By Immanuelle Agyare
In recent times the desire of the diaspora in understanding the history of Africa beyond colonial rule, has encouraged the exploration of advance ancient African nations. This post will review the founders of the powerful ancient kingdom of Ghana, the Soninke people.
The Soninke people, also known as the Mande people, are thought to be the founding group of The Kingdom of Ghana. Located across modern day Mauritania, Mali and Senegal amongst other West African nations, the kingdom is not to be mistake with modern day Ghana, whose name was inspired by the kingdom. “Ghana” which means warrior king was the name given to the ancient Kingdoms rulers, according to scholars the nation was referred to as the Soninke Kingdom, Wagadugu or Wagadou.
The beginning of the Kingdom of Ghana dates between 300 - 750 AD and grew to become a powerhouse with its capital Kumbi Saleh renowned for trade. It was later overshadowed by the Mali Empire which housed the world’s richest man to date, Mansa Musa – whose reign will be explored in a future post. The Soninke are known travellers as they journeyed across the region and overseas to Europe, and after the fall of ancient Ghana, they dispersed across West Africa and are still present today. Subgroups of the Soninke people include the Marakag and the Wangara.
Threatened by Nordic herders in North Africa, the Soninke migrated to West Africa where their population grew, and they became powerful. The fertile and economically prosperous ecosystem of the kingdom, they became great merchants trading across the region in gold, salt and copper. Likewise, their farming experience allowed their food production to grow vastly. They built the capital city of Kumbi Saleh, an epicentre for trade, which developed a tax system. The established trail routes to North Africa boosted business of the empire, however, it also eased attacks from competitors. The northern travellers inevitably introduced Islam to the kingdom.
The use of camels and travel routes to North and Eastwards eased trading across Africa. The Soninke people traded as far as Europe in return for manufactured goods. The greatness of the kingdom attracted many attacks from competitors across the region, particularly the North. On previous occasions Arab travellers arrived at the kingdom and were met by iron weapons that stopped their conquest. Rather, they decided to trade with the kingdom and remain in the area.
A legend about the rise and fall of the kingdom circulated. The story held the kingdom’s fate in a snake named Bida, who demanded a sacrificial virgin each year to maintain the prosperity of the kingdom. One year the virgin’s fiancée rescued her from the sacrifice and with a vengeance the snake brought drought to the land.
Ultimately there is no specific cause of the Kingdom of Ghana’s decline. Their many neighbours and trading rivals contributed to the demise for the kingdom. Once the Soninke army were defeated, they dispersed throughout the neighbouring land. Other explanations for the decline include the King’s loss of his trading monopoly, and a drought.
Since the kingdom many Arab scholars have written accounts based on the records made by the Arab settlers of the time. Scholars describe ancient Ghana as one of the three most organised states in the region. Today the Soninke people maintain a lively and rich culture with presence in Europe and predominantly across West and Central Africa.
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