King Sundiata Keita
Mali Empire - West Africa
Reign: 1235 C.E - 1255 C.E
KING SUNDIATA KEITA
Sundiata Keita is known for being the first ruler of the Mali Empire (1235 C.E – 1255 C.E) which was the greatest empire of West Africa in ancient civilisation. Keita was not merely a conqueror who acquired many lands but he developed many machinery that contributed and improved Mali’s agriculture. During his reign, he proclaimed the first set of human rights, the Manden Charter.
Early Life and Biography
For many years there were oral traditions relating to Sundiata Keita were passed down generation after generation until they were eventually written down and later translated by European historians in the 19th Century. According to these oral traditions, Sundiata was a prince of the indigenous Malinke tribe. The direct translation for the name Sundiata is ‘Lion Prince’. It is believed that Keita was born with a disability and could not walk, as he grew older, he began to wear iron leg braces which aided him to get around. Allegedly, Keita’s life was spared because his father’s enemy didn’t want to murder a disabled child, having already murdered 11 of siblings.
Ghana’s fall, Mali’s Reign
The Ghana Empire was a prosperous kingdom around 300 CE, the empire was considered a monopoly as it overlooked the trans Saharan trade routes which comprised three major gold fields. The empire was so great that it was most commonly referred to the ‘Land of the Gold’.
Image: Map of the Ghana Empire
The Ghana Empire began to impose strict trade restrictions on the Malinke and it did not work in their favour as Keita began to rebel and sought to wage war.
Keita formed alliances with leaders and chiefs around the region who agreed to take down Sosso and Sumanguru leaders of the Ghana Empire this led to the Battle of Kirina. He also received great help from a lady Sosso’s sister Nana Triban, who was forcibly married to king Sumanguru. Keita and his troops became victorious and successfully banished Sosso and was never to be seen. The Ghana Empire collapsed and the Mali Empire rose and became the most thriving and flourishing kingdom in West Africa.
Keita established the Mali Empire in the 13th century, the empire united several large and even smaller Malinke kingdoms near the Upper Niger river. Keita ensured to have the best well trained men to protect their new territory.
The Mali Empire became the hub for African and Arab traders and the empire increased in wealth as they now had control over the many trade routes.
The Manden Charter
A key moment after the Mali Empire was founded was the formation of the Manden Charter also known as the Kouroukan Fouga. This charter was oral rather than written and had been passed to generations and generations. The charter was the invention of human rights, it comprised 7 chapters conveying the message of social peace, the sanctity of human life, women’s rights, the right to an education, food and security. The charter gave rights to all citizens including to women and slaves.
Death and Legacy
Sundiata Keita’s cause of death is unknown but it is believed that he died in 1255 CE. There are speculations and stories of how he might have died including an accidental but fatal arrow wound, others claim that he drowned in the Sankarani River however nothing has been confirmed.
Sundiata will always be remembered for establishing Africa’s wealthiest and stable empire. Even after his death, the empire still remained strong and continued to expand. Sundiata’s great nephew Mansa Musa I would later become Mali’s greatest leaders and he oversaw and managed the largest territorial expansion in Africa.
References
Cartwright, M. and Cartwright, M., 2021. Sundiata Keita. [online] World History Encyclopedia. Available at: <https://www.ancient.eu/Sundiata_Keita/> [Accessed 11 March 2021].
Society, N., 2021. Sundiata Keita. [online] National Geographic Society. Available at: <https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/sundiata-keita/> [Accessed 11 March 2021].
Society, N., 2021. The Mali Empire. [online] National Geographic Society. Available at: <https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/mali-empire/> [Accessed 12 March 2021].
Encyclopedia Britannica. 2021. Sundiata Keita | Biography, Facts, & Empire. [online] Available at: <https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sundiata-Keita> [Accessed 11 March 2021].
Ich.unesco.org. 2021. UNESCO - Manden Charter, proclaimed in Kurukan Fuga. [online] Available at: <https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/manden-charter-proclaimed-in-kurukan-fuga-00290> [Accessed 11 March 2021].