Accounts on Medieval Africa: Analyzing the Writings of Ibn Battuta, Leo Africanus, and Al Bakri - PART ONE

Clarification for listeners : In this episode, I use the terms “king,” “ruler,” and “emperor” interchangeably, but this isn’t entirely accurate when discussing the empire of Mali. The correct term is “emperor” or “Mansa”, because it reflects the scale and complexity of the empire’s governance and influence at the time. I apologize if this caused any confusion—it’s important to understand the distinction to fully grasp the historical context.

Regarding the deceased Moroccan ruler mentioned, he was a sultan, which is the specific term used for rulers in Islamic polities like Morocco during Ibn Battuta’s time. While the term “sultan” can loosely translate to “king” in English, he was not considered an emperor.

In this episode, I explore the writings of Ibn Battuta, focusing on his accounts of medieval Africa. Through detailed research and analysis, I examine what his observations reveal about the societies he encountered and the biases in his perspective. I also share my own interpretations and how his descriptions shaped historical narratives about the continent. This is part one of a deeper look into medieval African histor

Relevant links : 

https://resources.saylor.org/wwwresources/archived/site/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Ibn-Battuta-Travels-in-Asia-and-Africa-1325-1354.pdf

Manden Charter (Kurukan Fuga), an oral declaration of rights and law developed in the thirteenth century.1 “Manden” refers to the region between modern Guinea and Mali, in the northern Niger River basin, and was then part of the Mandingo Empire which was constituted by various Malinke clans and peoples.

Article 16: Women, apart from their everyday occupations, should be associated with all our managements.

https://human.libretexts.org/Courses/The_Westminster_Schools/The_Manden_Charter