In today's edition of your weekly history corner, ‘Know your Towns and Villages’, we will be featuring tales of a small community in Upper Baddibou, not far from the region's commercial centre, Farafenni. This community is perhaps little known in the history of Baddibou and The Gambia at large, but a close encounter with the indigenes of the community reveals some astonishing historical facts.

Even though the community did not play much role in the country's early history, particularly with contact of the outside world, it reserves still the prestige as the first settlement of a land that would later be known as Baddibou. It is also the community that first carved the root of kingship in the land. This community is none other than the village of India. So please read on to discover the tales of the historical rite of passage of the community.

The foundation

During our chat with the current elders of the community of India, we could not ascertain the meaning of the name of the community and how it came about. Sources blamed most of the missing facts of their oral tradition on age and evil of death which has snatched away the elders who were fortunate to witness the unfolding of history. But the elders of the community believed that the name India, which could have been choosing by its founders, has been in use since the founding of the settlement. Another version of the tales say the actual name of the community is ‘Kindia’ and the new name of India is the prostituted version.

The community was also said to be in its second settlement, the first is now called India Tumbung. Sources say it lies on the outskirts of Jimansari. The sources further revealed that the settlement of India was the first in a land that would later be known as Baddibou. The name Baddibou is said to be a Mandinka phrase, 'Bading Bung,' meaning a family house.

The founding of the community began from the East where a Soninke warlord known as Sankalang Marong migrated from in search of the treasures of life. Stories abound that he entered the Gambia valley through Mbumano and relaxed under a big mango tree (Dutajubaa) before temporarily settling at a place that was later referred to as Sankalang by the indigenous people.

Sankalang Marong later moved further inland to permanently establish a settlement of his own, a settlement that is known today as India. Our sources revealed that during that period of the migration of this Soninke warlord to establish the settlement of India, what later became Baddibou was a virgin land of thick forest cover.

When Sankalang erected the pillars of his settlement, he decided to set fire to the virgin forest to establish the length and size of his settlement for posterity. The fire burnt through the forest for days until it was finally extinguished by the river that flows through Kerewan. When Sankalang Marong went to where the fire had stopped, he built a well (Kolong) near the river so that when his children do not have water, they could drink from it. This well is now known by the people of Baddibou as ‘Kambi Jaasey Konlon’ and sources say it is situated on the outskirt of present day Suwareh Kunda.

This explains why it is often said among the people of Baddibou that the land from 'Dutajubaa' to 'kambi Jaasey kolong', is owned by the Marongs from India. Sources went on to advance that when the settlement of India was fully established, Sankalang Marong went back to bring his family and the traditional regalia of kingship from the eastern part of the sub region.

This made him the first king of the land of Baddibou,and his lineage line of authority continued to reign over the people until European intrusion destroyed the good -old tradition. The descendants of Sankalang, sources noted, in the later part of history ,also established settlements of their own , which has resulted to the division of the land of Baddibou into five 'kabilos', Jimansari, Kubandari, India and Jajally.

Aborigines and expansion

As we earlier stated, Sankalang Marong who migrated from the eastern part of the sub region founded the community of Baddibou India. He transformed the virgin forest into an enviroment condusive for human habitation, and people began migrating from left, right and centre to come and join in the enjoyment of the treasures of the new home.

Though the India community still relatively remains a small community containingt only two wards (kabilos), it hosted many migrants who been accredited with the founding of many of the settlements that make up the land of Baddibou.

The Alkaloship

As tradition demands, the founder of the land became the alkalo, which made Morang to assume the alkaloship since they are the founders. Till today, the community of Baddibou India still upholds the traditional hierarchical order in which authority passes on from father to son. This is why the seat of alkaloship is in the house of Marong Kunda with succession based on age.

During the days of the founder himself, traditional governance was based of kingship.Ssources say that he was the first to wear the gown of traditional kings in the land of Baddibou and his ruling coincided with reigning of King Jifarang Koto at Batelling in Kaing and Jaranka Jaasey Bana in Jarra.

African tradition

Just like any other indigenous community, the settlement of India did not do without the practice of indigenous culture and tradition. According to our sources, the community operationalised the African philosophy that puts emphasis on age. Young folks gave maximum respect to elderswho reciprocated.

Social events like wrestling, circumcision, among others, were highly observed. Our sources also pointed out ritual sites, like 'Taborabaa' where peopleperformed ritutals and prayers to overcome their plight were accompanied by drumming, singing and dancingd demand for needs like water (rain).