Mansa Musa's Forgotten Rival: The Mali Civil War of 1300

While Mansa Musa is celebrated as the richest king in history, his path to the throne was anything but smooth. This episode uncovers the civil war that erupted in the Mali Empire around 1300, when Musa's predecessor, Sakura, a former slave turned usurper, seized power after the death of Sundiata Keita's last direct heir. We explore the chaotic succession crisis, the loyalty of the farba (imperial governors), and how Musa, a grandson of Sundiata's brother, eventually emerged victorious after Sakura's assassination on his own pilgrimage. Drawing on the accounts of Al-Umari and Ibn Battuta, and the oral traditions of the Mande griots, we reveal the political cunning and military might that allowed Musa to not only reclaim the throne but also launch Mali into its golden age. This is the untold story of the war that almost prevented Mansa Musa from ever becoming the legend we know today. #MansaMusa #MaliEmpire #Sakura #SundiataKeita #farba #AlUmari #IbnBattuta #Mande #griots #WestAfrica #CivilWar #SuccessionCrisis #MedievalAfrica #Pilgrimage #Sahara #History #FexingoHistory #AfricanHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo