Abu Bakr (mansa)
Encyclopedia
Abu Bakr, also known as Abubakari I or Manding Bory, was the fifth Mansa
(Emperor
) of the Mali Empire
, reigning from 1275 to 1285.
He was born Manding Bory to mother Namandjé, third wife to Naré Maghan kon Fatta. Before becoming Mansa, Manding Bory served as kankoro sigui (vizier and second in command) to Sundjata.
When Sundjata died under mysterious circumstances in 1255 his oldest and only blood heir was too young to serve as Mansa, and Manding Bory was designated regent. Before he could ascend, his nephew seized the throne under the name Mansa Wali.
Little is known of Manding Bory during the reigns of Wali, Wait and Khalifa. After the assassination of Khalifa, Manding Bory was finally made Mansa of Mali under the name Abu Bakr. The name became Abubakari in the rapidly spoken language of Mandinka
.
Mansa Abu Bakr began Mali's slow return to prominence in West Africa after five years of civil war and economic decline. After ten years, the throne was usurped by freed slave and general Sakura
in 1285.
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...
(Emperor
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
) 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 1275 to 1285.
He was born Manding Bory to mother Namandjé, third wife to Naré Maghan kon Fatta. Before becoming Mansa, Manding Bory served as kankoro sigui (vizier and second in command) to Sundjata.
When Sundjata died under mysterious circumstances in 1255 his oldest and only blood heir was too young to serve as Mansa, and Manding Bory was designated regent. Before he could ascend, his nephew seized the throne under the name Mansa Wali.
Little is known of Manding Bory during the reigns of Wali, Wait and Khalifa. After the assassination of Khalifa, Manding Bory was finally made Mansa of Mali under the name Abu Bakr. The name became Abubakari in the rapidly spoken language of Mandinka
Mandinka language
The Mandinka language is a Mandé language spoken by millions of Mandinka people in Mali, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea-Bissau and Chad; it is the main language of The Gambia. It belongs to the Manding branch of Mandé, and is thus fairly...
.
Mansa Abu Bakr began Mali's slow return to prominence in West Africa after five years of civil war and economic decline. After ten years, the throne was usurped by freed slave and general Sakura
Sakura (mansa)
Mansa Sakura or Mansa Sakoura was the sixth mansa of the Mali Empire. A slave at birth, Sakura was freed and became a general in the army of Sundiata Keita, legendary founder of the Mali Empire. After a debilitating struggle for succession between Sundiata's sons Ouati Keita and Khalifa Keita and...
in 1285.
Sources
External links
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...