[6][7] The king was the son of the Sandigue Ndiob Niokhobai Joof[8] and Lingeer Gnilane Faye.

[9] Sandigue Ndiob (or Sandigui N'Diob) is a title of nobility and a rather important and powerful figure in pre-colonial Sine.

[10] His father (the Sandigue Ndiob) belongs to the Serer paternal dynasty of Sine and Saloum of the family Joof.

[12] Although dynastic wars between the various royal houses were prevalent at the time, he succeeded to the throne without having to engage in battle.

His father, the powerful warlord and Sandigui N'Diob Niokhobai Joof, secured his succession to the throne of Sine by defeating other royal houses in battle.

The throne of his son secured, Ama Kumba Mbodj was exiled, and he had to seek refuge in Mbodiène.

[13][14] Ama Kumba Mbodj was still living in exile when the French missionaries started arriving in 1848.

[15] In October 1848, after the Chief of Joal decided that the mission chapel should be built of straw rather than wood, Gallais made the first of several trips to Diakhao.

After some polite chatter, the King allowed the French to build a small wooden chapel.

In December, the King went to Joal mounted on a decorated horse, accompanied by a group of griots and more than a thousand Serer warriors.

Gallais was so impressed that he wrote a letter to Father Bessieux in which he said: In 1849, the King granted Gallais the land of Father Aloyse Kobès (a French missionary whom Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof would later threaten to kill if he dare to disobey his orders[17]).

From this period onwards, the most crucial factor motivating the policies of the Serer kings was a desire to preserve their indépendance.

It was only after they arrived at Gorée did Father Kobès realized that one of his fellow passengers was carrying a letter from the King ordering Ngazobil be closed.

"Ramat Dhiouf [Diouf - French spelling in Senegal] is the name of the King; he is young and one of the most handsome Blacks I've seen; a tall, noble and distinguished figure; he is still attached to these benefits outside all the qualities of mind and heart, he speaks admirably up to six different languages.

It is regrettable that so many qualities are overshadowed by the vices of kings are those of idolaters, passion for liqueur and especially for women ..." In July 1851, the Sandigui N'Diob died.