Sibanor
is now the biggest settlement in terms of size and population in Foni. The
village was founded by one Mandinka man from Niumi Sika called Mankamang Saho in
the late 1800s, who under the advice of a marabou, crossed River Gambia to the
south in pursuit of a more flourishing life. On arrival in the Fonis, he searched
for place in Bintang District to settle down. He then found a big space of
land between two small Jola settlements - Manyina and Sitta. He sought
permission from them to settle between these two communities. Mankamang was
shown where to settle down by the chiefs of the two communities. At the time of
allocating the area to him, hamerkops (Sibanoras
in Jola) were perching there and were used as landmark. Thus the village became
known as SIBANOR. Shortly after Mankamang and
his family settled, one Jola family, Badjies, joined them there. Sibanor
later grew into a big village because during colonial and post colonial days,
‘SIBANOR TENDA’ was a popular trading post and many groundnut purchasing firms
had outlets there
Sibanor is a multi ethnicity community
comprising different ethnic groups today. The Mandinkas formed the majority
despite the village being in a Jola dominated region, Then Jolas, followed by
the Fulas; the other ethnic groups are the Manjangos and Sereres.
Sibanor
as a settlement shifted twice since its establishment. The settlement was first
located along the bank of the River Gambia where there was a big silk cotton
tree called (“BANTANGOTO”), it then
moved some hundred meters away from this location to the old south bank link road
that linked villages from Brikama to Kalagi and beyond. After the construction of
the South Bank Trunk Road, the village moved to its present site.
I
will not do justice for not naming my source who is no other person than ( BA
SAIKOU KASSAMA) the most elderly person in the village now.
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