Keita Dynasty

The Keita Dynasty was the ruling lineage of pre-imperial and imperial Mali from at least the 12th century into the early 17th century. It was at least technically a muslim dynasty and claims descent from Bilal the muezzin of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. According to Mandinka traditionalist accounts passed down by djelis (oral chroniclers), Bilal had seven sons of which one settled in Manden. This son, Lawalo, had a son named Latal Kalabi whom later sired Damul Kalabi. Damul Kalabi's son was Lahilatoul and the first faama (king) of Niani. It is through Lahilatoul that the Keita clan becomes a ruling dynasty though only over the small area around Niani. There would be nine faamas of Niani prior to the founding of the great Mali Empire. Its first mansa (emperor) would be the famous Sundiata Keita. The dynasty remained a major power in West Africa from 1235 until the break up of the Mali Empire around 1610. Rivals from within the dynasty founded smaller kingdoms within Mali and Guinea with modern descendants including the musician Salif Keita.

List of Claimed Genealogy

*Bilal ibn Ribah
*Lawalo
*Latal Kalabi
*Damul Kalabi

List of faamas at Niani

*Lahilatoul Kalabi
*Kalabi Bomba
*Mamadi Kani
*Bamari Tagnogokelin
*M’Bali Nene
*Bello
*Bello Bakon
*Maghan Kon Fatta (1200s-1218)
*Dankaran Touman (1218)"Niani conquered by the Susu under King Soumaoro Kante"

List of Imperial Mansas at Niani

*Mari Djata I (1235–1255)
*Uli I (1255–1270)
*Wati (1270–1274)
*Khalifa (1274–1275)
*Abubakari I (1275–1285)
*Sakoura (1285–1300)
*Gao (1300–1305)
*Mohammed ibn Gao (1305–1310)
*Abubakari II (1310–1312)
*Musa I (1312–1337)
*Maghan I (1337–1341)
*Souleyman (1341–1360)
*Camba (1360)
*Mari Djata II (1360–1374)
*Musa II (1374–1387)
*Maghan II (1387–1389)
*Sandaki (1389–1390)
*Maghan III (1390–1404)
*Musa III (c.1440)
*Uli II (c.1460)
*Mahmud II (1481–1496)
*Mahmud III (1496–1559)"Capital moved from Niani to Kangaba after Songhai Empire's withdrawal"

List of Imperial Mansas at Kangaba

*Mahmud III (1559- c. 1560)
* Unknown Mansa or Vacancy (c. 1560 - c. 1590)
*Mahmud IV (c.1590 - c. 1610)"Empire collapses after death of Mahmud IV"

List of Post-Imperial Mansas of Kangaba

*Unknown number of Mansas (c. 1610 - c. 1660)
*Mama Maghan (c.1660 - c. 1670)

ee also

*Mali Empire
*Faama
*Mansa
*Salif Keita

References

ources

*cite book |author=Cooley, William Desborough |title=The Negroland of the Arabs Examined and Explained |publisher=Routledge |location=London |year=1966 |pages=143 Pages |isbn=0-71461-799-7