Transliterated title: Juubeeraŋo.
The manuscript deals with divination techniques. The techniques are used by Mandinka marabouts (local religiousl leaders and healers) in order to diagnose the supernatural or natural causes of people’s challenges or ailments, to prescribe appropriate remedies, or to predict their future. The document is written in Mandinka Ajami. The author goes step by step through several processes that one needs to know in order to be able to perform divination successfully, including what exact Arabic prayer or litany to use at what specific time. With this text, the author shares his knowledge of divination with his fellow spiritual leaders and healers, his disciples, and the local knowledge seekers who are literate in Mandinka Ajami. Sharing divination knowledge, healing recipes, and other forms of knowledge are common among West African Muslims. The manuscript was digitized in the home of the owner (Abdou Karim Thiam) in the neighborhood of Kandialang in Ziguinchor, Senegal.
Custodial history: The current owner of the manuscript (Abdou Karim Thiam) inherited it from his father (Nimbaly Thiam) who died in the 2015 Mina stampede in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Extent and format of original material: 22 pages.
Physical characteristics: Unbound manuscript. Parts of the manuscript are brittle and falling apart, especially around the frayed and chipped edges.
Owner(s) of original material: Abdou Karim Thiam.
Author(s) of original material: Imam Nimbaly Thiam.
Additional language information: Mandinka with Arabic structures.
Additional script information: Mandinka Ajami.
