Mali's Female Power: The Queens Behind the Throne
The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
When we think of the Mali Empire, we picture Mansa Musa on his golden throne. But behind every great emperor stood a formidable queen mother, co-ruler, or regent. This episode uncovers the hidden history of Mali's royal women: the Kassi, the Kankoro-sigui queens, and the mysterious 'Queen of the Wangara' who controlled the gold trade. Drawing from the Tarikh al-Sudan, Ibn Battuta's Rihla, and oral traditions preserved by the jeliw, we explore how these women wielded political power, managed succession crises, and even led armies. From the reign of Sundiata Keita to the decline under Mari Jata, female influence shaped the empire's fate. We also examine the legal status of women under the Kouroukan Fouga charter and the surprising economic independence of Mande women in Timbuktu's markets. This is the story of the Mali Empire you never learned in school. #MaliEmpire #QueensOfMali #Kassi #KankoroSigui #QueenOfWangara #TarikhAlSudan #IbnBattuta #jeliw #SundiataKeita #MariJata #KouroukanFouga #Timbuktu #MandeWomen #WestAfrica #WomenInHistory #HiddenHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
