The empire of Mali is also tailed the Mellestine empire. The word Mali is derived from a Mandingo grammatical root meaning free. The rulers and people of the empire of Mali were black Africans of the Mandingo tribe. This tribe was originally situated in the territory known today as Ciiiinea Sierra Leone and northward. On the banks of the Upper Niger near the present-day Sierra L. cone, the Man-dingos established their capital at a place called Niani.
After the break-up of the Ghanaian Empire by invasions from many tribes, Ghana split apart into a number of states. But in the capital of Ghana, Gao, the Hebrew Za kings continued to reign.
Many people who were subject to Ghana proclaimed their independence after chaos set in. The most celebrated of these people were the Mandingos who established the nucleus of a new empire about the middle of the thirteenth century (1240 a. d.).
There are several important factors that we must consider in order to comprehend the rise of Mali. First of all, Mali had received an impetus and significant influence from her predecessor Ghana to the north. This influence can be explained in political, economic, and religious ways. The Muslim merchants of the north and the Sahara had their trading centers in the cities of Ghana. The Mandingo traders of Mali traded with the Muslims. In those days, and to some extent today, commerce and religion have operated together. The Mandingo merchants recognized the advantages of the rapidly growing powerful influential culture and religion of the Muslims in the north. As a result, the Mandingo merchants played a great part in the transportation of Islam to their people.
The Mandingos were a suecessful agricultural people. They were blessed with the availability of' rivers which they used for irrigation. They grew rice and other staples which contributed to a rapidly growing population. The people of NIali had cnougli grain to sell to tlic people of the Sahara and the north. I'liey developed market-towns which later grew into cities and states. Vith their trading abilities, their skills and vigorous energy, Davidson said, the Mandingos became “rich.” Davidson continued: “With the collapse of Ghana (as an empire), their chance of large political power was open, 'khey grasped it with a sure hand.”
In dealing with the kings of Mali, Ibn Khaldun is rated as our best authority. Me wrote about 1376 a. d.
I he King of Mali who is rendered credit for the establishment and organization of an imperial system in Mali w-as Sundiata. The year that the Mandingo state rose to imperial power is dated from 1210. In this year a decisive-battle was fought between the Mandingos and a people from 'rekrur, evidently Almoravides from medieval Mauretania. Sundiata defeated Sumanguru and his people, who had cap tured the scat of the Hebrew kings of Ghana and imposed a tribute on them. Like other kings of the western Sudan, Sundiata knew that power was contingent on wealth; most of the w'calth was in trade; and most of the trade was in the hands of Muslims; consequently he converted to Islam.
Almost a hundred years after the death of Sundiata, a powerful king emerged in Mali. Mis name was Mansa Musa. During his lifetime (1312-1337), his accomplishments transcended his predecessors’. His empire extended from east to west, beginning at the Atlantic Ocean to northern modern Nigeria; and from north to south, reaching almost from central Mauretania and extending to the borders of modern Guinea and the Ivory Coast.
In 1326 A. D. Mansa Musa made a pilgrimage to Mecca, the Holy City of the Mohammedans. It is said that he exhibited a marvelous splendor that astonished the spectators: He arrived in the east with thousands of foot soldiers, and over 60,000 mounted warriors. In addition to his soldiers he had five hundred slaves, each carrying a rod of gold weighing six pounds. As a contribution to the holy cities, he gave 20,000 pieces of gold.
Mali, in its heyday was known for its prosperity and peace; within the empire existed one pervading system of law, order, and justice. An African visitor, Ibn liatuta, had this to say about the Sudan: “The inhabitants had a greater abhorrence of injustice than any other people. Neither the man who travels nor he who stays at home has anything to fear from robbers or men of violence.” This fact might seem incredible to those people who think that black men are innately violent.
During the lifetime of Mansa Musa, commerce increased on a large scale. I hc merchants of Mali established relay stations throughout the empire at important centers; these enterprises reached the forest country south of the Senegal and the Niger rivers.
Before the time of Mansa Musa, the city of Timbuktu was founded in the latter part of the eleventh century. Barth thinks that it was first a small marketplace for the inhabitants of the province of Rad.
Mansa Musa is not only remembered for his pilgrimage, trade and military accomplishments, but also for his public constructions. The king of Mali built a palace and several mosques in the celebrated city of I'imbuktu. At the extremities of the city of Timbuktu, these mcjsciues were erected: riic mosque of Jengerc-ber was located in the
Southwest and the mosque of Sankorc was located in the northern quarter of the city. Mansa Musa was, indeed, a champion of Islamic religion and learning. This was the time that the city of Timbuktu and jenne began to rise as scholastic cities. Concomitant with the mosque of Sankore was established also the University of Sankore.®® This university during the period of the dynasty of Askia the Great acquired a universal reputation as a university of theology, law, philosophy, medicine, history, etcetera.
Before 1 shall continue, it behooves me to explain to you that the later empire of Songhay was erected on the foundation of the empire of Ghana. The only difference was that. Songhay was greater in land area, more Islamic, more
Scholastic and it terminated witli a native African king.
When the emperor Kankan Musa was on liis pilgrimage in Arabia, Sagamandir, the general of Mali, took Gao the capital of Ghana or Songhay. Then Kankan Musa returned from Arabia by way of Gao and accepted the capitulation of the king of Ghana and its nobles. Philip St. Laurent, who writes a monthly article on African history (see Tuesday Magazine) for the Philadelphia Bulletin says that the soldiers of Mali were made prisoners of the ruling family of Dia Soboi (this was the /.a Hebrew Dynasty). Among these prisoners were Ali Kolon, or Killun, and his brother Sehnar Nar, the sons of /.a Yasebi; these Hebrew princes svere appointed as pages at the court of Mali about LS35 a. d.*® In the meantime. Gao was subjected under the Mali political system says Davidson, and the Mansa Kankan Musa exacted tribute from its rulers.
It was not too long before the princes of the Za Dynasty escaped from the court and army of Mali. They organized an army and fought the king of Mali. Ali Kolon entertained a profound hatred against the Mali conejuerors because they had subjugated his people. In the latter part of the fourteenth century, the army of Ali Kolon (later called Sonni, the liberator, Ali) made attacks on Niani the capital of Mali. Yearning for independence, Sonni Ali desisted in paying tribute to Mali. Because of the exploits of Sonni Ali, the Z. a Dynasty of Gao acquired a new appellation; the dynasty after Sonni Ali I is called the Sonni or Shi Dynasty. There were about seventeen or eighteen Islamic-Hebrew kings in this dynasty.
THE EMPIRE OF SONGHAY
In the year 1464, the sixteenth®' Za prince Sonni Ali took the leadership of Gao and began to build a new empire. Sonni Ali attacked many of the neighboring tribes, including the city of Timbuktu, and brought them under his hegemony. For his strength, he did not depend too much
On tlic' Muslims of the cities but primarily on the inhabitants of tl)c countryside. Sonni Ali was not even a good Muslim; be adhered to the traditional religion of Gao and the Songhay people. In almost every way, Songhay was a greater empire than Mali. Sonni Ali systematized various schemes of organization and administration unknown by his predecessors. He appointed governors over his territories and organized a standing professional army consisting of an echelon, including a navy, on the Niger.
Riie Sojighay empire seems to have begun with Sonni. Mi I. This was the time of the decline of the empire of Mali in the year 1.S50 a. d., hut the superior vigor of the .Songhay empire did not occur until the time of Askia the Great.
Now, pertaining to the temperament of Sonni Ali, many writers say that it was uncontrollable. Me would put to death many (d his important oITicials and ministers of state, later wishing they were alive. Sonni Ali’s secretary at this time was a man named El Gadr for whom Sonni Ali had ordered the death penalty because of a contradiction. In the cour. se of time a hook arrived that no one in the king’s court could read hut El Cadr; then the king expres. sed remorse for his rash action; at that juncture his secretary was brought into his presence. On seeing him, Sonni Ali displayed great joy and gave valuable gifts to those who saved liim.
I'here was another distinguished officer of the state, who survived death in this manner, known by various names such as Mohammed Toure and Abu Bekr who succeeded Sonni. Mi as Askia the Great.
After Sonni Ali had completed his business in Ciao, his imtomiucrahle military impulse moved him on. He at-t. acked to the east and the west expanding the empire. His predatory acts acquired for him much booty, hut a change of fortune caused his death. When he was crossing the Koni River, he fell into the torrent and was drowned. The body of the great king was prepared and preserved according to
Tlic anriciu Egyptian custom; this custom consisted of the extraction of the intestines and the insertion of lioney.
Sonni Barro, sometimes called Abu Kehr, succeeded Sonni Ali on tlie tlirone but his reign was very sliort. After tlic deatli of Sonni Ali, his most distinguislied general, Mohammed lourc plunged the empire into civil war. Mohammed Tourc fought Sonni Barro at Dangha and defeated him, then Barro took refuge at Gao, the capital. Mohammed d'oure stopped for a while in order to reorganize his army before resuming the war. After a prolonged and bloody battle Sonni Barro was compiered and forced into exile. When hearing that. Mohammed had seized the kingdom from Barro, the daughters of Sonni Ali were said to have exclaimed, "Askia! Askia! Usurpcrl’’
-s a result of this, Mohammed immediately decreed that he be called by no other name than Askia and he became known as Mohammed Askia, the founder of a native African dynasty, the last to exist in this part of the Sudan. W'ith the rise of the Askian Dynasty the Za-Sonni Dynasty of the black Hebrew kings was terminated about the year 1192 A. i)."-’
To pcrjjetuate his illegal rule, Mohammed Askia employed political cunning: he became a zealous Moslem and secured the confirmation of the ecclesiastical authorities. lie advocated that Mohammedanism should be spread throughout the empire. Askia discharged a group of soothsayers and surrounded himself with theologians. He consulted with them on many important matters. With Askia's urging, the theologians proclaimed a declaration which said: Sonni Ali was a heretic and that the struggle against Sonni Barro was a holy svar.
About three years after the civil war Askia emulated Mansa Kankan Musa of Mali by undertaking a long pilgrimage to the holy cities in the east. His cavalcade consisted of a vast number of infantrymen and cavaliers. On this pilgrimage was also a retinue of 1500 princes and chiefs of the empire. Vhile Askia was in Mecca, he spent 100,000 pieces
Of gold; tills was more than any other ruler had spent. In Mecca lie purcliased a garden and set up a charitable institution for the people of the Sudan. He gave to the Khalif of Ragdad gifts that astonished the entire court; these contributions surpassed all other kings. The Khalif of Bagdad, Abassid Motewekkel, was immensely impressed with Askia. With the Khalif’s consent, Askia was made his deputy in Songhay and as a sign of his authority, the Khalif gave Askia a green fez and a white turban.
In Cairo, Egypt, Askia passed many hours among the religious scholars, forming a special actiuaintance with a scholar named Essoyouli. It was here in Cairo that Askia accepted many advanced concepts about political science ivhich he put into practice in the Sudan.
.skia returned to his homeland with an enlarged mind and many new experiences. He appointed his brother, Omar, commander of the army, and he began to comsolidate the expanding empire initiated by Sonni Ali.
Attacking many tribes (unbelievers in Islam), Askia declared war on the Yollofs and the Mossi. At first, he sent an ambassador to the king of the Mossi, demanding that the king convert to Islam. The king refused and Askia displayed no mercy in the war that followed. He decimated the Mossi hamlets and towns, making all the inhabitants prisoners and forced them all to become Muslims. The length of his empire extended from the Atlantic Ocean beyond Lake Chad in the east.
After the year 1502 the army of Askia invaded the state of Mali. 'Ehe Songhays sustained such a large number of fatalities that Omar remarked, “The Songhay will be exterminated.” The reply of Askia was: “On the contrary. Ehe concpiered nations will make our lives easier, for they will be part of us and will assist us in our enterprises.”
But Askia is known for more than his conquests. Writes Davidson: “The literate culture of the Western Sudan, already in existence for several hundred years, flowered in Timbuktu during years that saw, in Europe, the ravage of tlie Hundred Year War. No one can say how much it flowered, nor what fruits it bore, for the books that men read or wrote there are lost or not yet found; but Leo Africanus, two centuries later, gives some measure of the city’s intellectual life. 'In Timbuktu,’ he says, ’there are numerous judges, dtKtors and clerics, all receiving good salaries from the king. He pays great respect to men of learning. There is a big demand for books in manuscripts imported from Barbary. More profit is made from the book trade than from any other line of business! The king, of course, svas Askia the Cireat.’ ”
Whereas Cwao svas the political capital of the Songhay Kmpire, Timbuktu was the cultural capital. Nfany of the students of Timbuktu, Gao, and Jenne, svere sent to the Moslem unisersities of North Africa, Spain, and Asia. Also, many learned men, irrespective of nationality, were summoned to stay at the celebrated city of Timbuktu, where money was appropriated for their learning.
In order to unite his empire, Askia interlocked the royal families by marriage. Says Du Bois: "The highest officers of state svere either chosen from the royal family or married to its princesses, as svere the principal military chiefs, forming a dynastic aristcKracy of the greatest importance to national unity.”
For better administrative organization, Askia set up four viceroys in his empire; one in the east around Lake Chad, a. second one svas in the north around Timbuktu and Gao, a third one svas in the northsvest, and a fourth in the soiitli-svest. Because the government of Songhay svas strong, Askia svas able to control the commerce. He built a merchant fleet and svar fleet to facilitate commerce in the harbors and canals that he constructed on the Niger River and its branches. As a result, the economy and commerce developed svith a tremendous upsurge. The city of Jenne became a melting pot of internal commerce; Timbuktu of interna tional commerce.
For the fint time, the Portuguese established trading companies on the west coast of Africa in tlie year 1418. During the lifetime of Askia, north African and Portuguese ships sailed to the Songhay port at Kabara, in the center of the N'iger. In order to ])crpetuate and facilitate trade, Askia standardized the system of weights and measures. There was no toleration of highway robbery. Anybody found culpable of this overt act incurred the utmost punishment.
During the reign of Askia I, his son, .A. skia Moussa, revolted and expelled his father. Years later, with the help of another son (Ismail) he returned to Gao, the capital, .fter rcignitig for tliirty-fivc years, he died in 1538.
Despite the fact that there existed much debauchery among Askia’s descendants, the strong government he created insured its survival for many years.
Pitial chaos came to Songhay when the Moors invaded in 1501. T he Moors came to accpiire wealth; they paid a dire price for their predatory exploits. Some writers have estimated that 23,000 Moors perished in one way or another in the military campaigns against Songhay. After two decades, the Moors withdrew their military forces from Songhay, in 1618. Basil Davidson has this to say about Songhay: “But if their invasion cost the Moroccans much more than it was worth, it cost Sotighay its place in history. For it demolished the unity and the administrative organization of the state, and while it left Timbuktu and Gao and Djenne as considerable cities, it robbed this civilization of its vitality. . . . ‘From that moment,’ says the chronicle (the Tarikh), ‘everything changed. Danger took the place of security, poverty of wealth. Peace gave rvay to distress, disasters, and violence.’ "
After the Moors withdrew from the Sudan, the Portuguese, French, and English established colonies and. seized the mineral resources of these countries.
World History
