Session 6:
5.1.3 THE ORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
The emperor was the central authority in Ghana Empire, He was the senior
religious leader and could appeal to a vital combination of both the religious and the
political loyalties of his people. This status, gave him the possibility to master the
pronouncements of the various· religious cults which played a very important role in
determining the way of life of the Soninke people. He maintained law and order and
assured the security of all, both natives and foreigners.
Ghana Empire had been so powerful and prosperous. It reached the height of
its efficiency in the tenth and eleventh centuries. The emperor was assisted by a
cabinet composed of ministers and civil servants who commanded various aspects of
State affairs. Assisted in the running of the State by efficient administrators, mostly
composed of Muslim scholars chosen for their literacy in Arabic, and holding wide
knowledge of the world, the Visier, or Prime Minister, the court Interpreter and the State
Treasurer were Muslims. The emperor made frequent tours in the city to .receive the
petitions of his subjects, the empire being so vast, was divided into provinces which were
under the control of local governors. Soninke areas were ruled by local
governors. To make the local governors remain submissive and loyal to the emperor,
their sons were kept at the emperor's court in Kumbi Saleh.
There was hierarchy in the· system of government in· Ghana Empire. The emperor was
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the central governor, that is, the ruler of the whole empire. Under him, there were
provincial governors· and vassal kings; below were the district chiefs, All enjoyed some
degree of local autonomy in their various areas. However, all the rulers of the provinces paid
annual tributes to the emperor and contributed their .quota warriors to the army when
required to do so.
Al .Ghaba was the royal town where some houses were built of stone and thatched with
straw. For the royal palace, it was built of stone · and adorned with sculptures, painting and
glass windows. A wall was built around it. Administration of justice in Ghana was taken
.• • -~ ... · • . . . . . ·) >.)' • .
seriously. In the capital, the ruler went round the city each day on his horse to invite .all
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those who had any case to settle. The king was aided in his task bycouncillors, Al-Bakri stated
that administration of justice was based on “trial by fetish”, that is, an accused person is given some
special potion to drink and unless he vomit it, he was declared guilty. In the provinces, a chief
judicial officer was attached to each governor to assist him in- settling disputes. At the district
and village level, it is the local chief who. tried cases. Justice was so well established that people
could appeal to the provincial governor or vassal kings, the emperor himself; being the last.
resort. In the empire, two· systems of law were applied according to the individual's religion.
Soninke customary law was applied to Pagans whereas Musilm law was used for
Muslims.
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Ghana's government understood very early that, for the empire to stand and prosper, it needed a strong and efficient
army for the maintenance of peace and suppression of revolts. It was also needed to control immigration, defend the
frontiers and acquire new territories by conquest. Al-Bakri reported that the emperor could gather 200,000 warriors
and more than 40,000 archers within a short time when required. The emperor possessed a bodyguard of about
1000 trained soldiers well-equipped with spears, knives, bows and arrows. There were also a cavalry which Ghana
could establish thanks to its trade with: North Africa, In the tenth century, taxes were collected on goods leaving r entering
the empire. There were commodities such as gold, copper, salt, etc.
5.2 Factors which made Ghana rise to Empire
Three main factors determine the growth of Ghana Empire.
5.2.1 Geographical Factors:
· Geographically, Ghana Empire is blessed with its natural location. The land was composed of
grasslands and watered by the Niger and Senegal. It thus includes a very rich agricultural land which
was used to rear cattle, sheep and goat. Food crops were produced in adequate quantities thanks to the
fertile land. Moreover, Ghana benefited greatly from the North and South, giving it a middleman
position in the control of the Trans-Saharan Trade. The great wealth that had been derived from this
trade made Ghana become very strong and prosperous.
.
. 5.2.2 Economic
. Factors:.
Ghana gained a lot. from the Trans-Saharan trade for it had an effective control of the trade where it exported to
North Africa, gold obtained from Wangara, leather, gum, cotton, kola-nuts, ivory, honey and slaves. It imported
from North Africa salt, horses, copper, brocade and dried fruit. Much wealth was obtained from the Trans-Saharan
trade to help to establish an efficient administration and a great army which conquered other territories to enlarge
the empire. As recorded down, goods leaving. or entering the empire were a great source of revenue for the
empire, for taxes were levied on them.
Apart from the trade (Trans-Saharan), wealth was also derived from agriculture which made the people become self-
sufficient in food.
· 5.2.3 Political Factors.
Ghana matrilineal system of kinship protected the royal . inheritance for it is a system which ensured that no
succession disputes arises.
There was also the desire to achieve a wider and more effective control of the Trans-Saharan trade by controlling its
routes. Ghana's system of administration ensured peace, law, order and justice. Thus, traders as well as any other
.individual moved about safely. The empire was militarily the .strongest and most effective in the area. It possessed
iron, weapons, which other people of the Sudanese zone did not have. ·
The empire therefore remained stable and secured for many centuries. :
The introduction of Islamic scholars in the administration of government enabled the government to
introduce Islamic laws and principles to improve the government. Finally, the rulers of Ghana empire
proved themselves capable rulers. They worked hard and efficiently for the welfare of the whole empire.
However, as nothing lasts forever, the empire went through a series of problems that ruined its power.
· ·
5.3 Decline and Fall of the Ghana Empire:
In the eleventh century, Ghana was at the peak of its wealth and power. But the empire began to decline due to internal
and external factors. The decline became visible in 1054 when the Berbers made constant attacks on Audoghast
which was transformed into their base from which religious fanatics, the Almoravids frequently attacked Ghana and
captured Kumbi Saleh in 1076. That was the beginning of the end of a once great and prosperous Negro empire.
Many vassal States revolted and became self-sufficient. Trade, agriculture, industry and art were affected, as
well as the size and strength of the army, Ghana became weak.
Finally Ghana collapsed as a result of two other invasions, the first one by Sumanguru and the second by Sundiata.
Sumanguru captured and destroyed Kumbi Saleh in 1203. He was the Susu king of'Kaniaga, who after the capture of
Ghana reduced the Soninke to submission. This made the Muslim merchants .and scholars ofKumbi Saleh flee to
Walata and other areas in the Sudan. In 1235 Sumanguru’s tyrannical rule was in tum brought to an end, defeated by
Sundiata, the ruler of Kangaba, a formal vassal state of Ghana. Ghana finally became the empire of Mali.
5.4 Consequences of the Fall of the Ghana Empire:
Ghana Empire lasted for nearly ten centuries (AD 300-1235). This empire which was the first· Negro Empire of
Western Sudan collapsed in the thirteenth century and left important effects on Western Sudanese history. .
During Ghana's existence, the rulers provided ruling machinery that allowed unity among the Soninke and many other
non-Soninke peoples.. It was a guarantee for peace and prosperity, law and order. Unfortunately, the empire weakened
and disintegrated into several small states which waged wars one against another. Though Ghana had been seriously
affected and devastated, it was fortunately filled by Mali Empire which inherited many of Ghana's achievements.
After the fall of Ghana and the dispersion of Muslim merchants of Kumbi Saleh, the Trans-Saharan trade was disrupted.
However, new commercial centers arose in Mali Empire where Timbuku was the most important entrepôt.
Many people, the Soninke and others were converted to Islam. The dispersal of Muslim merchants of Kumbi
Saleh to other centres led to the spread of Islam in Western Sudan. Some historians said that the Soninke
people, fleeing from the Almoravids and moving southwards and westwards are eventually some of those
who may have reached the middleVolta as co-founders of the Akan peoples of Ghana.
5.41. The Almoravids and the Fall of Ghana
The Almoravids were the main source of external factors that led to the fall of Ghana Empire.
5.4.2. The Origins of the Almoravids
“Almoravid" is a word derived from the Arabic "Al-Murabitin". It means ''people of the monastery. It is used to
describe a fanatical sect of Muslims which emerged in North West Sudan the eleventh century. This group was
led by a learned Muslim preacher: called Abdullah Ibn Yasin. This man, after his pilgrimage to Mecca started ·to
preach about-the [Link] pure Islam to the Sanhaja Berbers of the South-western Sahara. At the beginning
he was denied by the people. So he fled to an island at the mouth of the Senegal River. Later, he was joined by a
group of fanatical disciples.
In 1042, Ibn Yasin and his followers, wishing to bring heretical Muslim Berbers back to true Islam and
convert the Pagan peoples of the Western Sudan launched a military religious movement, or jihad,
whose initial aim was to conquer them. Some of the Almoravids moved South to the Ghana Empire and
recaptured Audoghast, the great Berber trading center in 1054. In 1076, they captured Kumbi Saleh under
the command of Abu Bekr. Ghana recovered after Abu Bekr's death in 1087.
5.4.3 Reasons for the Capture of Ghana
Three important motives led the Almoravids to conquer Ghana Empire: (Religion, commerce and Politics).
- Religious motives
TheAlmoravid movement was essentially based on the purification and spread of Islam by a holy war, or jihad.
The Almoravid thought that Ghana was a Pagan empire and its kings resisted the conversion of Islam while
tolerating Muslims living or trading in the empire. So they had to convert the Ghana emperor and the inhabitants
by force.
[Link] Commercial Reasons
The Almoravids were jealous of Ghana's achievements and wealth, and therefore wanted to have a share of Ghana's
wealth.
They also wanted to regain control of the Southern Trans-Saharan trade route which they lost when Ghana captured
Audoghast in AD 990, Audoghast being the main caravan centre.
[Link]- Political Reasons
The Almoravids wanted to put an end to Ghana's Northern expansion, which according to the
Muslims was a serious threat to their political freedom.
5.5- Effects of the Conquest
The conquest of Ghana had many serious consequences on both the people and the land. There are
political and economic effects.
5.5.1 Political Effects
During and after the conquest of Ghana, there was disintegration of the empire. Ghana's invasion
became an occasion for many vassal States to regain their independence. It is in this respect that States
like Anbara, Silla and Tekrur joined hands with the Almoravid army to conquer Ghana.
Due to the many attacks on Ghana, its military power reduced, as it was weakened considerably by
external as well as internal invasions.
5.5.2 Economic Effects
During the moment of wars waged on Ghana, the peoples of Ghana started neglecting the work of art and
agriculture.
The Trans-Saharan trade was blocked by these wars which impoverished the emperor and his subjects who
could no more derive any revenue from this trade because it no longer functioned.
After the capture of Kum bi Saleh in 1076 the Muslim merchants left Ghana's capital Kum bi Saleh and
established at Walata in 1224 to practise their commercial activities in the new commercial center.
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