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Chapter 115: Of Egnovy and the Manden Kurufaba
South of the Teneré Desert we have the region on the Upper Niger watershed. This area has become known to most of the world as Agnavia (in Latin) and anglicised as Egnovy, the term descending from the Berber word Aginaw, meaning land of the Blacks. Truly enough, the peoples living in the grasslands of Western Africa had darker skintones than their Tuareg neighbours, who accompanied the caravans across the Desert
View attachment 534803
Examples of typical architecture
In the 12th century we have seen the disintegration of this area, as the Wagadou Empire has crumbled into a handful of competing kingdoms: Sosso, Djené, Diafanu, but most importantly Nyani.
The Nyani (1) kingdom was found on the southern borderlands and had a comparative advantage to its rivals – in the form of gold. The gold mines of Nyani were able to pay a much larger number of warriors, and therefore was able to gain a military superiority over its rivals.
The kingdom of Nyani was therefore able to defeat its main competitors on the Niger River – the rival Sosso kingdom, which sought to dominate the area, as well as other smaller chiefdoms and duchies in the area. By the middle of the thirteenth century, Nyani has conquered practically all of the former Wagadou exception with the exception of Djenné and Timbuktou; and Nyani troops have pushed their empire westwards to again sea access.
View attachment 534801
A political map of the area
By the end of the thirteenth century, the Nyani Empire fills the power vacuum left by the demise of the Wagadou. After the victory over the rival Sosso Kingdom, the Nyani kings styled themselves Mansa and their kingdom became known as Manden Kurufaba..
In the first stage, Nyani has been more of a federation of allied tribal groups, known as the Twelve Doors of Mali. Later on, however as the realm grows, needs arise for a more centralized administration. Upon conquest, the land was administered by a farin; once integrated, they were allowed to be governed by a native ruler, which was known as dyamani-tigui. These areas have thus received what one may call a civilian administration; ultimately a third title, a farba was reserved for the administrators controlling strategic locations – for example important market cities or the regions of the gold mines. There has been no real requirement for who should be selected to become a farba, but the only real criterion was his loyalty to the Mansa and imperial interests. The farbas usually sought to have their titles be inherited by their sons (2), and this was gradually becoming the practice, although the Mansa could replace a disloyal one by one whom he trusted.
View attachment 534802
A depiction of the Mansa
The Mansa was not an absolutist monarch, as many would think. Rather, he ruled in what could be described as a rule of law. Upon transformation from the small Nyani Duchy into a powerful empire, a universal code of law, if you wish, a constitution has been written, which was to be applied in all regions of the realm: the Kouroukan Fouga, consisting of 44 articles.
The Mansa ruled with the help of the Gbara, a deliberative assembly consisting of some 32 members. The members belonged to respected Mandinka clans and were divided into four blocks, representing what could be described as estates. Among them were what could be described as the nobility (Djon-Tan-Nor-Woro- literally Carriers of Quivers), Maghan or princely clans, among them being the ruling Keita dynasty, then the Mori-Kanda-Lolou, or Guardains of Faith, or the upper clergy in the traditional African religion, and finally the Nyamakala, literally the wielders of the creative force – this includes predominantly the artisans.
The empire makes use of the existing Mande script, which has been preserved in the area since the realm of Wagadou and the use of written documents helps the administration of the realm (3). Almost all written documentation uses the so-called Classical Mande language, and during this period, the Mande languages spread to cover large parts of the Egnovy (4), where it becomes the lingua franca, or dominant language.
Regarding religion, we can see at first a stark divide of the realm. The area from where the Nyani kingdom emerged has been primarily pagan; the north-eastern parts of the Mande Kurufaba were largely Christian by this time. The native religion of the Mande kingdom was called A Taat Roog and was connected with a fixation of the Sirius star, a strict caste system and some strange myths about hermaphrodite jackals (5).
With a much different cultural substratum present in Egnovy, the Christian faith is to take upon a much more indigenized form. It will be characterized by a massive syncretisation – while not changing the text of the Bible per se, but some meanings have already been lost in the process. More on that in the next update J
The natural borders of the empire were bound by the sands of the Teneré desert in the north and the lush rainforests of Guinea further southwards. These grasslands provided an open landscape, allowing agricultural a landscape and communication to develop.
One of the last realms to fall under the rule of the Manden Kurufaba was Takrur, located at the estuary of the Senegal River. While having made contact with the Lusitans, the realm has been in decline, as desertification in the northern parts of the realm had been a major problem, and well the Lusitans, greedy for gold have welcome the conquest of the area by Manden Kurufaba, because once in one realm, the Lusitans could trade with Manden Kurufaba directly, and would not need to make use of the Takruri middlemen, especially as Takrur was hostile to Manden Kurufaba.
View attachment 534807
Archers fomred the bulk of Mande militry; riding horses on the battlefield was restricted to the nobles
The military of Manden Kurufaba in the later years consisted primarily of freemen (horon), who were practically levies, and were expected to show up with their own military gear. Regarding the equipment of these infantry units, the largest share of Manden levies were archers, while those in the north were usually spearmen. The nobility, who were smei-professional warriors, were in the cavalry, and used mainly lances and swords.
View attachment 534809
Salt is a strategic resource highly demanded in the southern reaches of the emepire
Regarding the economy, the Manden Kurufabu had a wealth of gold and salt. Major goldfields could be found in the south, near the regions where the realm initially originated. Its great quantities caused it not be as valued as elsewhere. Salt was found in the north, and was more valued in the empire than gold, especially in the south. There was high demand for salt in the south, but it was rather rare, and its price was made primarily by transport coasts, and when reaching Nyani, its price has increased fourfold in comparison to the northern borders.
View attachment 534803
Examples of typical architecture
In the 12th century we have seen the disintegration of this area, as the Wagadou Empire has crumbled into a handful of competing kingdoms: Sosso, Djené, Diafanu, but most importantly Nyani.
The Nyani (1) kingdom was found on the southern borderlands and had a comparative advantage to its rivals – in the form of gold. The gold mines of Nyani were able to pay a much larger number of warriors, and therefore was able to gain a military superiority over its rivals.
The kingdom of Nyani was therefore able to defeat its main competitors on the Niger River – the rival Sosso kingdom, which sought to dominate the area, as well as other smaller chiefdoms and duchies in the area. By the middle of the thirteenth century, Nyani has conquered practically all of the former Wagadou exception with the exception of Djenné and Timbuktou; and Nyani troops have pushed their empire westwards to again sea access.
View attachment 534801
A political map of the area
By the end of the thirteenth century, the Nyani Empire fills the power vacuum left by the demise of the Wagadou. After the victory over the rival Sosso Kingdom, the Nyani kings styled themselves Mansa and their kingdom became known as Manden Kurufaba..
In the first stage, Nyani has been more of a federation of allied tribal groups, known as the Twelve Doors of Mali. Later on, however as the realm grows, needs arise for a more centralized administration. Upon conquest, the land was administered by a farin; once integrated, they were allowed to be governed by a native ruler, which was known as dyamani-tigui. These areas have thus received what one may call a civilian administration; ultimately a third title, a farba was reserved for the administrators controlling strategic locations – for example important market cities or the regions of the gold mines. There has been no real requirement for who should be selected to become a farba, but the only real criterion was his loyalty to the Mansa and imperial interests. The farbas usually sought to have their titles be inherited by their sons (2), and this was gradually becoming the practice, although the Mansa could replace a disloyal one by one whom he trusted.
View attachment 534802
A depiction of the Mansa
The Mansa was not an absolutist monarch, as many would think. Rather, he ruled in what could be described as a rule of law. Upon transformation from the small Nyani Duchy into a powerful empire, a universal code of law, if you wish, a constitution has been written, which was to be applied in all regions of the realm: the Kouroukan Fouga, consisting of 44 articles.
The Mansa ruled with the help of the Gbara, a deliberative assembly consisting of some 32 members. The members belonged to respected Mandinka clans and were divided into four blocks, representing what could be described as estates. Among them were what could be described as the nobility (Djon-Tan-Nor-Woro- literally Carriers of Quivers), Maghan or princely clans, among them being the ruling Keita dynasty, then the Mori-Kanda-Lolou, or Guardains of Faith, or the upper clergy in the traditional African religion, and finally the Nyamakala, literally the wielders of the creative force – this includes predominantly the artisans.
The empire makes use of the existing Mande script, which has been preserved in the area since the realm of Wagadou and the use of written documents helps the administration of the realm (3). Almost all written documentation uses the so-called Classical Mande language, and during this period, the Mande languages spread to cover large parts of the Egnovy (4), where it becomes the lingua franca, or dominant language.
Regarding religion, we can see at first a stark divide of the realm. The area from where the Nyani kingdom emerged has been primarily pagan; the north-eastern parts of the Mande Kurufaba were largely Christian by this time. The native religion of the Mande kingdom was called A Taat Roog and was connected with a fixation of the Sirius star, a strict caste system and some strange myths about hermaphrodite jackals (5).
With a much different cultural substratum present in Egnovy, the Christian faith is to take upon a much more indigenized form. It will be characterized by a massive syncretisation – while not changing the text of the Bible per se, but some meanings have already been lost in the process. More on that in the next update J
The natural borders of the empire were bound by the sands of the Teneré desert in the north and the lush rainforests of Guinea further southwards. These grasslands provided an open landscape, allowing agricultural a landscape and communication to develop.
One of the last realms to fall under the rule of the Manden Kurufaba was Takrur, located at the estuary of the Senegal River. While having made contact with the Lusitans, the realm has been in decline, as desertification in the northern parts of the realm had been a major problem, and well the Lusitans, greedy for gold have welcome the conquest of the area by Manden Kurufaba, because once in one realm, the Lusitans could trade with Manden Kurufaba directly, and would not need to make use of the Takruri middlemen, especially as Takrur was hostile to Manden Kurufaba.
View attachment 534807
Archers fomred the bulk of Mande militry; riding horses on the battlefield was restricted to the nobles
The military of Manden Kurufaba in the later years consisted primarily of freemen (horon), who were practically levies, and were expected to show up with their own military gear. Regarding the equipment of these infantry units, the largest share of Manden levies were archers, while those in the north were usually spearmen. The nobility, who were smei-professional warriors, were in the cavalry, and used mainly lances and swords.
View attachment 534809
Salt is a strategic resource highly demanded in the southern reaches of the emepire
Regarding the economy, the Manden Kurufabu had a wealth of gold and salt. Major goldfields could be found in the south, near the regions where the realm initially originated. Its great quantities caused it not be as valued as elsewhere. Salt was found in the north, and was more valued in the empire than gold, especially in the south. There was high demand for salt in the south, but it was rather rare, and its price was made primarily by transport coasts, and when reaching Nyani, its price has increased fourfold in comparison to the northern borders.
- Known in history as Mali
- We can see something in between a feudal and Rhomaic arrangements in governing the land.
- In part lending the griots, or the bards of the Mande world partly out of need. Major literary works, such as the epic about the founder of the realm, appear.
- Without Arabic being a lingua franca and native literacy, we can expect the Mandé languages to expand more in the region
- Source: Paradox Forum, African Religion Overhaul. Seriously, the real beliefs of the Mandé can be found as Mandé mythology on Wikipedia or by proximity with the Dogon and Sere religions.
- Tomislav Addai
- Word Count: 1.3k