15th century – 16th century
Gambia, Casamance, Rio Cacheu and Rio Grande region
The westward migration of Malinke traders, peasants, and warriors accompanied the extension of Mali’s authority into the Gambia and regions farther south. Commercial aims included access to maritime salt and gold from the Kabu goldfields, while military leaders helped establish political control. The process contributed to Kabu’s development as a regional imperial subsystem of Mali.
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The Story
Mali’s western authority developed alongside a westward movement of Malinke communities. Traders, peasants, and warriors moved toward the Gambia and the territories connected by the Casamance, Rio Cacheu, and Rio Grande waterways. Their movement brought the political influence of Mali into a region where Portuguese navigators later encountered representatives of imperial authority.
Economic motives formed part of this movement. Traders went to the Gambia in search of maritime salt and to the Kabu goldfields in search of gold. These commercial links helped connect the southern bank of the Gambia with the wider political system of Mali and with the vassal kingdoms that extended toward Rio Grande.
Military leadership gave the migration a state-building dimension. Warriors were said to have followed Tiramakhan Traore, who had defeated the king of Djolof and then joined earlier Malinke migrants in conquering territory south of the Gambia. The resulting political formation became known in traditional accounts as Kabu, and later chiefly houses traced their origins to this process.
15th century – 16th century
Gambia, Casamance, Rio Cacheu and Rio Grande region
The westward migration of Malinke traders, peasants, and warriors accompanied the extension of Mali’s authority into the Gambia and regions farther south. Commercial aims included access to maritime salt and gold from the Kabu goldfields, while military leaders helped establish political control. The process contributed to Kabu’s development as a regional imperial subsystem of Mali.
Continue exploring
The Story
Mali’s western authority developed alongside a westward movement of Malinke communities. Traders, peasants, and warriors moved toward the Gambia and the territories connected by the Casamance, Rio Cacheu, and Rio Grande waterways. Their movement brought the political influence of Mali into a region where Portuguese navigators later encountered representatives of imperial authority.
Economic motives formed part of this movement. Traders went to the Gambia in search of maritime salt and to the Kabu goldfields in search of gold. These commercial links helped connect the southern bank of the Gambia with the wider political system of Mali and with the vassal kingdoms that extended toward Rio Grande.
Military leadership gave the migration a state-building dimension. Warriors were said to have followed Tiramakhan Traore, who had defeated the king of Djolof and then joined earlier Malinke migrants in conquering territory south of the Gambia. The resulting political formation became known in traditional accounts as Kabu, and later chiefly houses traced their origins to this process.
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