Maad

Maad (in Serer, or Mad) is the title given to a male monarch by the Serer people of Senegal, Gambia and Mauritania. In Serer royal history, the Maad possessed supreme power throughout Serer country. The Maad was chosen from the royal lineage and crowned by the great Jaraaf (French: Diaraf) who was equivalent to a prime minister. After his coronation, he would crown a member of his maternal family, usually his mother, sister, maternal aunt, or wife as Lingeer (Queen). The Serer titles Maad a Sinig (King of Sine) and Maad Saloum (King of Saloum) take their names from the radical Serer title Maad, and identifies which part of Serer country they rule.