Ouati Keita
Encyclopedia
Mansa Wati was the third mansa
of the Mali Empire
reigning from 1270 to 1274.
Mansa Wati was one of two adopted children from among Sundjata's generals. He was raised in the royal court as a prince alongside the previous mansa Uli and another adopted sibling named Khalifa. Like any blood member of the Keita clan, he was eligible for the throne and fought for it against Khalifa after Mansa Wali's death shortly after his return from the hajj. Khalifa succeeded in gaining the throne but ruled only four, tumultuous years. By the time of his death in 1274, the empire of Sundjata was in ruins.
With Wati out of the way, Khalifa returned to the capital of Niani and seized the throne, sidelining Sundjata's brother again. Mansa Wati is remembered as a bad ruler, and Khalifa would prove even worse.
Mansa
Mansa is a Mandinka word meaning "king of kings". It is particularly associated with the Keita Dynasty of the Mali Empire, which dominated West Africa from the thirteenth to the fifthteenth century...
of the Mali Empire
Mali Empire
The Mali Empire or Mandingo Empire or Manden Kurufa was a West African empire of the Mandinka from c. 1230 to c. 1600. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa I...
reigning from 1270 to 1274.
Mansa Wati was one of two adopted children from among Sundjata's generals. He was raised in the royal court as a prince alongside the previous mansa Uli and another adopted sibling named Khalifa. Like any blood member of the Keita clan, he was eligible for the throne and fought for it against Khalifa after Mansa Wali's death shortly after his return from the hajj. Khalifa succeeded in gaining the throne but ruled only four, tumultuous years. By the time of his death in 1274, the empire of Sundjata was in ruins.
With Wati out of the way, Khalifa returned to the capital of Niani and seized the throne, sidelining Sundjata's brother again. Mansa Wati is remembered as a bad ruler, and Khalifa would prove even worse.
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See also
- Mali EmpireMali EmpireThe Mali Empire or Mandingo Empire or Manden Kurufa was a West African empire of the Mandinka from c. 1230 to c. 1600. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa I...
- Keita DynastyKeita DynastyThe Keita Dynasty ruled pre-Imperial and Imperial Mali from the 12th century into the early 17th century. It was a Muslim Dynasty, and its rulers claimed descent from Bilal. Bilal was a freed slave who accepted Islam and became one of the Sahabas of the Prophet Muhammad. Bilal bears the...