Maam Kumba Bang, from the River to the Sea, with Calabash and Curdled Milk

The myth of Maam Kumba Bang, a water deity revered on the Island of Saint-Louis in Senegal, reveals a profound relational ecology where kinship with more-than-human entities fosters horizontal human relationships. This study demonstrates that Maam Kumba Bang serves as an ancestor of relation, shaping the island's ecosystem and cultural practices through rituals performed between the Sénégal River and the Atlantic Ocean. By integrating West African oral traditions with concepts of oceanic kin, the research highlights how shared respect for water underpins social cohesion and ecological vitality. The findings introduce a sensitive epistemology into critical ocean studies, emphasizing the role of myth in sustaining more-than-human relationships and cultural continuity.

Sarr, I. K. N. (2025). Maam Kumba Bang, from the River to the Sea, with Calabash and Curdled Milk. Oceans as Archives, 158–173. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003594086-14