Diourbel region

{{Short description|Region of Senegal}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Diourbel region | native_name = {{nativename|fr|Région de Diourbel}}<br>{{nativename|wo|Diiwaanu Njaaréem}} | settlement_type = Region | image_map = Diourbel in Senegal.svg | map_caption = Location of Diourbel in Senegal | image_map1 = Map of the departments of the Diourbel region of Senegal.png | map_caption1 = Diourbel région, divided into 3 départements | pushpin_map =  | coordinates = {{coord|14|45|N|16|15|W|region:SN_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Senegal | parts_type = Départements | p1 = Bambey | p2 = Diourbel | p3 = Mbacké | seat_type = Capital | seat = Diourbel | unit_pref = Metric | area_total_km2 = 4824 | population_total = 2,080,811 | population_as_of = 2023 census | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = GMT | utc_offset = ±00:00 | blank_name_sec1 = HDI (2017) | blank_info_sec1 = 0.398<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref><br/>{{color|#900|low}} }} {{main|Serer ancient history|Timeline of Serer history|Kingdom of Baol}}

The '''Diourbel region''' (Serer and Cangin: ''Jurbel'') is a region of Senegal with 2,080,811 inhabitants (2023).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Diourbel (Region, Senegal) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/senegal/admin/SN02__diourbel/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref> The regional capital is the city of Diourbel, and the largest city is Touba. The region corresponds roughly to the precolonial Kingdom of Bawol and is still called by that name. Bawol (or ''Baol'') is an ancient kingdom formerly ruled by the Joof family, one of the members of the Serer ethnic group found in Senegambia.<ref>Phillips, Lucie Colvin, "Historical dictionary of Senegal", Scarecrow Press (1981), pp 52-71 {{ISBN|0-8108-1369-6}}</ref><ref>Institut fondamental d'Afrique noire, Bulletin de l'Institut fondamental d'Afrique noire, Volume 38. IFAN, 1976. pp 557-504</ref> Inhabitants of the area are called ''Bawol-Bawol'' which takes its name from the Serer mode of pluralisation, other examples being: ''Sine-Sine'' or ''Siin-Siin'' (inhabitants of Sine), ''Saloum-Saloum'' (inhabitants of Saloum), etc. The population is primarily comprised by the Serer people especially those from the Cangin group, the Safene in particular.<ref name="Gal">{{in lang|fr}} Gastellu, Jean-Marc, "L'Egalitarisme économique des Serer du Sénégal", IRD Editions (1981), p 446, {{ISBN|2709905914}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=cc0xdPE35ngC&q=sereer] (Retrieved : 10 July 2012)</ref><ref>Klein, Martin A, "Islam and Imperialism in Senegal Sine-Saloum, 1847-1914", Edinburgh University Press (1968), p 5</ref><ref>Mwakikagile, Godfrey, "Ethnic Diversity and Integration in The Gambia: The Land, The People and The Culture", (2010), p 223, {{ISBN|9987932223}}</ref> The Serers are believed to be the original inhabitants of this area.<ref name="Gal"/> The Wolof and other ethnic groups are also present. The Diourbel Region is rich in history and it is where the Cekeen Tumuli are located. Scholars such as Charles Becker, Henry Gravrand, and Victor Martin suggest that these monuments were built by the Serer people<ref name="Serer">{{in lang|fr}} Becker, Charles: "Vestiges historiques, trémoins matériels du passé clans les pays sereer". Dakar. 1993. CNRS - ORS TO M [http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/pleins_textes_5/b_fdi_01/010014636.pdf (Excerpt)] (Retrieved : 10 July 2012)</ref><ref>Gravrand, Henry, "La Civilisation Sereer - ''Pangool''", Les Nouvelles Editions Africaines du Senegal, 1990, p 77, {{ISBN|2-7236-1055-1}}</ref> and form part of the Serer tumulus of Baol<ref name="Serer"/> (see also Senegambian stone circles). They are some of the most sacred sites in Serer religion. Mbacké department also includes Mouride Islamic Sufi order's holy city of Touba. The installation of this order in Serer country<ref name="Gal"/> is a controversial one, especially among those Serers who adhere to the tenets of Serer religion (see Serer history (medieval era to present).<ref name="Gal"/> However, some Serers are also Muslims and have headed this religious order.<ref name="Gal"/>

==Départements== The Diourbel region is composed of three départements: *Bambey département *Diourbel département *Mbacké département

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{in lang|fr}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20080519010750/http://www.ard-diourbel.sn/ Région de Diourbel: Agence Régional de Développement].

Category:Diourbel region Category:Regions of Senegal