Battle of Kirina
Near Koulikoro, Mali
What happened
The Mandinka prince Sundiata Keita led an alliance of peoples against Sumanguru Kanté, king of the Sosso. The Sosso kingdom had seized the old capital of the Ghana Empire and conquered many peoples, including the Mandinka. Sundiata Keita gathered an alliance and met Sumanguru's army near Kirina. According to the Epic of Sundiata, Sumanguru was a sorcerer-king who could only be harmed by a rooster's spur, and Sundiata wounded him with an arrow tipped with one, forcing him to flee.
Why it matters
Why it matters: The battle is often seen as the beginning of the Mali Empire, which went on to control much of West Africa for two centuries. Its story is told in the Epic of Sundiata, Mali's national epic.
What came next
Sundiata's forces went on to destroy the Sosso capital. According to tradition, a charter called the Kouroukan Fouga was then proclaimed as the Mali Empire's constitution.
Did you know?
The Manden Charter, believed to have been proclaimed after the battle, is on UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Timeline
- Early 1200sThe Sosso kingdom conquers the Mandinka.
- c. 1235Sundiata Keita defeats Sumanguru at Kirina.
- After 1235The Kouroukan Fouga charter is proclaimed, according to tradition.
- 2009UNESCO lists the Manden Charter as Intangible Cultural Heritage.