Djolof

Djolof, also spelled Jolof, designates the historic Wolof-speaking people of the Senegal River valley and the state they built in that region. The term covers both the ethnic group and the political entity known in early West African history as the Jolof Empire. The core area lies in what is now parts of Senegal and The Gambia, along the lower Senegal River and adjacent coastal zones. In broader usage, Djolof also appears in historical and cultural works to refer to the Wolof cultural sphere.

Historically, the Jolof Empire emerged as a federation of kingdoms along the Senegal River from roughly the 13th to the 16th centuries. It achieved a measure of political influence and unity among several polities under a common authority, while recognizing the autonomy of constituent states. At its height, it exercised suzerainty over neighboring kingdoms and functioned as a central hub in regional trade networks. The empire gradually weakened in the 16th century due to internal rivalries, succession disputes, and the increasing pressure of European coastal powers. By the 17th century the Jolof state structure had dissolved into independent polities such as Cayor, Baol, Waalo, and Sine-Saloum, though the term remained in historical and cultural usage.

Culture and language are central to the Djolof identity. The Wolof language became a major lingua franca in the region, and Islam spread through the area from the medieval period onward. The Jolof milieu contributed to West African trade, social organization, and the griot (jalou) tradition, which preserves history, genealogy, and music. Today, Djolof is chiefly a historical reference tied to the Wolof cultural sphere within Senegal and The Gambia.