mansa musa descendants

The Mandinka went on to form the powerful and rich Mali Empire, which produced the richest Black man who ever lived, King Mansa Musa. The exact date of Musa's accession is debated. [88], Mansa Musa is renowned for his wealth and generosity. The most common measure for gold within the realm was the ambiguous mithqal (4.5grams of gold). Mansa Musa returned from Mecca with several Islamic scholars, including direct descendants of the prophet Muhammad and an Andalusian poet and architect by the name of Abu Es Haq es Saheli, who is . However, from 1507 onwards neighboring states such as Diara, Great Fulo and the Songhai Empire chipped away at the outer borders of Mali. [89] This claim is often sourced to an article in CelebrityNetWorth,[89] which claims that Musa's wealth was the equivalent of US$400 billion. [18][16], Another hypothesis suggests that the name Mali is derived from Mand mali "hippopotamus", an animal that had special significance to the Keitas, and that Mand means "little manatee". Salt was as valuable, if not more valuable, than gold in sub-Saharan Africa. That same year, after the Mandinka general known as Sagmandir put down yet another rebellion in Gao,[93] Mansa Musa came to Gao and accepted the capitulation of the King of Ghana and his nobles. Musa is reported to have reigned for 25 years, and different lines of evidence suggest he died either. [149], Imperial banner carried with Musa I in 1325 Hajj, Social, economic and governmental reformation. [47][48][49] His procession reportedly included 60,000 men, all wearing brocade and Persian silk, including 12,000 slaves,[50] who each carried 1.8kg (4lb) of gold bars, and heralds dressed in silks, who bore gold staffs, organized horses, and handled bags. Sundiata, according to the oral traditions, did not walk until he was seven years old. Most West African canoes were of single-log construction, carved and dug out from one massive tree trunk.[144]. The Rock art in the Sahara suggests that northern Mali has been inhabited since 10,000 BC, when the Sahara was fertile and rich in wildlife. [95] When he passed through Cairo, historian al-Maqrizi noted "the members of his entourage proceeded to buy Turkish and Ethiopian slave girls, singing girls and garments, so that the rate of the gold dinar fell by six dirhams.". Khalifa would shoot arrows at his subjects, so he was overthrown and killed. Mansa Musa Family Tree | Empire of Mali Server Costs Fundraiser 2023 Running a website with millions of readers every month is expensive. [60] Other scholars whom Musa brought to Mali included Maliki jurists. Kankan Musa, better known as Mansa Musa probably took power in approximately 1312, although an earlier date is possible. One of the five pillars of Islam states that Muslims should embark on a pilgrimage known as Hajj, to the holy city of Mecca.. We all know of Mansa Musa, possibly the richest man to ever exist. Evidence of cavalry in terracotta figures suggest the empire's prosperous economy as horses are not indigenous to Africa. [6] The early history of the Mali Empire (before the 13th century) is unclear, as there are conflicting and imprecise accounts by both Arab chroniclers and oral traditionalists. [70] The mansa lost control of Jalo during this period. Mansa Musa was the great nephew of Sundiata Keita, who was founder . During the peak of the kingdom, Mali was extremely wealthy. Equipped with two quivers and a knife fastened to the back of their arm, Mandinka bowmen used barbed, iron-tipped arrows that were usually poisoned. He intended to abdicate the throne and return to Mecca but died before he was able to do so. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Then, in 1630, the Bamana of Djenn declared their version of holy war on all Muslim powers in present-day Mali. [57][58] Having run out of money, Musa and his entourage were forced to borrow money and re-sell much of what they had purchased while in Cairo before the hajj, and Musa went into debt to several merchants, such as Siraj al-Din. Mali borrowed the practice to stem inflation of the substance, since it was so prominent in the region. Each individual farariya ("brave") had a number of infantry officers beneath them called kl-koun or dknsi. [62] According to one account given by Ibn Khaldun, Musa's general Saghmanja conquered Gao. In the 1450s, Portugal began sending raiding parties along the Gambian coast. Musa I (c. 1280 - 1337), better known as Mansa Musa, was the ninth mansa of the Mali Empire.Widely considered to have been the wealthiest person in known history (some sources measuring his wealth at around $400 billion adjusted to inflation), his vast wealth was used to attract scholars, merchants and architects to Mali, establishing it as a beacon of Islamic trade, culture and learning. The final incarnation of the Gbara, according to the surviving traditions of northern Guinea, held 32 positions occupied by 28 clans. Upon his return in 1324, Ms Is pious pilgrimage inspired him to commission two enormous mosques in Timbuktu and Gao. However, the legendary oral tradition that surrounds Keita suggests that he never turned away from his native religion. Umari also describes the empire as being south of Marrakesh and almost entirely inhabited except for few places. The 14th-century traveller Ibn Baah noted that it took about four months to travel from the northern borders of the Mali empire to Niani in the south. Elephant ivory was another major source of wealth.When Mansa Musa went on a pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca in 1324 C.E., his journey through Egypt caused quite a stir. [75] When the campaigning was done, his empire extended 1,000 miles (1,600km) east to west with those borders being the bends of the Senegal and Niger rivers respectively. [45] He would have spent much time fostering the growth of the religion within his empire. The Mansa led the second expedition himself, and appointed Musa as his deputy to rule the empire until he returned. [42] Another source of income for Mali during Musa's reign was taxation of the copper trade. Musa conquered more than 20 major cities in his lifetime. Sundiata Keita was a warrior-prince of the Keita dynasty who was called upon to free the local people from the rule of the king of the Sosso Empire, Soumaoro Kant. There is some ambiguity over the identity of the mansa responsible for the voyages. [71] The tiny kingdom of Niani was one of several in the Kri area of Manden. The Portuguese decided to stay out of the conflict and the talks concluded by 1495 without an alliance.[110]. Afterward, he put himself and his kingdom, West Africa's Mali, on the map, literally. and transl. In the first millennium BC, early cities and towns were created by Mande peoples related to the Soninke people, along the middle Niger River in central Mali, including at Dia which began from around 900 BC, and reached its peak around 600 BC,[52] and Djenne-Djenno, which lasted from around 250 BC to 900 AD. [58] This area was composed of mountains, savannah and forest providing ideal protection and resources for the population of hunters. Duties of the farba included reporting on the activities of the territory, collecting taxes and ensuring the native administration didn't contradict orders from Niani. Through the oral tradition of griots, the Keita dynasty, from which nearly every Mali emperor came, claims to trace its lineage back to Lawalo, one of the sons of Bilal,[60] the faithful muezzin of Islam's prophet Muhammad, who was said to have migrated into Mali and his descendants established the ruling Keita dynasty through Maghan Kon Fatta, father of Sundiata Keita.[61]. [23] Numbered individuals reigned as mansa; the numbers indicate the order in which they reigned. But more reasoned analysis suggests that his role, if any, was quite limited. [17] Whether Mali originated as the name of a town or region, the name was subsequently applied to the entire empire ruled from Mali. Mali's domain also extended into the desert. [83] This term was used interchangeably with dinar, though it is unclear if coined currency was used in the empire. He ruled oppressively and nearly bankrupted Mali with his lavish spending. . This can be interpreted as either "Musa son of Abu Bakr" or "Musa descendant of Abu Bakr." However, territories that were crucial to trade or subject to revolt would receive a farba. Mansa Musa (Musa I of Mali) was the ruler of the kingdom of Mali from 1312 C.E. Your email address will not be published. Masuta performs many of the same attacks as his original incarnation (though he yells a quote prior to using his abilities), but does not summon thrashing waters or create . [69] The university became a center of learning and culture, drawing Muslim scholars from around Africa and the Middle East to Timbuktu. [12] However, these hypotheses have been rejected by locals and are inconsistent with the apparent cognate status of Mali and Mand.[19]. There are a few references to Mali in early Islamic literature. [93] Dyamani-tiguis had to be approved by the mansa and were subject to his oversight. Eventually, due to Muhammad's failure to return, Musa was recognized as mansa.[89]. Jansen, Jan: "The Younger Brother and the Stranger. [105][106] Three years later, Oualata also fell into their hands. He attempted to make Islam the faith of the nobility,[93] but kept to the imperial tradition of not forcing it on the populace. [70] Gbr Keita was crowned Mansa Ouali Keita II and ruled during the period of Mali's contact with Portugal. [59], On his return journey, Musa met the Andalusian poet Abu Ishaq al-Sahili, whose eloquence and knowledge of jurisprudence impressed him, and whom he convinced to travel with him to Mali. Mss rule defined the golden age of Mali. Mansa Musa (died 1337), king of the Mali empire in West Africa, is known mostly for his fabulous pilgrimage to Mecca and for his promotion of unity and prosperity within Mali. [80] Ibn Khaldun regarded Wali as one of Mali's greatest rulers. [81] He was replaced by Abu Bakr, a son of Sunjata's daughter. The history of the Mandinka started in Manding region. In Niani, Musa built the Hall of Audience, a building communicating by an interior door to the royal palace. This trend would continue into colonial times against Tukulor enemies from the west.[121]. Trade was Mali's form of income, and wealth. During this period, there was an advanced level of urban living in the major centers of Mali. [40] Seemingly contradictory reports written by Arab visitors, a lack of definitive archaeological evidence, and the diversity of oral traditions all contribute to this uncertainty. While this was probably an exaggeration, it is known that during his pilgrimage to Mecca one of his generals, Sagmandia (Sagaman-dir), extended the empire by capturing the Songhai capital of Gao. [59] Those not living in the mountains formed small city-states such as Toron, Ka-Ba and Niani. Ibn Battuta had written that in Taghaza there were no trees and there is only sand and the salt mines. Timbuktu was a place of trade, entertainment, and education. It was reported that he built a mosque every Friday. The people of the south needed salt for their diet, but it was extremely rare. Online articles in the 21st century have claimed that Mansa Musa was the richest person of all time. [70] Manden was split in half with the Dodougou territory to the northeast and the Kri territory to the southwest. [26][17] Ibn Khaldun said that he "was an upright man and a great king, and tales of his justice are still told."[101]. Included in al-Qalqashandi's quotation of al-'Umari, but not in any manuscript of al-'Umari's text itself, which only list thirteen provinces despite saying there are fourteen. The Camara (or Kamara) are said to be the first family to have lived in Manding, after having left, due to the drought, Ouallata, a region of Wagadou, in the south-east of present-day Mauritania. The Manding languages were spoken in the empire. [11][12] The version recorded by medieval Arab geographers is Mali (Arabic: , romanized:Ml). The kingdom of Mali was relatively unknown outside of West Africa until this event. He also made Eid celebrations at the end of Ramadan a national ceremony. Mansa Musa (Musa I of Mali) was the king of the ancient empire of Mali in West Africa. His riches came from mining significant salt and gold deposits in the Mali kingdom. In his lifetime and beyond, he was known for his extravagant wealth and spending, funded by his kingdom's vast salt and gold mines. The city's water supply was a leading cause to its successes in trade. He made his wealth and that of Mali known through a long and extravagant pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324, the 17th year of his reign as emperor of Mali. The bow figured prominently in Mandinka warfare and was a symbol of military force throughout the culture. Inside the world's wealthiest", "Mansa Musa (Musa I of Mali) | National Geographic Society", "The 25 richest people who ever lived inflation adjusted", "Civilization VI the Official Site | News | Civilization VI: Gathering Storm Mansa Musa Leads Mali", International Journal of African Historical Studies, "Searching for History in The Sunjata Epic: The Case of Fakoli", "chos d'Arabie. Swords were drawn, but before the situation escalated further, Musa persuaded his men to back down. These oral stories . The only Mandinka power spared from the campaign was Kangaba. [j][52][53] While in Cairo, Musa met with the Mamluk sultan al-Nasir Muhammad, whose reign had already seen one mansa, Sakura, make the hajj. [70][141] With the help of the river clans, this army could be deployed throughout the realm on short notice. [28] The Tarikh al-fattash claims that Musa accidentally killed Kanku at some point prior to his hajj. He also states that Djata or "Jatah" means "lion". The Cairo that Mansa Ms visited was ruled by one of the greatest of the Mamlk sultans, Al-Malik al-Nir. [83] He is criticized for being unfaithful to tradition, and some of the jeliw regard Musa as having wasted Mali's wealth. [70] Two noble brothers from Niani, of unknown lineage, went to Dioma with an army and drove out the Fula Wassoulounk. [123] Segou, defended by Bitn Coulibaly, successfully defended itself and Mama Maghan was forced to withdraw. Biti, Buti, Yiti, Tati). In approximately 1140 the Sosso kingdom of Kaniaga, a former vassal of Wagadou, began conquering the lands of its old rulers. Mansa Musa began extending the shores of the empire alongside amassing great wealth and riches. Mama Maghan, mansa of Kangaba, campaigned against the Bamana in 1667 and laid siege to SegouKoro for a reported three years. And so the name Keita became a clan/family and began its reign.[70]. [61], According to the Tarikh al-Sudan, the cities of Gao and Timbuktu submitted to Musa's rule as he traveled through on his return to Mali. Mansa Musa also ran out of gold on the hajj to Mecca but was not concerned because he knew he had enough gold back in Mali to pay back everyone he owed money to. He did however, maintain contacts with Morocco, sending a giraffe to King Abu Hassan. Ibn Khaldun recorded that in 776 A.H or 1374/1375 AD he interviewed a Sijilmasan scholar named Muhammad b. Wasul who had lived in Gao and had been employed in its judiciary. . A city called Dieriba or Dioliba is sometimes mentioned as the capital or main urban center of the province of Mande in the years before Sundiata, that was later abandoned. Abu Bakr was the first and only mansa to inherit through the female line, which has been argued to be either a break from or a return to tradition. The Twelve Doors of Mali were a coalition of conquered or allied territories, mostly within Manden, with sworn allegiance to Sundiata and his descendants. Mansa Mahmud Keita II's rule was characterised by more losses to Mali's old possessions and increased contact between Mali and Portuguese explorers along the coast. Musa gave the gold to the poor he met along his route. [60] The anglicised version of this name, Sunjata, is also popular. Mansa Musa (Musa I of Mali) was the king of the ancient empire of Mali in West Africa. In addition, the moral and religious principles he had taught his subjects endured after his death. Around 1550, Mali attacked Bighu in an effort to regain access to its gold. The other characteristic of this era is the gradual loss of its northern and eastern possessions to the rising Songhai Empire and the movement of the Mali's economic focus from the trans-Saharan trade routes to the burgeoning commerce along the coast. Sundjata is credited with at least the initial organisation of the Manding military. Mansa Musa even built the Great Mosque of Djenn, one of the most famous mosques in Mali, to recognize his pilgrimage. By the 6th century AD, the lucrative trans-Saharan trade in gold, salt and slaves had begun, facilitating the rise of West Africa's great empires. Updates? He was the first African ruler to be widely known throughout Europe and the Middle East. While in Mecca, conflict broke out between a group of Malian pilgrims and a group of Turkic pilgrims in the Masjid al-Haram. It spanned the modern-day countries of Senegal, southern Mauritania, Mali, northern Burkina Faso, western Niger, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, the Ivory Coast and northern Ghana. From the Mamma Haidara Commemorative Library, Timbuktu. [43] Djibril Tamsir Niane, a Guinean historian, has been a forceful advocate of this position in recent decades. [42] Among these preparations would likely have been raids to capture and enslave people from neighboring lands, as Musa's entourage would include many thousands of enslaved people; the historian Michael Gomez estimates that Mali may have captured over 6,000 people per year for this purpose. Kangaba, the de facto capital of Manden since the time of the last emperor, became the capital of the northern sphere. [25] The empire also reached its highest population during the Laye period ruling over 400 cities,[26] towns and villages of various religions and elasticities. Mansa Mari Djata Keita II became seriously ill in 1372,[93] and power moved into the hands of his ministers until his death in 1374. [45], Many oral histories point to a town called Dakajalan as the original home of the Keita clan and Sundiata's childhood home and base of operations during the war against the Soso. A dknsi performed the same function except with slave troops called sofa ("guardian of the horse") and under the command of a farimba ("great brave man"). The Gao mosque was built of burnt bricks, which had not, until then, been used as a material for building in West Africa. [110] Meanwhile, Songhai seized the salt mines of Taghazza in 1493. 4. Mansa Souleyman Keita died in 1360 and was succeeded by his son, Camba Keita. Malink, also known as Mande, Mali, or Melle, was founded around 1200 CE, and under Mansa Musa's reign . He was crowned under the throne name Sunidata Keita becoming the first Mandinka emperor. [136] One particular source of salt in the Mali Empire was salt-mining sites located in Taghaza. In this lesson, students read one recent blog post about Musa I of Mali's wealth, followed by two historical documents from the fourteenth-century, to answer the question: Was Mansa Musa the richest person ever? [117], The swan song of the Mali Empire came in 1599, under the reign of Mansa Mahmud IV. The ancient kingdom of Mali spread across parts of modern-day Mali, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso. Musa made his pilgrimage between 1324 and 1325 spanning 2,700 miles. Gold, copper, and salt were a major source of income in the 12th century and the empire happened to be blessed with it, even more as it expanded. Musa embarked on a large building program, raising mosques and madrasas in Timbuktu and Gao. The mansa also made a successful hajj, kept up correspondence with Morocco and Egypt and built an earthen platform at Kangaba called the Camanbolon where he held court with provincial governors and deposited the holy books he brought back from Hedjaz. [133], There was no standard currency throughout the realm, but several forms were prominent by region. Wagadou and Mema became junior partners in the realm and part of the imperial nucleus. By the time of his death in 1337, Mali had control over Taghazza, a salt-producing area in the north, which further strengthened its treasury. Mansa Musa was a devout Muslim. Ibn Battuta comments on festival demonstrations of swordplay before the mansa by his retainers including the royal interpreter. Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society. [113], In 1544 or 1545,[f] a Songhai force led by kanfari Dawud, who would later succeed his brother Askia Ishaq as ruler of the Songhai Empire, sacked the capital of Mali and purportedly used the royal palace as a latrine. The entire nation was mobilised, with each clan obligated to provide a quota of fighting-age men. Before Dankaran Touman and his mother could enjoy their unimpeded power, King Soumaoro set his sights on Niani forcing Dankaran to flee to Kissidougou.[60]. 6. [39] Her jamu (clan name) Konte is shared with both Sunjata's mother Sogolon Konte and his arch-enemy Sumanguru Konte. At the time of Musa's ascension to the throne, Mali in large part consisted of the territory of the former Ghana Empire, which Mali had conquered. This is the first account of a West African kingdom made directly by an eyewitness; the others are usually second-hand. It was common practice during the Middle Ages for both Christian and Muslim rulers to tie their bloodline back to a pivotal figure in their faith's history, so the lineage of the Keita dynasty may be dubious at best,[62] yet African Muslim scholars like the London-based Nigerian-British cleric Sheikh Abu-Abdullah Adelabu have laid claim of divine attainments to the reign of Mansa Mousa: "in Islamic history and its science stories of Old Mali Empire and significance of Mansa Mousa by ancient Muslim historians like Shihab al-Umari, documenting histories of African legendaries like Mansa Kankan Musa did actually exist in early Arabic sources about West African history including works of the author of Subh al-a 'sha one of the final expressions of the genre of Arabic administrative literature, Ahmad al-Qalqashandi Egyptian writer, mathematician and scribe of the scroll (katib al-darj) in the Mamluk chancery in Cairo[63] as well as by the author of Kitab al-Masalik wa al-Mamalik (Book of Highways and Kingdoms) Ab Ubayd Al-Bakri, an Arab Andalusian Muslim geographer and historian emboldened Keita Dynasty", wrote Adelabu.

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