The Noon
cosmogony follows a similar narrative to the
Ndut especially in regards to how death began on Earth. In both myths, the
dog is believed to have been the first living thing to have died.[4][5][6]
Kokh Kox is worshipped through intermediaries (e.g. the
Pangool). Like all the Serer group who adhere to the tenets of
Serer religion, the
sacred wood plays a crucial role in the religious affairs of the Noon.[4][7] The Serer-Noon sometimes refer to Kokh Kox affectionately as Tyagaye (grandfather).[1] In times of great sorrow, the Noon people will evoke the name of Kokh Kox using the general Serer word Seen (variants : Sen, Sain, Sene, etc.), which is also a
Serer surname. Depending on the Serer sub-group, the deity's name will precede the word Seen e.g. "Koh Seen" (or Koh Sen) used by the Noon in reference to Kokh Kox, or "Roog Seen" used by the non-
Cangin-Serers in reference to
Roog Seen, the name for the divine among the Serer-
Sine.[1] It is from this Serer religious heritage that the Wolof people (now islamized) borrowed the phrase "N'Daye San" from,[1] also used exactly in that manner (i.e. to express great sorrow).[1] The phrase is rooted in
Serer religion and
culture, and has nothing to do with Islam.[1]
References
^
abcdefSociété de géographie (France), "La Géographie, Volumes 61-62", Masson et cie., (1934), p 245 (in French)
^
abNdiaye, Ousmane Sémou, "Diversité et unicité sérères : l’exemple de la région de Thiès", Éthiopiques, no. 54, vol. 7, 2e semestre 1991
[1]Archived 2020-06-30 at the
Wayback Machine(in French)
^
abcTastevin, C. (R.P.), "La religion des Nones", Études missionnaires, t. II, no 2, avril-juin : 81-100; t. II, no 3, juillet-sep : 176-187. (1933, 1934) (in French)
^Tastevin, C. (R.P.), "La religion des Nones" in
Dupire, Marguerite, "Sagesse sereer: Essais sur la pensée sereer ndut", pp 85-86
[2](in French)
^"Religion en Afrique, Volumes 15-17", E.J. Brill (1985), pp 203-5 in Tastevin, C. (R.P.), "La religion des Nones" (in French)
^Deffontaines, Pierre, "Géographie et religiones", Edition 10, Gallimard (1948), pp 54-71, 369 (in French)
Bibliography
Tastevin, C. (R.P.), "La religion des Nones", Études missionnaires, t. II, no 2, avril-juin : 81–100; t. II, no 3, juillet-sep : 176–187. (1933, 1934)
Ndiaye, Ousmane Sémou, "Diversité et unicité sérères : l’exemple de la région de
Thiès", Éthiopiques, no. 54, vol. 7, 2e semestre 1991
[4]Archived 2020-06-30 at the
Wayback Machine