Jusqu’à XVIᵉ siècle
Jenne and the western Sudan
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Ta'rīkh al-Fattāsh is an Arabic historical chronicle associated with three generations of the Kati family of Jenne. It records the history of Songhay and neighboring countries up to the Moroccan conquest of 1591, and is presented as one of the earliest extant examples of African-authored historical writing from south of the Sahara.
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Le récit
Ta'rīkh al-Fattāsh belongs to the earliest surviving tradition of historical writing produced by Africans south of the Sahara. Written in Arabic, it emerged within the Sudanic belt, where Arabic served as a medium of communication among educated communities under prolonged Islamic influence.
The chronicle is attributed to three generations of the Kati family of Jenne. Its subject is the history of Songhay and adjacent countries, and its chronological coverage reaches the Moroccan conquest of 1591. This makes it a central written witness for the political history of the western Sudan during the period described.
The work is paired in the extract with the more extensive Ta'rīkh al-Sūdān. Together, these chronicles are valued because they preserve an African-authored perspective on events, while requiring careful interpretation because their authors were biased in favor of Islam and viewed history from that standpoint.
Jusqu’à XVIᵉ siècle
Jenne and the western Sudan
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Ta'rīkh al-Fattāsh is an Arabic historical chronicle associated with three generations of the Kati family of Jenne. It records the history of Songhay and neighboring countries up to the Moroccan conquest of 1591, and is presented as one of the earliest extant examples of African-authored historical writing from south of the Sahara.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Ta'rīkh al-Fattāsh belongs to the earliest surviving tradition of historical writing produced by Africans south of the Sahara. Written in Arabic, it emerged within the Sudanic belt, where Arabic served as a medium of communication among educated communities under prolonged Islamic influence.
The chronicle is attributed to three generations of the Kati family of Jenne. Its subject is the history of Songhay and adjacent countries, and its chronological coverage reaches the Moroccan conquest of 1591. This makes it a central written witness for the political history of the western Sudan during the period described.
The work is paired in the extract with the more extensive Ta'rīkh al-Sūdān. Together, these chronicles are valued because they preserve an African-authored perspective on events, while requiring careful interpretation because their authors were biased in favor of Islam and viewed history from that standpoint.