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. A strict interpretation of Islamic injunctions against ostentation led Amadu to order the Great Mosque of Djenné to be abandoned, and all future mosques were ordered built with low ceilings and without decoration or minarets.
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.
References
- Brown, William A. Toward a Chronology for the Caliphate of Hamdullahi (Māsina), in Cahiers d'études africaines, 1968 Vol8/num31 pp. 428-434.
- Davidson, Basil. Africa in History. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.
- Roberts, Richard L. Warriors, Merchants. and Slaves: The State and the Economy in the Middle Niger Valley, 1700-1914. Stanford, 1987. ISBN 0804713782
- Klien, Martin. Slavery and Colonial Rule in French West Africa. Cambridge University Press, 1998. ISBN 0521596785
- Sènou, Arnold. Le premier empire coranique africain Cheikhou Amadou et l’empire du Macina. 13 April 2004. On Afrik.com
See also
- Sanankoua, Bintou. Un empire peul au XIXe siècle - La Diina du Maasina. Paris, 1990.
- Bâ, Amadou Hampâté and Daget, Jacques. L’empire peul du Macina, 1818-1853. Nouvelles Editions Africaines.
External links
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