Bitòn Coulibaly
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Bitòn Coulibaly (also Mamary Coulibaly, 1689?–1755) founded the Bambara Empire in what is now Mali's Ségou Region and Mopti Region.
Great-grandson of former Ségou king Kaladian Coulibaly, Mamary Coulibaly settled in Ségou in his youth and soon became head of the Tòn, a voluntary organization for young men, taking the title of "Bitòn." Under Coulibaly's leadership, the Tòn transformed from an egalitarian society into an army of "Tondions." Coulibaly quickly subdued rival chiefs of Ségou and used the city as a capital for his new Bambara Empire.
Fortifying himself with defensive techniques from the Songhai tradition, Coulibaly created a thousand-man army and a navy of war canoes to patrol the Niger River, staffing both with men already captured in his conquests. Coulibaly then proceeded to launch successful assaults against his neighbors, the Fulani, the Soninke, and the Mossi; he also attacked Tomboctou, though he held the city only briefly. During this time he also founded the city of Bla as an outpost and armory.
Coulibaly's new empire thrived on trade, particularly that of slaves captured in its many wars and resold to traders to the south and west; the demand for slaves then fueled the empire on to further wars.
Bitòn Coulibaly was succeeded by Dinkoro Coulibaly following his death in 1755. However, the Coulibalys failed to keep control of the empire, and it fell into anarchy until Ngolo Diarra seized the throne in 1766.
[edit] References
- Davidson, Basil. Africa in History. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.
