Kaabu

The Gambia, 1537–1867. Draft, not yet reviewed

Kaabu was a federation of Mandinka kingdoms in the Senegambia region centered within modern northeastern Guinea-Bissau, large parts of today's Gambia, and extending into Koussanar, Koumpentoum, and the Casamance in Senegal. It rose to prominence as an imperial military province of the Mali Empire. After the decline of the Mali Empire, Kaabu became independent. In 1867, however, the Kaabu capital at Kansala came under siege from an army led by Alfa Omar of Labé and Alfa Molo Balde.

Seat of power: Foni Kansala

No rulers documented for this era yet.

Culture

• As Mali's authority collapsed, the Mandinka states of the region formed a federation. The number of provinces grew from three to seven, and these encompassed dozens of royal trading towns.
• Kaabu's many wars of expansion produced up to half of the African people sold into slavery during the 17th and 18th centuries.
• At the climax of the eleven-day Battle of Kansala, Mansaba Janke Waali Sanneh ordered the city's gunpowder stores to be set afire. The resulting explosion killed the Mandinka defenders and 75% of the attackers.

Picture

Kansala, the imperial capital, was captured by Fula forces from the Futa Jallon during the 19th century Fula jihads.

Image: Duke of liang, CC0, file

Sources

• Kaabu (Wikipedia)
• Kaabu (Wikidata)
• About the picture (Wikipedia)

Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.