7th century – 11th century
Gao, Niger bend, Western Sudan
Gao was an early Sudanic kingdom and trading centre that maintained commercial and political relations with the Ibāḍite state of Tahert in the eighth century. By the eleventh century, its rulers were Muslim and Islamic royal emblems were associated with kingship, although popular religious practices and pre-Islamic customs persisted. The city was divided by the Niger into merchants’ and royal towns.
Continue exploring
The Story
Muslim traders from the Maghrib frequented Sahelian trading centres from the eighth century, and these centres also served as capitals of early kingdoms. Gao, identified as Kaw-kaw, had commercial and political relations with the Ibāḍite state of Tahert during the eighth century. By the tenth century, the Niger divided Gao into two towns: the merchants’ town on the eastern bank and the king’s town on the western bank.
The royal institution displayed clear Islamic features by the eleventh century. Al-Bakrī wrote in 1067–8 that the king was Muslim and that Muslims alone could receive the kingship. A new ruler was presented with a signet ring, a sword, and a copy of the Koran, objects said to have been sent by the caliph. Royal tombs at Gao further indicate that the kings were Muslim by the end of the eleventh century.
Islamization at Gao was nevertheless partial. The common people continued to worship idols, and pre-Islamic court customs survived, including the beating of a drum when the king sat down to eat and a restriction on movement until the royal meal was finished. Gao therefore combined Muslim kingship and Islamic royal symbolism with older religious practices and ceremonial traditions.
7th century – 11th century
Gao, Niger bend, Western Sudan
Gao was an early Sudanic kingdom and trading centre that maintained commercial and political relations with the Ibāḍite state of Tahert in the eighth century. By the eleventh century, its rulers were Muslim and Islamic royal emblems were associated with kingship, although popular religious practices and pre-Islamic customs persisted. The city was divided by the Niger into merchants’ and royal towns.
Continue exploring
The Story
Muslim traders from the Maghrib frequented Sahelian trading centres from the eighth century, and these centres also served as capitals of early kingdoms. Gao, identified as Kaw-kaw, had commercial and political relations with the Ibāḍite state of Tahert during the eighth century. By the tenth century, the Niger divided Gao into two towns: the merchants’ town on the eastern bank and the king’s town on the western bank.
The royal institution displayed clear Islamic features by the eleventh century. Al-Bakrī wrote in 1067–8 that the king was Muslim and that Muslims alone could receive the kingship. A new ruler was presented with a signet ring, a sword, and a copy of the Koran, objects said to have been sent by the caliph. Royal tombs at Gao further indicate that the kings were Muslim by the end of the eleventh century.
Islamization at Gao was nevertheless partial. The common people continued to worship idols, and pre-Islamic court customs survived, including the beating of a drum when the king sat down to eat and a restriction on movement until the royal meal was finished. Gao therefore combined Muslim kingship and Islamic royal symbolism with older religious practices and ceremonial traditions.