Diabugu

Diabugu is a village in eastern Gambia. It is located in Sandu District in the Upper River Division. It is the biggest village in Sandu. It was founded by Foday Sillah about 1650. Foday Sillah's grandson Foday Sillah junior established the village of Jagejari as a farming centre. As time goes on some of his children settled there permanently.

Diabugu
Nickname(s):  Diabanna, Diafara, Diadolay
Diabugu Location in the Gambia
Coordinates: 13°23′N 14°24′W
Country	The Gambia
Division	Upper River Division
District	Sandu
Government
• Alikalo	Alhaji Kursa Drammeh
Population  (2016)
• Total	9,000 (est.)

Foday Sillah Junior's son Ba Sillah was the last Alkalo village head of Diabugu among the Sillah Kunda dynasty. Ba Sillah went to established a new settlement called Diabugu Ba Sillah South of the River Gambia. He then left the village to his first cousin and brother-in-law Mahamadou Mankoro Drammeh Sama. The Drammeh Sama of Diabugu has since inherited the leadership of Diabugu Batapa. Under the leadership of Mankoro's eldest son Madala Drammeh Sama, the Drammeh Kanji and Drammeh Sama were united. Inheritance of the Alkaloship is now based on seniority.

The first Drammeh Kanji to become Alkalo of Diabugu was Batapa Drammeh. He was a brave giant of Drammeh Kunda and because of this bravery, Diabugu has his name..

According to local sources, the following served as Headsmen of Diabugu the list is not exhaustive and based on narrations; 1. Foday "Baba" Sillah- Founding Father 2. Kissima Sillah, he later left to established his own settlement, East-south of Basse called Sabu-Sireh 3. Abdou Sillah 4. Ba Sillah

the Sillah left clan left the settlement to establish various villages e.g Jegajari, Diabugu Ba Sillah Diabugu Badara, Madina Samako, Madina Nfally and  transferred the Alikaloship to Drammeh

5. Ebrima Drammeh

6. Kekero Jalia Drammeh sometimes called Makoro Drammeh

7. Batapa Drammeh

8. Madala Drammeh

9. Kibili Kaka Drammeh

10. Kibili Henda Drammeh

11. Sorrie Juma Drammeh

12. Ka- Hammeh Drammeh

13. Ka Tamba Drammeh

14. Madala Tuguneh Drammeh

15. Alhagie Yugu kasseh Drammeh

16. Alhagie Kissima Sorie Drammeh

17. Mansa Drammeh

18. Alhajie Kursa Drammeh

19. Alhagie Jadou Kah Drammeh

20. Alh Morro Simbo Drammeh Present Alkalo (son of Yugu Kasseh Drammeh and grandson of Batapa Drammeh )

This list above is not the order in which they follow each other but from Alhagie Kissima sorrie Drammeh to Alhagie Morro Simbo Drammeh follows a sequence.

Diabugu is the most prominent Sarahuleh village, that embrace western education and it has lot of government facilities. Accordingly an infant school was established in the early 1940s, follow by a clinic and veterinary station. later in 1961, Gambia Government build a primary school to cater for the growing need of western education.

Diabugu also held chieftain of Sandu District. The Following served as Chiefs:

Batapa Drammeh (1925-1941)

Yogou Kaseh Drammeh (1941/2-1972)

Alhajie Seikou Baye Drammeh (1973- 1990)

Ansumana Mansa Drammeh (2000-2003)

In 2016, it had an estimated population of 9,000.[1]

Not all the Drammehs can be alkallolu of Diabugu Batapa. Only the Drammeh Samas and Drammeh Kanjis can be Alkalolu.

The Drammeh Sama and Drammeh Kanji share the same mother Jalia Sillah but different fathers. Therefore both are nephews of Sillah Kunda nkolu.

This is because following establishment of the settlement of Diabugu with their nephews, the children of Jalia Sillah, the Sillah clan left Diabugu completely and set up new villages. There are still Sillahs in Diabugu Batapa but those sillahs are (luntangs) foreigners. The Sillahs that are related to Drammeh are the Sillah Manganera, the rulers of Jagajari, Madina Samako and Diabugu Ba Sillah

The Drammeh Korimas and Drammeh wakanehs cannot be Alkalolu but they can handle the post of Head of Serna if they are the eldest in the family provided they are also a parent, the clan which the Sillahs and Drammehs belong. There are other surnames in the clan but leadership of the clan is limited to Sillah, Drammeh Sama, drammeh Wakaneh, Drammeh Korima and Drammeh Kanji. This is why the present head of the Serna Clan is Saikou Sillah who is the nephew of Kibili Kaka Drammeh.

Kibili Kaka is also the son of Madala Drammeh. Madala Drammeh's wife Kaka Drammeh and Batapa Drammeh's wife Gata Drammeh are sisters. This is why Yugu Kasseh Gata Drammeh (son of Batapa) and Kibili Kaka Drammeh (son of Madala) are cousins since their mothers shared the same mother and father from Kanji-Kunda-Tabokoto.