HISTORY & CULTURE
5 Most Fascinating Pre-colonial Kings
Meet some of Africa's most fascinating pre-colonial kings:
Sunjata Keita was born in the 11th Century to a Maghan (chief) and defeated King Sumaworo of Soso .
Ewuare the Great was born in the 15th Century to Oba Ohen and named Ogun at birth. Although he was banished by the king, years later he returned and ceased the throne in a coup.
Sunni Ali was born into the Sonyi Dynasty that ruled the kingdom of Gao. In 1464 he became the Sii (king) of Gao. He created the Songhai Empire.
Toure was a general in Sunni Ali’s army. When Ali died, Toure overthrew Sunni Baru in a bloody battle, earning himself the title “Askia”.
Burja who was a merchant became the Sarki (king) of Kano in 1438, and the most powerful king in the Hausa Kingdom.
Centuries ago, long before the Western world ever knew that there was more to the planet than what they had seen, in a time when Europeans still believed the world was flat and were scared to venture too far for fear of falling over the edge, kingdoms and empires dominated the African continent. Kings reigned supreme and the African people flourished. The pre-colonial kings of Africa ruled over vast areas that sometimes, numbered hundreds of thousands of square miles, and were perceived as gods by their thousands of subjects. Their kingdoms may be gone but their history remains.
THE GREAT SUNJATA KEITA: THE LION KING OF THE MALI EMPIRE
Keita was a king whose birth was foretold by diviners and whose extraordinary reign caused a poem to be written about him. Sunjata was born in the 11th Century to the chief of a village in the Mande tribe named Maghan Konfara (maghan means chief). Konfara, a polygamist was told by his fortune-tellers that he would one day father a great hero. When Sunjata was born, he was crippled, but he taught himself to walk over many years, becoming a hunter and a leader of his peers. After the death of Konfora, threats from her co-wives and their children caused Sunjata’s mother, to flee the palace with her children, to the kingdom of Mema, where Sunjata’s bravery and determination made him a favorite of the King. When the chiefdoms of the Mande tribe were conquered by Sumaworo Kante of the Soso kingdom, the Mande people remembered the prophecy and begged Sunjata to return and save them. When Sunjata left Mema, the king gave him an army which he joined with the Mande forces. After series of battles, Sunjata and his army defeated Sumaworo and his allies at the Battle of Kirina. Sunjata then unified all the Mande chiefdoms, and the newly formed kingdom was called the Mali Empire. Sunjata became the first Mansa (king) of the Mali Empire and he went on to conquer neighboring kingdoms, expanding the empire, which at its zenith covered the entire area occupied by the modern-day countries of Mali, Senegal, Niger, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and The Gambia.
EWUARE THE GREAT - KING OF THE BENIN EMPIRE
In the 15th Century, in the place, today known as Edo State, Nigeria, a third son named Ogun was born to Oba Ohen. At the time of his birth, the authority of the Oba was limited by a council of chiefs known as the Uzama who were responsible for appointing the Oba of Benin. When Oba Ohen died, there arose a terrible dispute on the issue of who will become the next Oba. The Oba’s second son Orobiru won the favor of the Uzama and on being appointed Oba, he banished his brothers. Ogun returned several years after the death of Oba Orobiru to find that another of his brothers Prince Uwaifaikun had ascended the throne. Ogun staged a coup against his brother and in the course of the coup, Uwaifaikun was accidentally killed by his supporters. Ogun ascended the throne and renamed himself Ewuare, meaning “trouble has ceased”. During his reign, Ewuare rebuilt the city and conquered over 200 neighbouring cities. He reduced the powers of the Uzama by removing their role as kingmakers. Instead, he established a system of succession whereby the first son of the Oba would inherit the throne. He also established several communal festivals and ceremonies and promoted Benin art. Before his death, he renamed the city Edo and was given the honorary title of Ogidigan (the Great)
SUNNI ALI BER - FIRST KING OF THE SONGHAI EMPIRE
Sunni Ali was born into a line of rulers known as the Sonyi Dynasty who ruled the kingdom of Gao, and in 1464 he became the Sii of Gao after the death of Sii Sulayman Dama. Sunni was a military leader and under his command, the Gao troops defeated invaders and conquered new territories. His army included foot soldiers and horsemen and he attacked his opponents by land and water. As Sii, Sunni absorbed the territories of the Mali Empire becoming ruler of the largest West African Empire to ever exist. He named his vast kingdom the Songhai Empire and ascended the throne as its first king.
MUHAMMAD TOURE aka ASKIA THE GREAT - THE FORCEFUL KING OF SONGHAI
Muhammad Toure was a general in the army of Sunni Ali, and his military might made him a favorite of Ali's, who made him governor of one of the conquered territories. When Ali died, Toure challenged Ali’s son and successor Sunni Baru for the throne claiming that Baru was not a devout Muslim and that he, Toure was entitled to the throne because of his achievements. Toure overthrew Baru in a bloody battle, earning himself the title “Askia” which means “forceful one.” Askia expanded the Songhai Empire to the north, east, and west, conquering several kingdoms. He set up a stronger government and introduced new trade policies and a system of taxation. In 1946, Askia went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, and there, he met the Caliph of Egypt and was appointed Caliph of Western Sudan by him. In 1528, Askia became blind and was deposed and exiled by his son.
ABDULLAHI DAN KANAJEJI aka ABDULLAHI BURJA - THE 18TH SARKI OF KANO
Abdullahi Burja was a merchant and military commander who became the Sarki (king) of the Hausa state of Kano in 1438. By making alliances with powerful kingdoms and establishing new trade routes for the merchants in his city, Burjah made Kano the most prosperous kingdom in the region of present-day Northern Nigeria, becoming the most powerful king in the Hausa Kingdom. He introduced the use of camels by Kano merchants, and led his army to the south of his kingdom, establishing trade routes and capturing thousands of prisoners. He equipped his army with iron helmets and amour. Burjah's policies enhanced trade, making Kano one of the richest kingdoms in the region and helped spread the Hausa culture and language.
The kings of pre-colonial Africa commanded great armies and exercised influence over many. They remain a symbol of Africa’s greatness and potential.
31 May 2021
