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The Empires of the Western Sudan: Mali Empire

Although the reign of the Soso was short-lived, their momentary dominance set the stage for the emergence of a greater empire whose struggle is still commemorated in thriving oral traditions. In the early thirteenth century, the exiled prince Sundiata Keita ("the hungering lion") led a Mande revolt against the powerful Soso king Sumanguru Kante that marked the ascension of the Mali empire. Both a real historical personage and a cultural hero, Sundiata's rise to power is still celebrated in the Mande-speaking world by jalis (often translated as "griots"). Individuals who inherited and acquired special knowledge about history, genealogies, and music, jalis have historically performed a variety of social and political roles and continue to do so today. Their praise songs, now aired over television and radio in addition to live performance, are an important component of contemporary weddings and religious and national holidays.

The Mali empire, previously little known beyond the western Sudan, now became legendary in the Islamic world and Europe.

Related

Cited Works of Art or Images (1)

• 

Timelines (2)

• Western and Central Sudan, 1000–1400 a.d.
• Western and Central Sudan, 1400–1600 a.d.

Primary Thematic Essays (4)

• The Empires of the Western Sudan
• The Empires of the Western Sudan: Ghana Empire
• The Empires of the Western Sudan: Songhai Empire
• The Trans-Saharan Gold Trade (7th–14th century)

Other Thematic Essays (3)

• Inland Niger Delta
• Trade and the Spread of Islam
• Ways of Recording African History

Maps (2)

• Africa, 1000-1400 A.D.
• World, 1000-1400 A.D.

Index Terms (14)

Art Movement/Style

• Bamana Peoples of Western Africa
• Bobo Peoples of Western Africa
• Bwa Peoples of Western Africa
• Dogon Peoples of Western Africa
• Malian Art of Western Africa
• Malian Art of Western Africa
• Senufo Peoples of Western Africa
• Tellem Peoples of Western Africa

Geography/Place

• Western and Central Sudan
• Islamic World

Subject Matter/Theme

• Ruler from Africa
• Islam
• Trade (1000–1400 a.d.)
• Trade (500–1000 a.d.)

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After Sundiata, the most famous ruler of the Mali empire is Mansa Kankan Musa I, who came to power several decades after the death of his legendary predecessor. Musa was not the first emperor of Mali to embrace Islam; unlike the Soninke and the Soso, Mande royalty adopted the religion relatively early. However, Musa's hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) of 1324–25 drew the attention of both the Islamic world and Europeans, who were unprepared for the lavish wealth and generosity that the Malian king displayed during his stopover in Egypt. Accompanied by an enormous entourage, Musa apparently dispensed so much gold in Cairo that the precious metal's value plummeted and did not recover for several years thereafter. The Mali empire, previously little known beyond the western Sudan, now became legendary in the Islamic world and Europe. The image of Mansa Musa bearing nuggets of gold was subsequently commemorated in maps of the African continent.



The fourteenth-century traveler Ibn Battuta visited ancient Mali a few decades after Musa's death and was much impressed by the peace and lawfulness he found strictly enforced there. The Mali empire extended over an area larger than western Europe and consisted of numerous vassal kingdoms and provinces. Following Mansa Musa's death, Mali went into a long decline, shrinking to the size of its original territory by 1645.



Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Citation Department of AAOA. "The Empires of the Western Sudan: Mali Empire". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mali/hd_mali.htm (October 2000) Further Reading Prussin, Labelle Hatumere: Islamic Design in West Africa. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1986. Related exhibitions and online features Special Exhibitions (including upcoming, current, and past exhibitions)