[4] The first inhabitants of the region, according to oral tradition, were a Mande people who immigrated from the Wagadu Empire to flee a drought, likely towards the end of the first millennium CE.

[7] The area was composed a series of chiefdoms and independent villages, many of which led by Serer Lamanes and/or part of the Jolof Empire's sphere of influence.

[10][1][11] In the late 15th century, Ali Elibana, a Toucouleur marabout, established himself at Njop and took control of the surrounding salt-producing region, Mbey, mostly populated by the Serer.

[7][12] This was a period of profound destabilization and succession disputes in the Jolof Empire, which had extended its hegemony south to the Gambia river under Biram Njeme Eler (c.1465–c.1481).

[13] Around the turn of the 16th century, he launched a religious conflict against the Muslim Elibana, strenghthened by the purchase of horses and guns from European merchants on the coast.

[14][15] Ndour renamed Njop Kahone, meaning 'this is the one' in Serer, and made it the capital of a kingdom modeled on his homeland, Sine.

Rather than relying on a balance of alliances like his uncle had done, Latmenge Dielene built a military powerful state with clearly defined provinces run by families loyal to the Maad Saloum.

[23] As one of the wealthiest and most stable states in the region, the Maad Saloum was able to play France and England off of each other for centuries to ensure the best terms of trade.

[24] In 1857 the French trading post at Albreda on the Gambia was given to the English in exchange for Portendick, and Saloum was left unable to balance the two colonial powers against each other.

At the Battle of Pathé Badiane outside of Nioro, however, the marabout forces led by Lat Dior drove the French back towards Kaolack.

[citation needed] In 2017, the Serer of Saloum decided to reinstate their monarchy, and Thierno Coumba Daga Ndao was selected from the Guelowar matrilineage to succeed the throne.

[32][33][4] Unlike the Kingdom of Sine which is more deeply rooted in "Serer-conservatism", such as the preservation of Serer religion, culture, traditions, etc.,[32][33] Saloum is more cosmopolitan and multi-religious.

He exercised a monopoly on salt sales, and production was restricted to women to prevent rival princes from using the saltpans as a revenue source with which they could challenge the king.

The great Jaraaf was the head of the council that elected the Maad Saloum, also known as the Buur in Wolof, and would rule the nation in the event of his death until his successor had been enthroned.

[41] Buur-administrators served as governors of villages and provinces on behalf of the king, assisted by Farba who were in charge of enforcing laws and dispensing justice.