Berending : ENSA A SAHO MAT NO: 2110118

The village of Berending is found in Lower niumi in north bank region and located just ten kilometers from Barra point. According to sources, Berending was located near the crocodile pool (woyotoo) which was very close to a virgin forest. The name came as result of the presence of a small stone close to the pool where the village was located and hence termed the village around the small stone (Berending).  However, the settlement has moved its present site to get closer to the upland farms away from the swamps the initial site which is liable to flooding.

The crocodile pool is said to have very important bearing on the history of the village because it serves the village and its surrounding settlements as a sacred place of worship. People visit the place from far and wide to perform some rituals in order to be successful in attaining a desired venture.  

The founders are said to be warriors at the time and therefore, located the village close to a forest for two reasons; to make their site difficult to locate by the enemies during wars; and, to use the forest as a hideout in the event of surprise attack   by the enemies. The village was and is still is dominated by the sonko clan who are Mandinkas and the original founders of the settlement of Berending.

The present alkalo is said to be the 17^th alkalo since the settlement began. Berending is an old settlement which served as in the capital of the ancient kingdom of Niumi. As a settlement of warriors who were only proud of how many human heads they brought home during wars and how much alcohol they drank cherished the title Soninke. Even their descendants are called and praised by the griots using the title Soninke during ceremonies.

The Mandinkas are the dominant ethnic group; the other ethnic groups are Fulas, Turka, Serere, and Wollof which together form less than 10 per cent of the population of the village.

The current main economic activities of the village are farming (upland groundnut and wetland rice cultivation) during the rainy season. Horticultural garden takes the lead during the dry season.