(Redirected from Wali Keita)'Mansa Wali Keita' (died c. 1270), also known as Yérélinkon, Ouli and Uli was the second
mansa of the
Mali Empire, following the death of his father, the legendary
Sundiata Keita (c. 1255). Mansa Wali was the only true blood heir to Sundiata. The later mansas Ouati and Khalifa were the children of Sundjata's generals and were adopted by the emperor to be raised as members of the Keita clan.
According to oral sources Sundjata's brother, Manding Bory (alias Abubakari I), was supposed to ascend to the throne since Wali was but a minor at the time of his father's death. Instead, the ambitious prince seized the throne for himself and began a campaign of territorial expansion into West Africa.
Mansa Wali Keita also significantly increased the empire's agricultural production. A
Muslim, he is known to have made the
Hajj during his reign. Unlike his father, Mansa Wali had no blood heirs leaving the throne to be fought over by his adopted brothers. During the ensuing power struggle,
Ouati Keita seized the throne sidelining Manding Bory again.
Sources
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Research on the Mali Empire in the Golden Age
External links
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PDF: Guide to ''Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali'' from the Boston University's African Studies Center
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Early Malian biographies