TennJangu
TennJangu is a fountain and place of worship in the town of Barra in the West African state of Gambia .
description
TennJangu is a parish fountain in Barra. It is one of the historical and important fountains in Gambia. The water from these wells is said to have healing powers. Besides this importance of the well in the old days, it is narrated that all chiefs of Barra and Niumi ; the Sonkos, Mannehs and Jammehs were purified with the water, "for before you are crowned, you must be covered with the water, which is like purification water, before you can become a king".
history
According to historian and director general of the National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Hassoum Ceesay , everyone in Niumi used to want to drink the water from these wells. The people came from across the river in Bathurst (now Banjul ) to enjoy the water for healing purposes. According to Ceesay, the importance of TennJangu was confirmed by the alkalo of the place and its inhabitants. He was also able to find records in the archives, including in the May 1939 issue of The Gambia Echo newspaper : “With reference to the outbreak of a disease in Banjul in the 1930s when people crossed the river to TennJangu Fetching water from the well and drinking it just to cure their diseases. And the water from the well helped contain the disease, ”explained Ceesay.
In the years up to 2020, the well was no longer used as a source of drinking water, as many households in Barra are connected to the drinking water pipes. According to Hassoum Ceesay, the fountain will be cleaned and upgraded by the NCAC in 2020. Explain the history of the fountain and its meaning; it should then be made attractive to the other sites in Barra such as Fort Bullen for a visit.
Individual evidence
- ^ A b c Yunus S. Saliu: TennJangu, a Well of the Parish in Barra - The Point. In: thepoint.gm. July 6, 2020, Retrieved July 21, 2020 (American English).