Shama Warriors In Africa Research Paper

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 The renown first great Kingdom of Africa was Ghana or Shama and means; Warrior king, or King of the warriors/war lord, from the Mandi language “Wagadu.” Since 300 AD Ghana was respected as the land of gold and salt. During the Sahara gold trade in 800A.D. it came to great prominence. Shama warriors (Asafo) protected the gold from invaders and would-be thieves with giant fifty pound Iron Swords. The Soninke were the first true organized army of West Africa and held the center of world trade (even from merchants extending into India and China) and for their time were exposed to all the existing martial arts (The Black Snake hands way or Ouagadou-Buda). From the Soninke tribe, you have ‘Mangu’ meaning Warrior, which still stands today as the

The Mankanku were called Simbu under general prince Sundjata Keita; he led them into victory at the great battle of Karina 1235 (this began the start of the Mali Kingdom), against the Sosso Kaniaga kingdoms, Sumanguru (the wild cock) Kante. The Mankanku also known as Mandinka Warriors became the god-hand of Mali, they called on their inner strengths Nyama, similar to the Orients Chi or Ki. There 100,000 soldiers strong infantry and cavalry; wielded spear, shield and sword. The Mandinka warriors smelted Iron and were religious blacksmiths; they made swords in the names of their Animist god beliefs; before their acceptance to Islam. But the greatest of the Mali-Mansa’s was the crowned great Musa, son of Kanku, the “Lion King.” During his 25 year (1312-1337) reign he formed 16 clans to secure the new Mali kingdom and appointed them “Tontajontaniworo, the sixteen servants that carry the Bow” aka the Farari or brave (they guarded the 12 trading post along Mali’s land routes). Musa’s Farari generals and troops fought using lances, sabers and heavy long swords on horse-back; they also wore leather helmets and armor made with plates of padded iron sewed together. In 1324 Musa made the astounding pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca/Bekkah with approximately 100,000 men and 80 camels which carried over 300 pounds of gold-dust each, that he

Songhai became the greatest commercial Enterprise of their time with rich commodities of salt, gold, ivory, numerous spices as well as slaves (eventually slaves became worth more than gold) their primary source of income. Trading was far and wide to Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and even to Europe. In 1464 the Gao people of the Niger river under Sudanese general Sunni Ali-Mar/Ber, is responsible for first establishing the Songhai kingdom; he was a powerful stern and ruthless ruler that subjugated everyone under his command. Sunni Ali sent his armies in canoes up and down the Niger river to siege small towns and villages; and took by force the great city Timbuktu (setting it to fire) and Djenne; the major cities of Mali. Though he conquered many lands he was only able to hold back the mighty Mossi kingdom of Burkina Faso. The Songhai Empire like the ones before it, was rich in power and wealth, therefore he fortified the cities throughout with solders and had 700 trained eunuchs as his personal body guards. However the greatness of Songhai is celebrated to Askia Muhammad Toure the Great; a devout Muslim who enforced jihad only on all those that opposed him. Askia (his mother’s name) was more of a statesman than a military warrior; and his heart swayed to learning, technology and science instead of war