Hamang woke his men and told them they should return to Mali and bring their families to establish this blessed village behind the forest.

[7] Sutukoba is the oldest village in southern Wuli,[6]: 64  and was the preeminent commercial and religious center on the upper Gambia at least as early as the 15th century.

Located at the intersection of trade routes leading up the Sandugu Bolong [de], east-west along the Gambia towards Bundu and the Niger river, and southeast through Tanda to the Futa Djallon, it was a center of Jula settlement by the early 16th century.

Duarte Pacheco Pereira, writing in 1506, describes it as a major fortified town of Cantor (Kantora) with 4000 inhabitants and a key hub of a thriving gold trade: At Sutucoo is held a great fair, to which the Mandinguas bring many asses; these same Mandinguas, when the country is at peace and there are no wars, come to our ships (which at the bidding of our prince visit these parts) and buy common red, blue and green cloth, kerchiefs, thin coloured silk, brass bracelets, caps, hats, the stones called " alaquequas " and much more merchandise, so that in time of peace, as we have said, five and six thousand doubloons of good gold are brought thence to Portugal.

For centuries Sutuko was the principal destination for caravans carrying gold and slaves west from Bambuk and the Mande heartland and returning east with salt from the coast.