Serer-Ndut

The Serer-Ndut ethnic group are approximately 22,000 Serer people, most living in central Senegal in the district of Mont-Roland, northwest of the city of Thies. Their language, Ndut, is currently classified as a Cangin language more closely related to Serer-Palor than to standard Serer-Sine, and it has only recently had a written form. The people are agriculturalists and lake fishermen. Their traditional religion involves careful relations with the ancestors. A large number are now Catholic, and a large number are Muslim. The main Catholic mission is at the town of Tiin.

Originally the Serer-Ndut came into Mont-Roland from Fouta in the north, according to their oral traditions. Their leader was Ndiawour Cisse, but for most of their history later they were not unified politically. The Serer-Ndut had a reputation as ferocious and successful raiders of trade routes leadiing into Thies. Although they were nominally included in the Kingdom of Cayor, they maintained a certain independence. They have a reputation among other Serer groups as having special mental and magical powers.

There are two transplanted Serer-Ndut groups, living in the north and south of Senegal, since the 1960's. The northern group inhabit an area in the Kingdom of Biffeche including the town of Savoigne, Senegal, and the Serer-Ndut language is a main language of the kingdom.