ABSTRACT
The following story about the origins of the City of Gao, cradle of the Songhoy Empire, was told by Alfa Moussa Djouandé, marabout residing in Gao, son of Alfa Kassoum Djouandé, marabout residing in Yuwaru, son of Alfa Moussa Djouandé, marabout residing in Dia. This story was fi rst recorded, translated, and transcribed about 1971. It was commented on by Bocar Cisse and Almamy Maliki Yattara, who were both were employed as researchers at the Institute of Social Sciences in Mali. According to Alfa Moussa Djouandé (a marabout living in Gao), this historical and cultural tradition was carefully carried on from father to son and documented in a family Tarikh (Book). Alfa Moussa Djouandé is the grandson of thirty-four (34) grandfathers, all of whom have been marabouts. His thirty-fourth grandfather was Oukbata Ibn Yassiri, who was the Arab companion of the Prophet Mohammed who had been sent to Tekrour by Calife Oumar Ibn Khaddabi. Here is the family genealogy provided by Alfa Moussa Djouandé:
1. Alfa Moussa Djouandé marabout living in Gao 2. Son of Alfa Kassoum Djouandé marabout living in Youwarou 3. Son of Alfa Kassoum Djouandé marabout living in Dia
4. Son of Alfa Hamadoun Djouandé marabout living in Dia 5. Son of Alfa Bocar Djouandé marabout living in Dia 6. Son of Alfa Lassina Djouandé marabout living in Dia 7. Son of Alfa Daouda Djouandé marabout living in Dia 8. Son of Alfa Kissitim Djouandé marabout living in Dia 9. Son of Alfa Sekou Djouandé marabout living in Dia 10. Son of Alfa Mama Djouandé marabout living in Dia 11. Son of Alfa Mori Djouandé marabout living in Dia 12. Son of Alfa Ousmane Djouandé marabout living in Dia 13. Son of Alfa Ali Djouandé marabout living in Dia 14. Son of Alfa Samba Djouandé marabout living in Dia 15. Son of Alfa Ibrahima Djouandé marabout living in Dia 16. Son of Alfa Moussa Djouandé marabout living in Dia 17. Son of Alfa Seyni Djouandé marabout living in Dia 18. Son of Alfa Kewrio Djouandé marabout living in Dia 19. Son of Alfa Barké Djouandé marabout living in Dia 20. Son of Alfa Afo Djouandé marabout living in Dia 21. Son of Alfa Dadié Djouandé marabout living in Dia 22. Son of Alfa Kowada Djouandé marabout living in Dia 23. Son of Alfa Sori Djouandé marabout living in Dia 24. Son of Alfa Ousmane Djouandé marabout living in Dia 25. Son of Alfa Alhassan Djouandé marabout living in Dia 26. Son of Alfa Oumar Djoumadé marabout living in Dia 27. Son of Alfa Soumaïla Djoumande marabout living in Dia 28. Son of Alfa Yaouro Djouandé marabout living in Dia 29. Son of Alfa Cheka Djouandé marabout living in Dia 30. Son of Alfa Abdoulaye Djouandé marabout living in Dia 31. Son of Alfa Ibrahima Djouandé marabout living in Dia 32. Son of Alfa Boubacar Djouandé marabout living in Dia 33. Son of Alfa Hamadoun Djouandé marabout living in Dia 34. Son of Alfa Ousmane Djouandé marabout living in Dia 35. Son of Alfa Boubacar Djouandé marabout living in Dia 36. Son of Alfa Oukbata Ibn Yassiri, Arab companion of Prophet Moham-
med, who was sent to Tekrour by Calife Oumar Ibn Khaddabi (Cissé & Yattara, 1971).
