Origin of Ghana

Ghana was the earliest empire in Western Sudan and the first beneficiary of Trans- Saharan trade. The origins of Ghana are rather uncertain. The available source of information is mainly archaeological, written and oral. Best known literature on Ghana includes, the works of the early Arab Scholars or travelers for example ibn Batuta and Al-Maghil.

 

 

Ghana is believed to have been founded between the 3rd and 4th century and lasted till mid 13th century. Opportunities provided by the Trans Saharan trade called for unity and single leadership. This role was championed by the Soninke people, a Mande, speaking group.

According to the "Tarish al Sudan", Ghana had 22 kings before and 22 after the Muslin era. Kaya Magha a Soninke king founded it. Initially the kingdom was known as Wagadu but later it was changed to Ghana. The Arabs called it so meaning war leader. This was the title used for the kings of Wagadu. Ghana empire was located in the Savannah belt in the head waters of River Niger and Senegal. The empire had its capital at Kumbi Saleh.

By the 10th and 11th century, the empire of Ghana had reached its highest peak of glory and power. By this period it stretched from Timbuktu on the Niger to central Senegal then to the north into the Sahara and to the south up to Balile river.

The first inhabitants of Ghana were known as the Soninke. These were related to the Mandinka gold traders. In fact, the Soninke had good trading relations with the Berbers of North Africa thus exposing them to the Trans- Saharan trade.

Reasons for the Rise and Growth of Ghana

Participation in the Trans-Saharan trade led to the growth of Ghana empire. Ghana's rise was attributed to its role in the Trans-Saharan trade especially in the gold and salt trade. In fact Ghana occupied a strategic commercial position which was an advantage to it in the Trans-Saharan trade.

Ghana played the role of middleman ship in the trade and this contributed to its development. It was located across the southern terminals of the Sahara which made her to monopolize and play the middleman ship role in the Trans-Saharan trade. In fact, Ghana actively participated in the gold and salt trade between the Wangara and North Africa.

Wealth from the Trans-Saharan trade also contributed to the growth of Ghana. The Soninke provided goods to the Berbers from the north and taxed them to and from the north, it is the wealth from the taxes that enabled the building up and management of the empire.

The kings controlled the trade which contributed to the growth of Ghana. The king of Ghana empowered to control the gold trade in particular. This gave him political powers and he was able to reward his officials from the taxes levied on the traders passing through his kingdom. Ghana received tributes from the- vassal and conquered states.

The geographical location of Ghana also contributed to her growth. The kingdom was located in the savanna belt that was suitable for settlement and agriculture compared to the forest zone. This enabled to provide food to the expanding population and army. Actually this attracted a big population which was essential in the formation of a large standing army.

A strong military force contributed to the growth of Ghana. Ghana's desire for security and control of the trade led to the formation of a strong government and standing army. For example in 1067 AD during the reign of Tunka Manna, Ghana had a standing army of about 200,000 men. This enabled her to rule a large area effectively and maintain law and order.

Ghana had able and strong leaders which also contributed to her growth. The kingdom was blessed with good and war like leaders who had the ability to expand the empire and to put it under effective control. In fact this accounts for Ghana's rise and expansion.

Ghana's tolerance: Ghana conquered neighbouring states and allowed these states to rule themselves. However these vassal or conquered states had to pay tribute to the king of Ghana. They also sent their sons to the king's palace where they were kept as pages and acted as sureties. This enforced unity and allegiance to the kingdom of Ghana.

The system of administration or government: The kings were assisted by a royal council of chiefs. This mostly comprised of elders. The empire also had an effective judges system headed by the king, no citizen suffered injustice in the empire.

The King was semi-divine: The Kings of Ghana were considered to be semi-divine by the subjects and were worshipped by many. This helped the rise of the empire by maintaining unity and reducing cases of rebellions in the kingdom.

Availability of iron: The Soninke people were among the first people in Western Sudan to use iron weapons which gave her advantages over her neighbours. The army of Ghana was equipped with iron pointed spears, arrows and swords that strengthened their military mighty. These even became effective when they used horses when fighting their neighbours.

The succession system: The system used in succession was matrilineal. This reduced succession wars of disputes for the control of the throne or central government. In fact for centuries, the kingdom of Ghana survived on this system of succession.

Political organisation of Ghana

The first feaqture of political of organization of Ghana is that it had a centralised system of government. The King was assisted by a cabinet of ministers, chiefs, judges, a state treasurer and civil servants who were Moslems and others pegans.

Secondly, a king was assisted by the council of elders who were known as the Royal council chiefs, these advised the king during the course of his reign.

Thirdly, Ghana was divided into two the original Ghana was known as the metropolitan Ghana and the conquered states as provincial Ghana.

Fourthly, Ghana's provinces were divided into regions administered by governors, these were traditional rulers of these conquered areas. These rulers owed loyalty to the kings of Ghana and paid annual taxes to the central government.

Also, for the loyalty of these traditional leaders, the king of Ghana insisted on the son of each vassal king to be sent to the kings' palace.

Each region or province was subdivided into a number of districts with officials responsible to local administration. In fact, the district chiefs had much autonomy.

The succession to the throne was matrilineal. This ensured a peaceful succession to the throne and Ghana did not face problems of succession disputes.

The empire of Ghana was administered from two capital cities which were six miles apart. El Ghaba is where the king and his ministers stayed and Kumbi Saleh had the biggest moslem population which Comprised scholars, builders and well known teachers on Islam.

Ghana had a strong army of about 200,000 men. These were equipped with iron spears, bows and arrows and swords. Therefore the army was comprised of the infantry and cavalry (using horses to fight)

Economic organisation

Ghana had a sound economy; most of its revenue came from the Trans-Saharan trade.

The Soninke people played the role of middlemen in the Trans-Saharan trade. In fact, the king of Ghana imposed taxes on the gold and salt trade in the kingdom.

The Ghana people were also agriculturists. The kingdom was located in a fertile savanna area where was possible to carry out agricultural activities.

The Soninke grew maize and millet, which was used to feed the population. The surplus was exported.

Another source of wealth was iron working, weaving of cloth and ivory and kola nuts were exported to North Africa.

Besides the above, Ghana received tributes from vassal or conquered states such as Diara, Susu, Kaniaga and Silla. This increased the kingdoms' revenue and economic strength.

Social organisation

Ghana maintained good relations with the Sahara traders and she made sure that, justice was done. The king was the semi divine and religious head of the kingdom.

Many people of Ghana worshipped different gods however in spite of their attachments to their traditional religion, the king of Ghana allowed complete freedom of worship. He encouraged people to become Muslims and also supported the construction of mosques in Kumbi Saleh.

The system of inheritance to the throne was matrilineal (the empire was inherited by the son of the kings' sister)

Thus with an effective civil service, a strong king, an army, an affective means of administering justice and a regular source of income, the empire of Ghana, reached its highest peak of glory.

The decline of Ghana empire

The empire of Ghana begun to decline in the 11th century and in the 13th century, it had collapsed. In fact by 1240 AD it was no more.

Internal weakness: This contributed to its decline since it had become too large to be effectively administered. The situation worsened when the methods of communication were not effective as a result of long distance from the centre of administration.

Different languages, cultures and customs: Ghana was disadvantaged that it was composed of different people. In fact the empire never possessed political, linguistic and cultural unity. Therefore the kings that followed failed to join the conquered people into a true nation state.

Desire for conquered states to regain independence: These provincial states which were conquered were left under their own traditional rulers. And they were only expected to pay annual tributes.

The Almoravids attack: In the middle of the 11th century, Ghana was attacked by the Almoravids who had a great contribution to its decline. These spread Islam through the rulers of Ghana who followed traditional religion.

Similarly the Almoravids disrupted trade. They gained control of the trade routes which Ghana had captured from the Berber trading city of Awdaghost. For 30 years, there was fierce fighting between the two which destroyed Ghana's economic potential (Ghana'-s trade routes were captured and trade disrupted).

The weakness or decline of the army: The continuous wars with the vassal states and the Almoravids weakened Ghana's army. Therefore the vassal states like Silla, Takrur, Kaniaga and Diara rebelled and regained their independence. This meant also that Ghana lost its source of revenue through tributes.

Decline of agriculture: The continuous wars led to famine and starvation since the fertile tends were neglected. The population of Ghana had no food, there was discontent.

Forced conversion to Islam: There were continuous conflicts between Muslims and non-Muslims in the empire. The Moslem officials and converts joined against the non-moslem Ghana kings and their ministers. This too weakened the central government thus the collapse of Ghana.

External enemies: Ghana had many enemies like the Tuaregs, the Soso and the Mandinka who all united and rebelled against the Soninke people.