Demise of Samori
Toure’s Mandinka
Empire 1882-98
By TS Sibanda
Mount Pleasant School, Harare
0774658065
shamisoblessing@gmail.com
Introduction
Mandinka empire was built around 1857 by Almami Samori Toure.
At its peak the empire had expanded occupying 7 modern day
countries namely Senegal, Mali, Gambia, Guinea, Corte D ivoire ,
Burkina Faso, and Gambia
Being an imperialist Samori Toure clashed with the French who were
also colonizing Tokolor.
Both Samori’s blunders and French imperialism led to the demise of his
state.
The fighting strategies adopted by Samori cost his army and civilian
Almami Samori’s response to the
coming of the French-French imperialism.
When the French invaded Mandinka Empire, Samori used both
collaboration and resistance.
Collaboration was used by the French to undermine Samori.
Resistance wasted his guns and made his army war weary.
The French who were colonizing Tokolor and ended up encroaching into
the northern part of Mandinka empire
The war with the French lasted 16 years from 1882-98.
Samori’s army became war weary and French were determined to
pursue victory and they finally defeated Samori
Reasons for the demise of Mandinka
empire.
Self inflicted.
Defeated was caused by the French.
Defeat was caused by other African groups.
Defeat was caused by northern part of this kingdom.
Savanna grasslands type of terrain was not conducive for guerilla
warfare.
The French and the British caused his
demise.
The British invaded and occupied Asante kingdom and Asantehene
Prempeh could not assist Samori.
The British after occupying Asante,it was now difficult for Samori to
retreat further as he was sandwiched by two European powers one in
the north and one in the south namely the French and the British.
The British sponsored Sikasso fight and weaken Samori
The French incited an already disgruntled northern part of Mandinka to
revolt against Samori- the great revolt of 1888.
Other African /local states caused his
demise
Ahmadu of tokolor refused to assist samori fight the French accusing him of
being also an imoeraialist
Kong leader refused to assit samori toure say samori belonged to tijjannyoyya
brotherhood and they were quadriyya brotherhood
Asante was invaded by the british and asantehen prmpheh of asante could not
assst samori
Sikkasoo was given military assisted by the French to fight samori during the
long siege
Locals in his state caused his demise
Great revolt staged by northern part of his kingdom
Almami Samori’s blunders
1. his long siege around sikasso
2. Forced conversions to islam
3. Forced requisition of food
4. his adoption of scorched earth policy as a fighting strategy
5. his shift to new capital Dabakala abandoning Bissandugu which had plenty of
resources
6 . His imperialism policies
7 his diplomacy with the French, Franco Mandinka alliance / Bissandugu treaty
boomerang.
How the French led to his demise
Samori was fighting a strong European power that had a stong army, modern
firearms and well trained army that had supplieds coming from tokolor
The French were determined to pursue victory anf fougt samori for almost 16
years
To weaken sanmori the French ganve military assistance to sikasso diuring the
long siege ans samori wasted his weapons fighting an army backed by the
fresnch
Cont”
Te French also incited alrwady disgruntled northern part of samori kingdom into
a grat revolt. Samori spent energy weapons truying to suppress the great revolt
of 1888
Thefrench invaded and ccupied bissandnguu samori capital forcing samori to
flle and establish a mne w capttal in dabakal
The frenhc pursuedsamori and finally captured him deported him to gabon wre
he is believed too have commited suicide or died of pneumonia
Almami Samori Toure blunders
Samori Toure ceasesless war s costed him. He fogut the frechn, sikasoo, kong
and suppressed great revolt. All these wars drained his military supplies and his
army became war weary
He ceded north of tenkiso and niger river after signing bissandugu treaty
reduing his sphereof influence.
He embarked forced conversions. He forced traditionalists to turn to islam and
the traditionalistsbroke into great revolt of 1888
Cont’
Samori Toure adopted scorched eath policy which boomerang. He burn
everything sothat the French did nt enherit a single grain. Thies had devastating
effects on mandnka as both the soldiers and civililians were starving starving
masses deserted him and joined the French for food
Almami Samori relocation to dakabala had many disatdvntages when samori
retreated to Dabakala he lost almami fields arsenal industries and boure gold
fiels, the place was far awaty fromm sierra leone source of guns.
Cont
samori besiege sikaao under tiebba traoer for a long time . He wasted his
horses and guns the frence sponsored“sikasso against samor
Samori divded his army into 3 groups 10000 facing the mighty French army
10000 evacuating reluctant people and 100000 invading next area to be
congquere. The numbers dispatched agaist thefrench was too small taking it
that he wsa figting a strong European poeewer
conclusion
In conclusion the demise of mandinka empire was a s a result of European
imperialism. Samori was figting a strong European power determined to pursue
him for almost 16years. His army became war weary as aresult of ceasless
wars and later became demotivated cbeacuse of lack of motivation when he
migrated to dabakla. Samori fighting starategies were poor and he was denied
locl support.his diplaomacy aws a deservces and the sanna grasslands was not
codusive for guerilla warfare
Practise qusetios
1. explain factors that led o thedemise of mandinka state
2. “ the French imperialism was responsible for the demise of mandinka empire.
how accurate is this claim
3. self inflicte. Is it true that de demise of mandinksa empire was swelf inflicted
4. lack ofunify by Africans was te major cause for the demise of mandinka
empire
Policies adopted by samori played a majr role in the demise of this state . How
accurate is this claim.
