Mansa Uli: The Lion Who Defeated Egypt
The Mali Empire: The Richest Civilization in History — Fexingo HistoryPlay episode
Show notes
When Mansa Musa's uncle, Mansa Uli, took the throne of Mali in the 1260s, he embarked on a military campaign that would shock the Islamic world. While Musa is famous for his hajj, Uli actually reached Cairo first—and he didn't come as a peaceful pilgrim. This episode explores Uli's conquest of the Songhai capital Gao, his audacious march across the Sahara, and the dramatic showdown with the Mamluk Sultan Baybars. We examine the Tarikh al-Sudan's account of how Uli demanded—and received—recognition from the most powerful ruler in the Middle East, securing Mali's place on the global stage decades before Musa. Along the way, we unpack Uli's relationship with the griot tradition, the role of the Mande Jeliw in chronicling his deeds, and the strategic alliances that allowed a Sahelian empire to project power thousands of miles. This is the forgotten story of the lion who paved the way for Mali's golden age, a necessary prequel to the Musa story every history buff knows. #MansaUli #MaliEmpire #Baybars #Mamluks #Gao #TarikhAlSudan #Jeliw #Griot #Sahel #WestAfrica #13thCentury #SundiataKeita #MansaMusa #Cairo #Hajj #SaharanTrade #KeitaDynasty #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
