GREAT SUDANIC STATES (EMPIRES OF THE

WESTERN SUDAN)
These states are called Sudanic states because they fall to the West of Sudan-
which is an important region in African history.

KINGDOM OF GHANA

The ancient kingdom of Ghana was founded by the Soninke people- one of the
Mande speakers in 500 AD. This kingdom lasted up to 1200 AD. It was located in
a relatively dry area on the edge of the Sahara desert. It lied between the upper
Senegal and Niger rivers. The capital of Ghana was at Kumbi Saleh. It started as a
trading center. Ghana was one of the kings titles meaning War chief.

RISE:
a) There were early settlements of people in the area. This was mainly due to
desertification of the area.
b) Neolithic Revolution. People developed from hunting and gathering to
agriculture around 1000 BC.
c) The use of iron tools which facilitated agricultural activities.
d) By AD 1 there was concentration of people within the Savannah area. This led
to development of settlements into villages and chieftaincies with capitals.
e) The development of the first local and regional trade and the Trans-Saharan
trade where they exchanged items such as iron, gold, copper, slaves, rice and fish.
f) The strategic position of Ghana allowed it to play the middle- man role in the
Trans Saharan trade.
g) Ghana had grown a strong defense for its kingdom
h) Military conquest over its neighbours by able leaders (who are unknown.)

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
The king was both a political and religious leader. He was responsible for the
fertility of the land and the people. He therefore practiced African Traditional
Religion (ATR). The king also heard legal cases and resolved conflicts. He
received tribute and tax in the form of gold, salt and foodstuffs from the local

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chiefs. He managed the kingdoms administration using the literate Muslims to
keep records.
He mobilized the army to keep order, protect, and raid for slaves and for
expansion.

LOCAL CHIEFS
Ghana consisted of two levels of power: The Metropolitan Ghana and the
Provincial Ghana - (The Nucleus and the conquered states.) Local chiefs headed
the provinces. These were hereditary traditional rulers. They sent tribute to the
central king. They recognized the kings authority and relied on his protection.
Sons of the key vassal chiefs were kept at the kings palace as hostages and
messengers to their fathers domains.
Local chiefs supplied warriors to the central army
Muslim traders lived in a separate town near Kumbi Saleh. They kept records and
served as administrators.

CULTURE
Ghanas system of inheritance was matrilineal. The king was inherited by the son
to his sister. Ghana had elaborate court etiquette, the use of drums, the burial of the
king and system of worship. The king adorned himself like a woman. Behind him
stood ten bodyguards holding shields and swords decorated with gold. There were
sorcerers in Ghana. They believed in ancestor- worship and therefore made
sacrifices to their dead. They also believed in magic and witchcraft.

ECONOMY
Ghana exploited the Trans Saharan trade. They taxed the traders who passed
through the kingdom.

FALL
a) There were weaknesses in the structure of the kingdom. There were too many
vassal states.
b) Introduction of Islam.
c) Impact of the activities of the Almoravids led by Abdalla Ibn Yasin.
d) Defeat and conquest of Ghana first by the Sosso warriors and then by the
kingdom of Mali.

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KINDOM OF MALI
The kingdom of Mali was founded in 1235-1450 AD, by the Malinke people. Mali
stretched from the Atlantic coast to just east of the great bend on the River Niger. It
included Ghana and the Niger River flood plains. The capital of Mali was Niani.

RISE
a) The kingdom of Mali was located in a rich agricultural zone with fertile plains.
Agriculture and fishing were possible.
b) Mali did not just participate in the Trans Saharan trade but it had control of the
gold mines of Bambuk and Bure right from its rise.
c) Mali was strategically positioned to exploit the trade.
d) Introduction of Islam. Mali started and ended as an Islamic state with Islamic
leadership. Writing and pilgrimage strengthened Malis position in the Islamic
Fraternity.
e) Weakness of the Soninke people of Ghana which created a political vacuum in
the region.
f) Mali had no opposition at its rise.
g) Conquest and subjugation of Ghana by Sumanguru Kante (a Sosso Chief) and
then the emergence of Sundiata as first king of Kangaba and his two successors
Mansa Musa and Suleyman.

POLITICAL ORGANIZATION
The king had similar roles and duties as those of Ghana. Mali had a standing army
of horsemen and foot soldiers who, carried bows and arrows. The first king of Mali
was Sundiata whose story is celebrated as a legend. He defeated the Sosso warriors
in 1235. He therefore built a vast empire including the Agricultural region of Niger
River bend.
Sundiata took the title of Mansa (a religious and political title) and did not allow
other regional or local leaders to hold it. Malis leaders after Sundiata were known
as Mansa. Although they became Muslim, they did not reject ATR, which ensured
the favour of their ancestors. The most famous Mansa was known as Mansa Musa
(1312-1337).

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MANSA MUSA
He became king during a period of instability. He succeeded to establish continuity
and stability as well as respect for the institution of monarchy. He maintained,
strengthened and extended the empire that he inherited. He also improved on the
administrative machinery of the empire. There were 14 provinces, each ruled by a
governor or Emir. They were responsible to the Mansa or king. With a view to
obtaining a more devoted force, he introduced National Honors- the highest being
the National Honor of the Trousers. His impartiality and great sense of justice
were remembered and admired long after his death. He established friendly
diplomatic relations with Morocco and Egypt. He was a very pious man and a great
lover of virtue.

PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
Mansa Musa went on pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324-25. His great wealth astonished
people in Egypt and Arabia. His kingdom became known in Europe. Further, trade
with Egypt increased. He returned to Mali with a renewed determination to purify
and strengthen Islam. He introduced education and other new things that he had
learned on the journey.
Another great ruler of Mali was Mansa Suleyman (1341-1360.) Malis rulers
allowed traditional local chiefs to collect tax and tribute from peasant farmers. The
Mansa was believed to have directly descended from the earliest farmers. It is upon
him that crop production depended. He was the guardian of the ancestor and was
therefore treated with exaggerated respect. People approached him on their knees
and they sprinkled dust on their heads as a form of greeting. The king was
surrounded with great wealth and ceremonial regalia.

ECONOMY
Mali participated in the Trans Saharan trade. They controlled the gold mines of
Bambuk and Bure. They taxed the traders. Mali also relied on Agriculture due to
being located in the rich agricultural zone.
Mali also covered Taghaza salt mine and it had important trading cities of
Timbuktu and Gao.

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DECLINE
a) Mali declined when its provinces broke away. Songhay broke away and captured
Malis trading city of Timbuktu in 1433.
b) Over-ambition of leaders and their incompetence.
c) Attacks by the Mossi and Tuareq Nomads.

KINGDOM OF SONGHAY

The kingdom of Songhay began in 800AD and ended in 1591AD. It was centered
along the great bend of Niger River. It covered the salt producing area of Sijilmasa.
The capital of Songhay was Gao. There were three dynasties that ruled Songhay:
Dia dynasty, Sunni dynasty and Askia dynasty. Songhay kingdom was founded by
the Songhay people.

RISE
a) The Trans-Saharan trade.
b) Fertile Sudan Savannah area
c) The community was divided into three professional groups:
i) The Sorko fishermen ii) The Gow/Gabibi hunters and iii) The Do agriculturalists
and herders.
Songhay welcomed Islam which brought in new ideas and advantages of Islamic
leaders and education. Songhay delayed to emerge due to being far away from gold
producing regions.
Songhay also lacked political continuity and stability like Ghana and Mali.
Furthermore, Songhay did not have the necessary political prerequisite for
development. They were always on the defensive from the Malinke, Sosso and
Mandingo in the 11-15th centuries. They therefore could not embark on wars of
expansion. By the 15th and 16th Century, Songhay got leaders with the necessary
drive, ability and ambition in Sunni Ali and Askia Muhamed.

POLITICAL OGANIZATION
The kings role and duties were similar to Ghana and Mali. Songhay had more
aggressive army. The king had a large standing army which was used for defense,
enforcement of tribute collection and maintain law and order. The army was also

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used to capture slaves from the Muslim Mossi to the South. There were state farms
which were worked by slaves.
SUNNI ALI (1464-1492)
He had the courage, tact, shrewdness and ability to turn the political situation to his
advantage. He built a strong army using powerful fleets of ships manned by Sorko
fishermen on the Niger River.
He captured Timbuktu in the North in 1469. To the South east, he captured Jenne, a
commercial town in 1473. He pushed the Mossi back to their country.
In 1492, as he was returning from one of the campaigns, he was killed.

ASKIA MUHAMED THE GREAT

Muhamed set out to complete Sunni Alis administrative work. He pacified
Timbuktu and exploited its economic potential. He strengthened and purified Islam
and revived trade and commerce which were dislocated by Alis wars. He also
wanted to consolidate himself and his family on the throne. He established the
Askia dynasty. First, he either killed or expelled from the empire the surviving
members of the previous dynasties- Dia and Sunni. He established friendship with
the Islamic leaders and devout Muslims and appointed many of them as his
advisors and courtiers. He embarked on fighting his neighbours through jihad wars.
He went on pilgrimage to Mecca in 1496-98, on a scale that surpassed that of
Mansa Musa.
The hajji provided him and his dynasty with the respect and legitimacy that he
needed. He received the title of al-hajj and also acquired the even more valued
Baraka. He also acquired the unique title of caliph of the Sudan/Blacks and its
insignia (green gown, green cap, white turban and an Arabian sword).
He used Islam to strengthen himself politically. He expanded the kingdom of
Songhay to the Hausa states. He encouraged higher education by establishing a
University at Timbuktu. He also made the routes safe by rigidly controlling the
troublesome Tuareq.

DECLINE
a) Moroccan invasion during the late 16th century by Al-Mansur
b) Lack of an affective rule of succession to the throne, which led to periodic
outbreaks of revolts, plots, depositions, assassinations and murders.
c) Ambition of the many children of Askia Muhamed and his brothers

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d) Division of the empire into the Muslim West and the traditional and non-
Muslim East.