Mali Empire: Gold, Mansa Musa, and the Wealth of West Africa

The Mali Empire emerged in the early 13th century, rising from the remnants of the Ghana Empire and the consolidation of the Malinke people under a visionary leader, Sundiata Keita. The region that would become Mali was already a center of commerce, culture, and political organization, benefiting from its strategic position along the trans-Saharan trade routes. However, it was the collapse of Ghana and the subsequent struggle for power that allowed Mali to emerge as a dominant force in West Africa.

The Ghana Empire, which had once controlled vast gold reserves and major trade routes, began to decline due to internal conflicts, overexpansion, and pressure from external forces such as the Almoravid invasions. As Ghana weakened, many of its vassal states and ethnic groups, including the Malinke people, sought independence and new opportunities for leadership. The Malinke, a subgroup of the Mande-speaking people, inhabited the area along the upper Niger River and had long engaged in trade and farming. Their political organization had been fragmented, but under Sundiata Keita, they would come together to form a unified and powerful state.

Sundiata Keita’s rise to power is deeply rooted in legend and oral tradition, preserved in the Epic of Sundiata. According to the narrative, Sundiata was born into the Keita royal family but faced exile due to political rivalries. During this time, the Sosso Kingdom, under the rule of Sumanguru Kanté, expanded its influence and sought to dominate the Malinke. Sundiata, gathering allies among different clans and neighboring groups, returned from exile to lead a coalition against Sumanguru at the Battle of Kirina around 1235. His victory in this decisive conflict not only ended Sosso rule but also laid the foundation for the Mali Empire.