Page 84 - Empires of Medieval West Africa

t h e s o n i n k e p e o p l e o f t h e G h a n a E m p i r e

The king’S palace Alhaji Ado Bayero, emir
The king’s palace described by al-Bakri was similar to royal residences of Kano in 1965. In 1515,
Askia Muhammad the
that still exist in sub-Saharan West Africa. These are not large, single Great conquered Kano.
buildings with hundreds of rooms, like some grand palaces in Europe. Here the emir is escorted
al-Bakri said the king had a palace and a number of dwellings with by modern police in
domes on top. They were surrounded with an enclosure, like a city wall. blue uniforms and royal
But actually, the entire collection of buildings within the wall, including bodyguards (dogari) in
the king’s private residence, would have been considered “the palace.” traditional red and green
The biggest and most impressive building was for the king. He was gowns. On horseback
the head of a very large family with many wives and concubines, scores of under an ornate sunshade
topped by a golden symbol,
children, and dozens of relatives. Some buildings would be for individual the richly dressed emir
wives, each with her children, relatives, servants, and slaves. There would resembles descriptions
be quarters for guests, palace guards, messengers, other servants, and of some medieval West
slaves. There would also be granaries (buildings where grain was stored), African rulers.
stables, toilet and bath enclosures, places to cook in wet weather (other-
wise they cooked outside), and other storage and utility buildings.

3