Page 54 - Empires of Medieval West Africa

t h e m a l i E m p i r e

A Royal Wife in Trouble

among the events arab historian ibn Battuta stand near the mansa’s throne with her face
witnessed while in mali was an attempt to covered by a veil.
get rid of the king. one of mansa sulayman’s the events involving Kasa caused so
wives was involved. rulers of the mali Empire much gossip among the people around the
normally had many wives, but the first wife court that finally one day the mansa gath-
had special status. Kasa was mansa sulay- ered them all together and had his chief jeli,
man’s first wife. she was also his cousin (the dugha, announce to them that Kasa had
daughter of his uncle on his mother’s side of committed a serious crime. then one of
the family). ibn Battuta said she had the sta- Kasa’s slave girls was brought in. she was
tus of a queen and was mansa sulayman’s tied up and was ordered to tell her story.
“partner in rule,” according to local custom the slave girl said that Kasa had sent her to
(quoted by levtzion and Hopkins). a cousin of mansa sulayman’s named Jata,
according to ibn Battuta, one day mansa who had been sent away. Kasa’s message
sulayman had Kasa put in prison and was that her cousin should come back and
replaced her with a wife named Banju, who remove the mansa from power. Her mes-
was not from the royal family. Everyone at sage, according to the slave girl, said, “i and
the court was upset, because Kasa was a all the army are at your service!” (quoted by
popular aristocrat and nobody knew why levtzion and Hopkins).
she had been imprisoned. Before long, Kasa when the court officials heard this, they
was released and was allowed to go out rid- agreed that it was a great crime and said
ing on her horse every morning, with her Kasa deserved to be executed. Kasa, who
slaves to accompany her. But, because she now feared for her life, left the palace and
had been pardoned for a crime, she had to sought a safe place in the mosque.

When Ibn Battuta saw the mansa exit the palace gate to approach
the outside throne, he was wearing a golden headdress and a red robe,
and carrying a bow and arrows. Singers and musicians “with gold and
silver stringed instruments” (quoted by Levtzion and Hopkins) walked
in front of him. Once the mansa was seated, his deputies, councilors,
and lesser kings were summoned. Each of the lesser kings had his own
honor guard with lances, bows, and arrows. Marching ahead of them
were drummers and trumpeters with elephant tusk horns.

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GEP-West Africa_FNL.indd 53 10/19/09 11:06:57 AM