Jolof kingdom

The Wolof empire, which flourished from the 14th to 16th centuries, was a significant historical state in what is now inland Senegal. Founded shortly after 1200, it was led by a king, the burba, who held both political and religious authority. By the 14th century, the empire began to establish satellite states, with Cayor becoming the most important.1

During the 15th century, the Wolof empire was a powerful entity. They engaged in profitable trade with the Portuguese, who arrived around 1440, and formed a political alliance, though they maintained their independence. However, in 1556, the nobles of Cayor broke away, forming their own state. This severed the Wolof empire's access to the sea and European trade, leading to a subsequent decline in its influence.1