Rhonda Williams, Aliyah Sims
Dr. Martin
English 208 Presentation Essay
December 2, 2009
13th and 14th Century West Africa
West Africa was, and still is, a Muslim region. The religion reached the area
during the 8th century, which is also when West Africa’s written
history began. Ibn Munabbah, an Islamic scholar, began to write down West
Africa’s history in 738 C.E. The first West African people to accept the Muslim
religion was the Dya’ogo people in 850 C.E. The Dya’ogo people were located in
the Kingdom of Tekur. War-jaba was the first leader in Tekur to use Islamic
practices during his time in power. He imposed the Islamic Shari’ah system (Doi).
The connection between Mali and Islam began in the 15th century.
Sundiata, the founder of Mali, was a Muslim; however he was considered an
incompetent follower of the religion. He was said to practice the religion with
an admixture of beliefs. For this reason, Muslim scholars were not fond of him.
Mansa Musa, who followed Sundiata, was said to be a devoted Muslim and Mali’s
architect. He gained power in 1312 and ruled until 1337. In 1324, he made his
famous pilgrimage to Mecca. He brought back with him Muslim scholars and
architects from Islam when he returned to Mali. The architects later built five
famous mosques. His pilgrimage also attracted more scholars and traders from
Islam, which lead to a great economic expansion in Mali. As result, Mali became
West Africa’s richest country and remained so for two centuries (1235-1430) (Doi).
Trade was a very important part of the West African economy. Ghana became the
first kingdom to gain control over the Saharan trade route’s southern section
(“History”). Mali was a part of Ghana (Doi). Ghana was situated at the
crossroads of the trading route. The Saharan caravans combined the North’s
Mediterranean markets with Africa’s raw goods in the South. Goods traded
included gold, salt, metal items, ivory, ostrich feathers, and cola nuts; but,
gold was the most popular. The Saharan route was about 1200 miles long
(“History”).
The oral traditions are an important part of African culture. The earliest form
of literature throughout the 12-14th century was basically oral
traditions. These traditions were passed down from generation to generation
through poems, praise songs that were based on past events. They were told by a
griot. A griot is a person who passes down customs and legends through
storytelling and song. This occupation was hereditary based on family ties. A
gtiot wasn’t obligated to this job and could profess other occupations. They
recited narratives in as many languages as they professed. The epic of Son-Jara
was a praise song that was told and later, in the 20th century,
written down. Any other forms of literature that existed during this time were
mainly oral and as they are told, changes a little each time. Today the epic is
still as significant in the African literature as it was in the 13th
century. It also exists in three versions. (Mary Pg 115).
The African culture depended heavily on the elders in the tribe, village or
community. The society viewed women as inferior to men as with any other society
during this time. Women in the
community attended to the children, market and farm, operating freely and
weren’t controlled. Because they were in tune with the land, they would take a
man in the bushes and teach him different remedies. The man were held in the
“bushes” for about a month and afterwards be practicing medicine men. Younger
children learned from their mother and women who socialized with the family. The
females often took care of the younger children and were taught at a critical
age how to operate the market and farm. The males often followed in their
fathers and grandfather footsteps and took on whatever occupation they had. They
would often fish and hunt as well.
Education during this time didn’t deal with writing and reading but worshipping
and cultivating the culture and heritage. There were four main schools. Each
school focused on a specific matter.
Whether men and women were allowed to attend is based solely on a griot’s oral
tradition of this matter.
West Africa has very distinct art and architecture from the 13th and
14th century. The
Djingareyber Mosque, also called The Great Mosque, is a very famous building
located in Timbuktu, Mali. It was built in 1327, but has since been restored in
2000. It is the oldest building in Timbuktu and also a national landmark
(“Djingareyber”). The Sankore Mosque is another famous building also located in
Timbuktu. It has notoriety because it was Timbuktu’s first university, and it is
also where a number of Islamic scholars studied (MacDonald). Art was a major way
of expressing the people of West Africa. Some art that existed in that period
are kept in the exhibits and museums in The United States.
Works Cited
“Djingareyber
Mosque Restoration.”
Archnet.org.
ArchNet. Web. 30 November 2009.
Doi, Professor A. Rahman I. “Spread of Islam in West Africa: The Empire of
Ghana.” Islamreligion.com. Islam
Religion, 10 April 2006. Web. 30 November 2009.
Doi, Professor A. Rahman I. “Spread of Islam in West Africa: The Empires of Mali
and Songhay.” Islamreligion.com.
Islam Religion, 10 April 2006. Web. 30 November 2009.
Kingsley, Mary H. West African
Studies. Macmillian and Company, Ltd., 1899. Print.
“History of Trade:
The Trading Kingdoms of West Africa: 5th - 15th c. AD.”
Historyworld.com. History World. Web.
30 November 2009.
MacDonald, K.C.
“Wonders:
Sankore Mosque.”
Pbs.org.
PBS. Web. 30 November 2009.