WEEK 7 FIRST TERM HISTORY SS3

Western Sudanese Empire

Definition of Ghana
Originally, the word Ghana, which means “a war chief” was the title of the King of
Aoukar. Later, the word became the name of the state. By conquering its surrounding
territories, Aoukar started the process of building the Ghana Empire which had grown
as a large Empire about the 8th Century.

The Factors Responsible for the Growth of Ghana Empire

The following factors were responsible for the growth of the Ghana Empire. The first
was its geographical position. The area around Ghana was very fertile to grow sufficient
food for consumption and inter-state trade. The position of the Empire at the terminus of
trans Saharan trade route was part of the favourable geographical conditions. This
enhanced the growth of the trade with better merchants of North Africa.
The Wealth of the Empire
The Empire derived a great wealth from the trade, the chief articles of trade of which
were gold and salt. Ibn Hawgal, writing in the 10th Century, called the Empire “the riches
in the world because of gold”. Moreover, many contended, “there is no exaggeration in
saying that the Sudan was one of the principal providers of gold to the Mediterranean
world right through the middle ages, up to the discovery of American. It was this gold
which built the power of Ghana and that of the Mandingo Empire”. The Caravan
Merchants brought salts for exchange with Ghana exports. AS a result, Kumbi Saleh,
the capital, as well as Walata, Audaghast and Bassikunu emerged as important
commercial centers.
The people living in the Northern part of the Guinea Forest of Ghana Empire
The people living in the Northern part of the Guinea forest of Ghana Empire took part in
the trade because transport difficulties through the guinea forest made it difficult for
them to obtained salt in a great quantity from the Atlantic Coast. The position of the
Empire at the terminus of the Western caravan routes from Morocco was responsible
for the great volume of trade. The caravan merchants also used the Empire as a base
to base to collect the products of the Guinea forest.
The Expansion of the Empire Norther Wards
With the expansion of the Empire North Wards and the subsequent capture of
Audaghast, Ghana was able to control the Southern part of the Western Trans Saharan
trade routes and the gold mines at Wangara. The expansion also gave Ghana the
control of the salt mines around Tagant. The King had a monopoly of the gold trade
which was the main source of the wealth of the Empire. The levy imposed on goods that
came in or went out of the Empire, was another source of revenue.
The Large Army of the Empire
The large army of the Empire also contributed greatly to its growth. The fact that the
Army was large can be supported by Al-Bakri‟s record that “King Tenkaminen is the
master of the large Empire and of a formidable power. He can put 200,000 men on the
battle field”, El-Zouhri referred to the Army of ancient Ghana using swords and lances to
attack their neighbours who knew not the use of iron but fought with bars of ebony.
From El-Zouhri‟s account, we have evidence to conclude that the Army of Ghana was
superior to the Armies of other states around Ghana at the time El-zouhri wrote. “The
people of Ghana made expeditions against their neighbours who knew not iron and
fought with bars of ebony. The Ghanians and defeat them baecsue they fought with
swords and lances”.
A Superior Army
With a superior Army, Ghana continued to expand territorially and by the end of 10 th
Century Ghana had succeeded in conquering and impose tribute on Audaghast, a
principal Southern trading center and an important entre pot of the Sanhaja of Southern
Moroco and a strategic position on the caravan route.
Trade and Large Army using Iron Weapons
In addition to trade and large Army using iron weapons, the efficient administration
contributed much to the growth and the importance of Ghana Empire. The Emperor was
divine. He was helped by Ministers and Governors. Appeal from various parts of the
Empire were heard at the capital which was after the introduction of Islam in the 11 th
Century, divided into sections to prevent clashes between the Muslim and the pagan
communities.
The Emperors who Reigned up to A. D. 1076
It is certain that the Emperors who reigned up to A. D. 1076 when the Almoravids
conquered Ghana were pagans but state ministers included some Muslims. Money to
run the government was derived mainly from the import duty on salt and export duty on
gold copper and other merchandise.
The Description of how Ghana was Organized and Governed
A description of how Ghana was organized and governed involves primarily a
description of the governments of the center, the provinces and the vassal states as
well as the organization of the trade and the Army of Ghana. The Emperor was the
head of the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Systems of the Empire. He had divine
rights and his arrival to a public gathering was announced by the beating of a special
drum. Kumbi Saleh, the capital, was the seat of the central government. After the
introduction of Islam, Kumbi Saleh was divided into two sections. The king and the
indigenous population lived in the first section while the Muslim population, mostly
immigrants and traders, lived in the other sections. The king was helped by a council of
advisers or ministers. The Chief Councilor acted as the prime minister. From the 11th
Century, when Islam had been introduced, the king closes some of his advisers from
among the Muslim Scholars because of their education and experience. There were
courts of various grades in the Empire and appeals from lower courts finally went to the
emperor who sat with a number of judges. El-Bekri‟s description of the Kings court
supports what had been written above. He wrote, “when he (the King) gives audience to
his people to listen to his complaints and set them to the right, he sits in a pavilion. The
Governor (The Major and Prime Minister) of the city is seated on the ground in from of
the King and all around him are his Wiziers (advisers or Ministers) in the same
positions.
The System of Government in the Provinces
The system of Government in the provinces and in the vassal states of the Empire
deserve description. Great powers were delegated to the provincial Governor and were
allowed some measures of independence in the day-to-day administration of the
provinces so long as the regularly remitted tributes to the center. Sometimes the
general of the conquering Army was rewarded with provincial governorship. In many
cases, the chief of the conquered peoples were left as vassal to the conqueror. This
ensured co-operation of vassal states with the center. The great measures of
decentralization of authority was a suitable system in an age when the means of
communication and transport were slow and inadequate.
The Systems Already Described
The systems already described ensure peace and order throughout the Empire. With
peace and order trade continued to grow. Another factor that contributed to the growth
of trade was the geographical position of the Empire which was the terminus of the
Western trans-Saharan trade route. The Empire was as a result, the center of trade for
the Berber Merchants of North Africa and the inhabitants of the Northern Belt of the
Guinea Forest. A third factor that is relevant to our discussion is the fact that the trade
was well organized. There was a good tariff system as well as royal monopoly of gold
trade. There were two kinds of taxes on commodities. The first includes export and
import duties. According to El-Bekri, the King of Ghana exacts the right of one dinar of
gold on each donkey load of salt that goes out. A load copper pays home five mitchcals
each load of merchandise (A mitchcal was about one eight ounce of gold).

The Second Kind of Tax

The second kind of tax was production tax, applied gold which was the most valuable of
all the products of the Empire. The king keeps a monopoly of all important gold mines
that were found in the Empire. This monopoly regulated the supply of gold so that it
might not be too abundant and lose its value. The political and economic arrangements
described above were backed up by a strong military system. The royal Army was not
only large but also possessed iron weapons while their neighbours fought with bars of
ebony. The principal unit of the Army was based at the capital. Provinces and vassal
states sent peasant soldiers to the center during the time of war. Provincial governors
were not only political officers but also military leaders. This economic and military
arrangement described above contributed largely to the growth of Ghana into a large
Empire.
The Almoravids
During the first half of the 10th century, Yahaya the ruler of the Sanhaja Berbers made a
pilgrimage to Mecca. ON his return, he brought to his Kingdom Abdullahi Ibn Yacin to
reform Islam among the Sanhaja Berbers. A new brotherhood named the Almoravids
was formed. The first purpose of the movement was to wipe out paganism through
Jihad which was spurred and sustained by their devotion to God and lust for gold.
Having conquered Morocco and recovered Audgghast in 1059, they completely
controlled the Western group of trans Saharan trade routes and established the
Almoravid Empire. The Almoravid Empire split into two parts after the death of Abdullahi
Ibn Yacin in 1057. Abu Bakr, who led the Southern movement decided to destroy
Ghana for three main reasons: (a) To make all the Sonike pure Muslims (b) To
have complete control of the gold trade for which Ghana was famous (c) To have booty
which, he thought, would keep the Sanhaja Berbers United. The Almoravids, led by Abu
Bakr, therefore started their attach on Ghana about 1062 and 1076, Kumbi fell to them.
Some of the inhabitants accepted Islam while others fled Southwards and East Wards.
The Almoravids collapsed and the Sanhaja Empire broke into small parts after the death
of Abu Bakr in 1088 and Ghana regain her independence for a while.
Lack of Adequate Means of Communication
The decline of the Ghana Empire was caused by internal and external factor. One of the
internal factors was the lack of adequate means of communication. This made it difficult
for the central Government to send quick messages to the remote parts of the Empire
and establish a high degree of central control. Inadequate means of communication
also made the achievement of unity in the Empire and the suppression of revolts in the
remote parts very difficult. Another cause of decline was the lack of well defined and
firmly established system of succession to the throne. This provided opportunity for the
court intrigues and succession disputes which often led to Civil Wars.
Lack of Natural Frontiers
Another contributory factor to the decline of Ghana was the lack of natural frontiers like
big rivers and mountain ranges to make foreign attacks difficult or impossible and make
defence relatively easy. Gold, which contributed to the growth of Ghana, also
contributed to the fall. Availability of Gold in Ghana attracted series of foreign invaders
who plundered Ghana in order to take her wealth. The Mossi from the South and the
Berbers from the North attacked.
GHANA FOR ECONOMIC REASONS
The attack on Ghana by the Almoravids
The attack on Ghana by the Almoravids in 1076 was the fundamental cause of the fall
of Ghana Empire. Under the leadership of Abu Bakr, the Almoravids attacked and
captured Kumbi Saleh the capital of Ghana under the guise of spreading Islam. The
spread of Islam was a mere pretense, the reason for the Almoravid invasion was their
desire to plunder the gold of Ghana. Owing to the collapse of the Almoravids movement
in 1087, Ghana regained her independence but Ghana did not recover completely from
the stroke, the central authority was not as strong as before to have an effective control
over all parts of the Empire and ensure unity consequently, Diara, Tekrur and Kaniaga
emerged as Semi-independent Kingdoms.
The Event of 1203
Foreign attacks on the Empire continued in 1203 Samanguru defeated Kumbi Saleh
and occupied the city. He taxed the inhabitants so heavily that many moved to Walata.
Thus, Samanguru contributed to the decline of Ghana Empire. The last straw was the
attack on Ghana in 1240 by Sundiata, the ruler of Mali. Sundiata conquered Sumanguru
and declared Mali, which was formerly a vassal to Ghana, an independent state. This
marked the end of Ghana Empire.
The Founder of Mali Empire
Sundiata was the founder of Mali Empire. The Empire emerged from an association of a
number of small villages which became the state of Kangaba towards the end of the
12th Century. In 1230, Sundiata became the ruler of Kangaba State. Before his reign
there was no standing Army and peasants were collected to fight whenever there was
War. But when he became the ruler, the first thing he did was the establishment of a
standing Army of professional soldiers. With his standing Army, Sundiata started an
expansionist policy. He conquered Susu in 1235 and later conquered the neighbouring
states, including Kaniaga. In 1240, he conquered Samanguru, the ruler of Ghana.
Sundiata united his conquests with Kangaba State. He moved his capital from Jeriba in
Kangaba to Niano, which was the center of his new capital. He took the title, „Mansa‟
which Emperor.
The Unification of his Conquests
Having united his conquests under a central authority, he continued to pursue an
expansionist policy and with his standing Army conquered many places, among which
was Timbuktu, Jenne and Gao. The Empire did not reach its. Apogee until about 1350,
some 95 years after the death of Sundiata when the Empire extended to the Atlantic in
the West, beyond Gao in the North East of the Empire and beyond Walata and
Timbkutu in the North. At its height much of modern Ghana, Sudan, Senegal and
Guinea were subjects to the Emperor of Mali. The successor of Sundiata, Mansa Uli
(1255 - 1270) continued the expansionist policy. The reign of Mansa Khalifa Abu Bakr
and Sakun (who reigned in successor after Uli) were punctuated by court intrigues.
When Mansa Musa became the Emperor
When Mansa Musa became the emperor in 1312, he continued to pursue the
expansionist policy started by Sundiata. He was the most renowned of Mali Emperors. It
is not only in Expansion but also in making Musa made his great contributions. In 1324
he went on a pilgrimage to Mecca with 60,000 men, 80cames each carrying 300Ibs of
gold and 500 slaves each carrying a golden staff weighing 500 mitchcals. The
pilgrimage portrayed Mali to the outside world as a wealthy Empire and Mali was
marked as the „land of gold‟ on the maps produced by the Italians in the 14th and 15th
centuries.
Contributions made by the Emperors
Apart from the contributions made by the Emperors like Sundiata, Mansa Musa and
Sulayman, trade was another important factor that contributed to the development of the
Empire. Mali was an important Southern terminus of the Western caravan routes. The
territorial expansion, gave Mali the control of the sources of important articles of trade.
The salt mines at Taghaza, gold mines of Wangara and Bambuk and Copper mines at
Takedda were controlled by Mali. Gold, Slaves and Kolanuts were transported to North
Africa. In return, Mali received salt, copper, cowrie shells, figs, dates, horses and beads
to mention but a few.
Who Was Mansa Musa?
Mansa Musa was a grandson of Sundiata, the founder of Mali Empire. Musa was a
devout Muslim who came to the throne of Mali in 1312. Musa came to the throne of Mali
after a period of relative decline, Emperors Khalifa, Abu Bakr and Sakura (the three
emperors who reigned in succession before Musa) reigned in a period punctuated by
court intrigues when Mansa Musa came to the throne he Restored order in the Empire
and continued the expansion policy including Giao in 1325 and kept the two sons of
king of Songhai as hostage to guarantee the good behavior and submission to Gao to
Mali rule from that time Gao became a tributary state t Mali.
The most renewed of all the Mali emperors. Mansa Musa of all the Mali Emperors of all
the Mali Emperors. It is not only in expanding the frontiers of Mali Empire but also in
making the Empire known to the outside world that Mansa Musa made his great
contributions to the Empire. In 1324, he went on a pilgrimage to Mecca with 60,000
men, 80 camels each carrying 300Ibs of gold and 500 salves each carrying a golden
staff weighting 500 Mitchcals. The pilgrimage portrayed Mali to the outside world as a
wealthy empire. As a result, Mali was shown on the Maps produced by the Italians in
the 14th and 15th centuries. What Mansa Musa‟s pilgrimage did?
The pilgrimage did not advertise the prosperity of Mali but also attracted to Mali more
traders and Muslim‟s scholars who contributed to the economic, social and cultural
development of the Empire. He brought Es-saheli, a poet and architect to Mali. Es –
Saheli introduced building with burnt bricks into the Western Sudan he built with bricks,
a beautiful palace in Niani and Mosques in Gao and Timbuktu. The pilgrimage also
gave an opportunity to Mali to open diploma relation with the state of North Africa
especially Fez. The reign of Mansa Musa.
The reign of Mansa Musa was a period of territorial expansion, economic prosperity,
rapid Islamisation and expansion increase in culture and learning. When he died in
1332, he left behind a remarkable Empire, Wealthy. Prosperous well organized with
cities renowned for learning and culture. This conclusion agrees with the verdict of Bovil
who wrote “when Mansa Musa died in 1332, he left behind him an Empire in the history
of purely African state was as remarkable for its wealth and which provides a striking
example of the capacity of the Negroes for political organization.
When Mali reached her greatest territorial extent:
About 1350, when Mali reached her greatest territorial extent, it extended to the Atlantic
coast in the West, beyond Gao in the North-East and beyond Walata and Timbuktu in
the North, thus becoming the largest Empire in the Western Sudan at that time. It is an
irony of circumstance that the great expansion of Mali was also a reason for her
collapse. Mali Empire out-grew her optimum size strong central administration
developed under Sundiata who, having made various conquests united the conquest
under a single central authority. He thus laid the foundation of the Mali Empire. Mansa
(1255-1270) continued the expansionist policy and Mansa Musa (1312-1337) brought
the Empire to her Greatest territorial extent. This result of the expansionist policy was
that Mali out-grew her political and military strength. It was the degree of the central
authority that determined the territorial expansion and contraction of the Empire while
European like Sundiata, Musa and Sulayman possessed the skill to hold the empire
together, those who reigned after Sulayman were too weak to maintain order and peace
and good government in all parts of the Empire.
What happened after the died of Sulayman:
After the death of Sulayman, a succession of weak ruler accented the throne. Civil wars
arose from the succession dispute which followed the death of Sulayman. Manghan,
who won the succession dispute was hated by his subject who regarded him as a cruel
and selfish Emperor consequently, he could hot save the Empire dis- integration. In
administrative ingenuity, he was not equal to his father Sulayman. The situation
continued until the reign of Musa II, who was describe as a weak ruler who could not re-
instate on effective central government Jata, the able prime minister during the reign of
Musa II could have filled the vacuum caused by the weakness of the emperor but had to
face the attacks which were simultaneously declared on Mali by her neighbors.
Inadequate means of communication: Inadequate means of communication and lack
of natural frontiers acted as natural sources of weakness. These provided opportunity
for the enemies of Mali and hastened the process of her decline. From the middle of the
14th century. The Army of the vassal state had possessed strong weapons. Moreover,
the vassal state had developed strong government and consequently. Want to be
independent. Most of the vassal state, therefore disregarded request from Niani to make
contribution to the Central Army.
The Event of Middle of the 14th Century.
Until about the middle of the 14th century. The economic system of Mali was back up by
good administrative and military system. Vassal state Paid tributes to the central
treasure. Import and export duties were under the central administration and the Army.
The economy system became weak. The Turareg who wanted to gain control of the
commercial areas of the Empire, sized Walata and Timbuktu. The Mossi attacked the
commercial centers in the South while the vassal state, outstanding among whom were
Tekcur and Wolof, refused to send tribute to Mali for they believed that there were
advantage in being free to ran their own affairs. The last straw that marked the effective
end of the Empire was the escape, in 1375 of the two sons of the Songhai king of Goo
whom Mansa Musa had kept hostage to granted the good behavior and submission of
Gao to Mali. One of them became King and declared Gao an independent state. From
that time Gao started to replace Mali in fame, influence and power.
How Songhai Settled at Gao:
Songhai settled at Gao in about the 7thc. It is believed that their original home was
around Dendi and Bussa. They migrated to Gao because Gao was on important cross
roads in W/A. According to tradition, Kossi took Gao from the Sorko (one of the groups
into which the Songhai spilt) and establish the capital of Songhai Empire there I 1010.
Having considered material from traditional and other sources, many historians are of
the opinion that Songhai had its organized beginning in the region of Dendi and that her
civilization was the product of native initiative. It was, like the civilization of Ghana and
Mali, the product of iron age in the Western Sudan. The conquest of Gao in 1325 by
Sagana –dir (the commander of the army of Man sa Musa) Mada Gao a tributary state
to Mali. Being tributary state to Mali did not diminish the important of Gao, it rather
enhanced it. Mansa Musa built, with bricks, a mosque in Gao. This was the first brick-
building in the Western Sudan.
The escape of the two sons of King of Gao:
In 1375, the two sons of the King of Gao, whom Mansa Musa had taken as hostage to
Niani to guarantee the submission of Gao to Mali rule, escaped to Gao. One of them
became the king of Gao and from that time Gao declared herself independent and
started to replace Mali in Fame influence and power. After independence, the Songhai
Empire started a policy of expansion. This was an achieved with little difficulty because
of the decline of Mali at the time. Songhai developed her army and trade continued to
flourish throughout the Empire. The great increase in the volume of internal and external
trade was due to the following reasons, first, towards the end of the 14thc, the
importance of Caravan route which passed through Es-Suk to Jenne reached its height
secondly the copper mines at Tekedda the market at Es-Suk and the agricultural and
fishing industries at Gao recorded great development.
The reign of Sogni Ali:
Sonni Ali who regained from 1464to 1492 and Askia Moh‟d Toure (Askia the great) were
the two outstanding rulers of the Songhai Empire who contributed immensely to the
growth of the Empire. Sonno Ali made two important contributions to the growth of the
Empire. First, he contributed conscription into the Army. Secondly, he extended the
frontiers of the Empire. Having conquered the Tuarey, the Fuani around the hills of
Baniagara and the Mossi in the south, he occupied Timbuktu and Jenne which made
parts of his Empire.
The death of Sonni Ali: Sonni Ali was drowned in 1492 and his son who succeeded
him was overthrown in 1492 by Askia Moh‟d Toure, popularly known in history as (Askia
the great) Askia the great brought the Empire to her height. He established a standing
army and extended the Empire to the Atlantic in the West and to the lake chad in the
est. He builds an official central administration and introduction reforms especially in the
commercial sphere. In 1495 he under took a pilgrimage to Macca. The pilgrimage
advertised the fame of Songhai for beyond the coast of African and attracted Muslim
scholar to Songhai.
The Sonni Ali became the King of Gao:
Sonni Ali became the king of Gao in 1464. At the time, the main occupation of Songhai
were fishing cattle rearing, farming and hunting and Songhai was made up of a number
of semi-independence small principalities and towns like Sundiate of Mali, Sonni Ali
united rival state around Gao together to consolidate Songhai which was at the verge of
collapse at that time. He made other contributions to the growth of Empire. He
organized and introduced conscription into the Army. He also brought more horses for
the cavalry. His Army was so strong that it was never defeated in any war throughout
the period of the reign of sonni Ali.

Important contributions of sonni Ali to songhai

Another important contribution of sonni Ali to Songhai was the extension, by conquest,
of the frontiers of Songhai. This contribution was very significant because he extended
the frontiers where Songhai was able to control the trans-saharan trade route from
taghaza to Timbuktu, Walata and Jenne. These towns were ruled by the Tuareg before
Ali came to the throne.
The Muslims of Timbuktu
The Muslims of Timbuktu detested the oppressive and cruel rule of the Tuaregs and
planned to get a liberator. They invited sonni Ali to liberate them. At last, a favorable
opportunity had come to sonni to extend his Empire to where he would control the trans-
saharan gold trade. He occupied Timbuktu, a famous commercial and cultural centre
and a centre of higher learning in 1468 under Tuaregs. He did not stop there, his Army
proceeded to Jenne which was conquered after a long siege. Jenne was a prosperous
city, a caravan route terminus, a famous market for gold and the products of the Guinea
forest, chief among which was kola nut, this had led to the view that sonni Ali was an
opportunist, who took advantage of the people of Timbuktu to establish a prosperous
Empire. other areas conquered by sonni Ali included the Hombori mountain area, south
of Timbuktu and also kebbi in Hausa land. He also conquered the Dogon and the
koromba.
The personality of Sonni Ali
Sonni Ali was a good administrator. He divided this Empire into provinces and
appointed a governor for each province. The conquered territories paid tributes regularly
to the Headquarters at Gao. Ali posted political military officials to strategic positions on
the borders to prevent attacks from the Mossi in the south, the Bariba in the south-East
and the Fulani around the hills of Bandiagara. Having laid the foundation of Songhai
Empire, sonni Ali was drowned in a stream in 1492 after a reign of 28 years, while
returning home from a successful military expedition. Ali was a ruler of great foresight,
power and courage which earned him honor and respect many years after his death.
The personality of Askia Mohammed
Askia Mohid Toure, popularly known in his town as Askia the Great, who reigned from
1493 to 1528, was a devout Muslim, a good soldier and a great administrator. He was
formerly the Army General of Sonni Ali. When he had seized power, he became King
the title of Askia. His real name was Abu Bakr Toure. As an army officer before he
became king, Askia realized that the weakness of the army. There was no standing
army before he became to throne. Peasants were collected together fight whenever
there was a war but when he came to the throne, he established a standing army. His
conquests were the result of the standing army which he established.

His Conquests of many territories:

In the name of Islam, he conquered many territories formerly under Mali Empire. He
conquered some parts of Hausa land and extended his Empire to the Lake Chad in the
East. He subjugated the Mossi in the South and the Taure of Agades to control the
western trans-saharan trade route. He extended the Empire beyond Tahaza in the
North to control the Taghaza Saltmines. The Fulani and the Mandingo in the west were
also subjugated and he extended the Empire to the Atlantic in the west. In the field of
religion, he also made notable contributions. He complied Islamic code of laws and
trained Muslim Judges to interpreted the new code.
How he built up an efficient central government:
Askia built up an efficient central government at the time of his visit, Leo African us
mentioned many judges, doctors and priest all receiving salaries from the king. Askia
divided the rest of the Empire other than the capital into four province and appointed
governs who were of his own relations to govern there. This system worked well under
his able leadership which received the loyalty of the provincial governors. The able
leadership to Askia prevented the provincial governors from causing revolts in the
provinces.
His encouragement towards trade:
Apart from efficient administration he encouraged trade. the first thing he did was the
making of reform of the materials for weighting and measuring to ensure fair dealings.
This enhanced the reputation of the Empire he under took a pilgrimage to Mecca in
1495 and his taking along 500 cavalry 1,000 infantry and 30,000 pieces of gold increase
the fame of Songhai far beyond the coast of African an effect similar to the effect of the
pilgrimage OF Mansa Musa in 1324 on Mali. On his return, he was mad the head of the
Muslims in W/A by the Caliph of Cairo. In 1528, two of his sons made successful
attempt to dethrone him. A sons made successful attempt to dethrone him. A civil war
started and Askia the great was exiled. While a tradition reveals that he died in exile,
Another confirms that he returned to the throne before he died in 1538.