Cayor (Wolof: Kajoor; French: Cayor, Kayor) was the largest and most powerful kingdom (1549–1879) that split off from the Jolof Empire in what is now Senegal. Cayor was located in northern and central Senegal, southeast of Walo, west of the kingdom of Jolof and north of Baol and the Kingdom of Sine.

In 1549, the damel ("king") Dece Fu Njogu became independent from Jolof. The capital was at Mbul. After the French conquered Walo, governor Louis Faidherbe annexed Cayor in 1868, but Cayor got its independence restored in 1871. It was defeated and annexed again in 1879 and ceased to be a sovereign state. The kingdom was extinguished in its entirety October 6, 1886.

In addition to Cayor, the damels also ruled over the Lebou area at Cap-Vert (where modern Dakar is), and they became the "Teignes" (rulers) of the neighboring kingdom of Baol.

Traditionally the damel himself was not purely hereditary, but was designated by a 4-member council consisting of:

A great hero in Senegal history, for his defiance and battles against the French, was Lat Dyor Diop (Lat Dior) He was defeated at the battle of Dekheule, and was deposed twice, in 1869 and 1879. He converted to Islam around 1861.

The 30th and last damel of Cayor was Samba Laube Fal (1858–1886), killed at Tivaouane, Senegal.

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