Massina Empire
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The Massina Empire was a nineteenth-century Fula empire centered in the Macina and Niger Inland Delta area of what is now the Mopti and Ségou Regions of Mali. Its capital was at Hamdullahi.
The Fulas of the region had for centuries been the vassals of larger states, including the Mali Empire (13th-14th centuries), the Songhai Empire (15th century), the Moroccan pashas of Tomboctou (16th century), and the Bambara Empire at Ségou (17th century).
Inspired by the recent Muslim uprisings of Usman dan Fodio in nearby Hausaland, preacher and social reformer Seku Amadu led a Fula army in jihad against the Bambara Empire in 1818. The empire expanded rapidly, taking Djenné in 1819 and establishing a new capital at Hamdullahi in 1820.
At the height of the Empire's power, a 10,000 man army was stationed in the city, and Seku Amadu ordered the construction of six hundred madrasas to further the spread of Islam. Alcohol, tobacco, music and dancing were banned in accordance with Islamic law, while a social welfare system provided for widows and orphans.
One of the most enduring accomplishments was a code regulating the use of the inland Niger delta region by Fula cattle herders and diverse farming communities.
In 1845, Seku Amadu conquered Timbuktu. However, he died within the year, leaving control of the Massina Empire to his son, Amadu Seku. Amadu Seku in turn soon abdicated the throne in favor of his son Amadu Amadu.
In 1862, Toucouleur conqueror El Hadj Umar Tall launched an attack on the Massina from his newly-secured base at Ségou. After a series of bloody battles, he entered Hamdullahi on March 16, levelling it. Amadu Amadu was captured and put to death. Though resistance briefly continued under Amadu Amadu's brother Balobo, the destruction marked the effective end of the Massina Empire.
[edit] Reference
- Davidson, Basil. Africa in History. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.
