see p. 116). The book also deals in depth about the Serer matriclans and means of succession through the matrilineal line. See also pages : 38, 95-99, 104, 119-20, 123, 160, 172-74 (Retrieved : 31 July 2012)) or paternal asset requiring paternal inheritance (kucarla). The Serer woman play a vital role in royal and religious affairs. In pre-colonial times until the abolition of their monarchies, a Serer king would be required to crown his mother, maternal aunt or sister as Lingeer (queen) after his own coronation. This re-affirms the maternal lineage to which they both belong (Tim). The Lingeer was very powerful and had her own army and palace. She was the queen of all women and presided over female cases. From a religious perspective, the Serer woman plays a vital role in Serer religion. As members of the Serer priestly class (the Saltigues), they are among the guardians of Serer religion, sciences, ethics and culture. There are several Serer matriclans; not all of them are listed here. Alliance between matriclans in order to achieve a common goal was, and still is very common. The same clan can be called a different name depending on which part of Serer country one finds oneself in. Some of these matriclans form part of Serer mythology and dynastic history. The mythology afforded to some of these clans draws parallels with the Serer creation narrative, which posits that: the first human to be created was a female. Many Serers who adhere to the tenets of Serer religion believe these narratives to contain profound truths which are historic or pre-historic in nature.
Terminology In Serer, Tim (proper : o tim) means matriclanGastellu, Jean-Marc, "L'Egalitarisme économique des Serer du Sénégal", IRD Editions (1981), p 97, or the maternal origins of an individual. The term o tim ole (var : tim ola) means the matriclanKalis, Simone, "Médecine traditionnelle religion et divination chez les Seereer Sine du Senegal", La connaissance de la nuit, L'Harmattan (1997), p 300, or the name of the family by the mother's line. The name of the family by the father's line (i.e. surname) is called Simangol. This is the name that the Serer carry for example : Sain, Joof, Faye, Sarr, Ngom, Njie, Ndour, Senghor, etc., (see Serer patronyms and Serer surnames for variations in spelling in the Gambia and Senegal). The Serers are bilineal, that is, patrilineal and matrilineal. For more on this, see those articles as well as family name. The head of a matriclan is called Tokoor (or Tokor). The Tokoor is usually a very old man (the eldest male of the clan) and a rather important figure in the maternal family. ƭeen yaay or den yaay (var : den yay ) — means maternal inheritance or matrilineage depending on context. A ndok ya — literally means a mother’s house (or cabin). In a historical sense, it can also means all those who trace descent from a direct maternal ancestor. The paternal alternative is mbin (as in Mbin Semou Njekeh - see the Royal House of Semou Njekeh Joof). All the members of this mother's house partains to the same matriclan. Maasir (Serer proper) also called Kalir (var : Kal) is a joking relationship between various patronyms of the same ethnic group (for example between the Faye and Joof family - who are both ethnically Serers) or between paternal and maternal first cousins (i.e. between someone and the offspring of his/her maternal uncle or paternal aunt). The term Gamo (from the Serer word Gamahou or Gamohou, which has Serer religious connotationsDiouf, Niokhobaye, « Chronique du royaume du Sine, suivie de Notes sur les traditions orales et les sources écrites concernant le royaume du Sine par Charles Becker et Victor Martin (1972)», . (1972). Bulletin de l'IFAN, tome 34, série B, no 4, 1972, pp 706-7 (pp 4-5), pp 713-14 (pp 9-10)) is used for the same purpose but between different ethnic groups (for example between the Serer, Jola and Toucouleurs, along with the Fula). Gamo is the proper term to describe these inter-ethnic joking relations, although it is common to hear it substituted with the terms maasir, kalir or kal. In the traditions of these groups, they are historical alliances between their ancestors, which were sometimes sealed with blood. These historical pacts dictates that these groups are required to assist one another in times of need; estopped from spilling the blood of another; give advice or even insult one another in a joking manner without the recipient taking offensive. In most cases, their descendants honour this ancient protocol to the present, especially between the Jola and Serer people who have an ancient relationship. This tradition which is present between Serer patriclans and in Senegambian culture, is also present among the Serer matriclans. They are historical alliances to which their descendants still adhere to. Faye, Ousmane, Diop, Adama, "Contribution a l'étude de l'histoire de Fa-oy des origines aux grandes migrations (XIIIe - XXe siècle): approche historique et ethnographique", Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (2002), pp 64-70 For more on this, see Serer - Maasir.
Types Serer matriclans can be divided into two types : 1. Those clans who are Serers by origin — through the bloodline. They are usually revered in Serer religion and/or legend or mythology, and form part of Serer ancient and dynastic history (only if they have established a maternal dynasty). They tend to be rather old clans and many of their historical narratives are lost to history. 2.Those who are assimilated to Serer culture through marriage (as stated were appropriated) — usually part of Serer dynastic history, especially Serer medieval history, but have no relevance in Serer religion, legend, mythology or ancient history. In certain cases, some of these clans attempt to advance their mythological legitimacy by affiliating themselves to the proto-Serer matriclans or adopting as totems — objects which are enshrined in Serer mythology.
Serer matriclans can be further categorized by splitting them into groups. For example, :
1. The Coofaan group (var : Tiofane or Tiofan) —: i.e. the Coofaan (itself a matriclan), Siañ, Pedior, Taa'boor (or Tabor) and Jolax (var : Diolah) matriclans.BIFAN (1983), p 359
History
Serer matriclans and the role of Serer women are intricately linked to the Serer cosmogony and religion. Universität Frankfurt am Main, Frobenius-Institut, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kulturmorphologie, Frobenius Gesellschaft, "Paideuma: Mitteilungen zur Kulturkunde, Volumes 43-44", F. Steiner (1997), pp 144-5, (Henry Gravrand, "La civilisation Sereer - Pangool" [in] "Paideuma: Mitteilungen zur Kulturkunde, Volumes 43-44") In their cosmogony, the supreme transedental deity Roog (or Koox among the Cangin) created a woman first before man was ever created from the same divine placenta. In Serer religious symbolism and numbers, women share the same number with Roog (the number 3). The number 3 represents the celetral world in Serer symbolims and "numbers". Their creation narrative posits that : there were three worlds, three parts of the cosmos and three essential elements. Gravrand, Henry, "La Civilisation Sereer - Pangool", vol. 2, Les Nouvelles Editions Africaines du Sénégal (1990), pp 194-195, Women are also linked to the Divine, who created the Universe via its divine female principles.
The ritual control of the marine life such as sea salt and fish, and that of rain and rivers including fire (for the purposes of farmland) are attributed to the first Serer matriclans. Many of the proto-Serer matriclans are found within the old villages of the Petite Côte in Serer country. The Faoye (var : Fa-oy, a locality of Sine-Saloum situated around 25 km south of Fatick) is also steep rich in tradition as it is in Ñakhar (or Niakhar). Like Ñakhar, Faoye account for many Serer matriclans including : Feejoor, Joofaan, Kare-Kare, Mengeeñ, Raaboor, Rik, Simala, Waale, Wagadu, Yiil, etc. Faye, Ousmane, Diop, Adama, "Contribution a l'étude de l'histoire de Fa-oy des origines aux grandes migrations (XIIIe - XXe siècle) : approche historique et ethnographique", pp 64-8, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar (2002) These matriclans were integrated into the Kingdoms of Sine and Saloum. It is suggested that their initial role was religious in nature.Dupire, "Sagesse sereer: Essais sur la pensée sereer ndut", p 118 (Henry Gravrand, "La civilisation Sereer" - Cosaan, 1983, pp 154-155 [in] Dupire) Like the Serer patriclans (see Joof family), each Serer matriclan has its associated totem which are rooted in nature or the environment.Dupire, "Sagesse sereer: Essais sur la pensée sereer ndut", pp 98-9 The Serer Ndut call the ancestors the elements of the environment with which their matriclans are associated, and they differ from the patronymic totems which are related to prohibitions and taboos imposed on an individual by the Serer healers and priestly class. These beliefs are still prevalent, especially in funerals, which are expected to manifest these "ancestors", as well as when the totemic species (animal) needs protection.
Many Serer families can recite their maternal genealogy at least as far back to ten generations from the eldest living member of the clan.
The Serer group and matrilineality