The Seereer Resource Centre (SRC)

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From ancient times to medieval era

In their ancient history, the Seereer people were an egalitarian people answerable only to the lamans— their ancient kings and landowning class who also oversaw Seereer religious affairs and guarded the pangool. They were the predecessors of the saltigi (the Seereer priestly class). This egalitarian nature still persist among the Cangin people.  Seereer families preserved their own family history and genealogy without the need for an external griot; they farmed their own lands and attended to their live stock. Slavery, which is against Seereer religion and culture was rejected as the Seereer people were spiritual people who believed that enslaving another human being is to enslave the soul of that person thereby preventing the slave owner from entering ''jaaniiw'' (the place where good souls go). In their medieval history—which saw the collapse of the lamanic class, the Seereer caste system mainly the Seex people of Siin and Saluum became more rigid and stratified, and divided into seven main castes. At the top of the social hierarchy include royal lineage - namely the Maad a Sinig and Maad a Saloum (king of Siin and Saluum  respective, and the lingeer (queen or queen mother, and the heir apparent buumi, loul and tilas)). This group make-up the "royal class."  They are followed by the nobility (jambuur) which includes the jaraff (head of the noble council of electors responsible for electing the kings from reigning dynasty), descendants of the ancient Seereer lamans who still retain their lamanic titles, the buur kevel (chief griot of the king - who was extremely powerful) and the farba mbinda (minister of finance). These nobles are followed by the warrior class (cheddo). The king can also be a cheddo and sometimes the term is used generically to describe the Seereer kings who strongly adhered to Seereer religion. The cheddo caste also include the farba kaba (chief of the army). After the warrior class came the royal courtesans, followed by the artisanal class such as the blacksmiths (paal) and then the slaves (faɗ). 

Colonial era and post colonialism

During the colonial era, Seereer stratification followed the same pattern as it had been during the medieval era. This rigid structure however seizes to exist after colonialism. Most Seereer people especially those living in cities do not pay attention to class. However those living in Seereer villages and small towns who tend to be more conservative are more likely to pay attention to their class and those of others.