Career
Instrumental in his conversion was the Almamy of Rip, Maba Diakhou Bâ. Latin Dior led his troops beside Maba in the battle of Rip on 30 November 1865, at the battle of Pathé Badiane in 1864 and Ngol Ngol in 1865. With Latin Dior, Maba took part in the conquests of the states of Baol and Djolof.
They however couldn"t conquer the Serer kingdom of Sine and were defeated at The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune (18 July 1867) by Maad a Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof (King of Sine).
At Kaolack in 1865, they combined forces with soldiers from Waalo, Ndiambour and Ndiander to face the French fortifications of governor Émile Pinet-Laprade but were repulsed. After the French conquered Waalo, (re-appointed) governor Louis Faidherbe invaded Cayor in 1865 in order to stop the Damel"s opposition to the construction of the Dakar to Saint-Louis railway.
Dior is reported to have told the later French Governor Servatius:
"As long as I live, be assured, I shall oppose, with all my might the construction of this railway."
But the French defeated Latin Dior"s forces at the battle of Dekheule on 26 October 1868, after Faidherbe"s retirement. Latin Dior struck a deal for limited autonomy and re-installment in 1871.
In response to further French expansion, Cayor rose up again with Dior at their head, only to be defeated and be annexed again in 1879.
The Cayor kingdom was extinguished in its entirety October 6, 1886. Faidherbe is reputed to have said of Dior"s troops: "Ceux-là, on les tue on ne les déshonore pas." ("They can be killed but not dishonored"). This has been adapted as the motto of the Senegalese Army: "On nous tue, on ne nous déshonore pas".
In Dakar there is a giant statue of Maalaw, the legendary horse of Latin Dior, near the great mosque.
