The Mossi Kingdoms of West Africa

THE MOSSI KINGDOMS

The Mossi Kingdoms (c.1050-1896) were four major states which for many years dominated the upper Volta region of West Africa. They are famous for fighting the great Mali and Songhai Empires.

ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT

According to tradition, the founders of the Mossi were from modern-day northern Ghana. Apparently, a princess called Yennenga was prevented by her father from marrying, but in defiance she married secretly. Her son, Wedraogo/Ouédraogo, made a success of himself in war. He is considered the founder of the Kingdoms, which are in modern-day Burkina Faso. Therefore, if the story is true, the Mossi Kingdoms were founded by immigrants, and the person who started it all was a woman.

There were four main Kingdoms: Ouagadougou, Tenkodogo, Fada N’gourma, and Zondoma (later replaced by Yatenga). They were independent and competed with each other. Ouagadougou and Yatenga had an especially fierce rivalry. Despite their competition, there were many similarities between the four Kingdoms. All of them had similar political structures: a powerful central government with a king at the top, followed by ministers and officials to help him. They also took similar approaches to Islam, as we will see later. As well as the main four Kingdoms, there were nineteen small ones which were allied to one of the big four.

KINGDOMS AND EMPIRES

The Mossi Kingdoms rose at the same time as the West African Mali and Songhai empires were reaching the peak of their powers. This led to conflict between these empires and the Kingdoms. The Mali and Songhai Empires were extremely rich and powerful, and according to some sources the Malians were so advanced that in the fourteenth century they were able to send a fleet to the Americas. One of their kings, Mansa Musa, was perhaps the richest person in history.

But despite this, for a long time the Mossi were quite successful against them: Yatenga even managed to capture Timbuktu. Their military strength depended on cavalry, which could raid deep into enemy territory. Eventually, however, they were defeated by the Songhai. But, when in 1591 the Songhai themselves were conquered by Moroccan invaders, the Mossi became independent again.

RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY

As we have just seen, the Mossi grew up with and fought the great Islamic empires of West Africa, Mali and Songhai. In many African states, Islam had a lot of influence but also had to live alongside traditional religions. This was also the case in the Mossi Kingdoms, except that here traditional religion remained especially strong. They were independent from the Islamic empires, and so were able to maintain religious diversity. Lots of Muslims assembled in the Kingdoms, and in Ouagadougou the king had an imam who read the Qu’ran to him. But traditional religion, based around the worship of ancestors, remained strong too.

WHY ARE THE MOSSI INTERESTING?

All four of the Mossi Kingdoms were very small in comparison to the Mali and Songhai empires which they fought against. Their ability to survive right up until 1896 is both surprising and impressive. Furthermore, the result of continuing Mossi independence was a fascinating blend of Islamic and traditional religious elements. This is what makes studying the Mossi exciting.

OLIVER HIRSCH

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