Joof family

The Joof family is one of the old Senegambian royal families of Serer ethnicity.

The surname Joof, also spelt Juuf or Juf (in Serer and Cangin), Joof (English spelling in the Gambia) or Diouf (French spelling in Senegal and Mauritania), is a surname that is typically Serer. Though there are multiple spellings for this surname, they all refer to the same people. The differences in spelling came about because Senegal and Mauritania were colonized by France, while the Gambia was colonized by the United Kingdom. Although spelt differently, they are pronounced the same way.

The totem and symbol of the Joof family is the antelope and gazelle, the symbol of grace, royalty, wisdom, hard work and protection in Serer mythology. The name of their clan is Njuufeen (in Serer). The Joof family of Guelowar matrilineage also have another totem called Mbossé (a form of lizard, as in the Mbosseh festival). They are the only ones permitted by custom and the rules governing totemic prohibitions to make libations to this reptile (not be confused with the primordial tree in Serer cosmogony) Members of the Joof family from other Serer maternal clans also have their own maternal totems (see that article).

Members of this family had ruled over many of the pre-colonial kingdoms of Senegambia, including the Kingdom of Sine, the Kingdom of Saloum and the Kingdom of Baol. The royal princesses (Lingeers) from the Joof family were also given in marriage to the pre-colonial kings and princes of Senegambia. Some of these included the kings of Jolof, kings of Waalo, kings of Cayor and Baol (after 1549 following the Battle of Danki). From these marriages, they provided many heirs to the thrones of these kingdoms. Although usually associated with Serer royalty, the Joof family also figure prominently in Serer religious affairs.