Simba I of Mali (Merveilles des Morte)

Simba I Keita
Mansa of Mali
Mural of Simba depicting the Sefawa War
Mansa of Mali
Reign	1386-1391
Predecessor	Mustafa
Successor	Musa II
Queen	Aresh Djata
Issue
Zahra Ayyob (illegitimate)
House	Keita Dynasty
Father	Mustafa
Mother	Maryam Al-Segu
Born	1342 Niani
Died	1399 Niani
Religion	Yunni Islam

Mansa Simba I (1342-1399) was the fifteenth Mansa, or Emperor, of the Mali Empire, the dominent political force in the Sahel region of West Africa, which he ruled from 1386 to his death. During the early years of his reign, Simba was responsible for the transformation of Mali's political structure from a monolithic Mande domination to a dumvirate between the dual empires of Mali and Bornu. Much of his early life was spent studying and traveling in Europe, where he recieved education from various cities and governments across Italy, Greece, France and Franconia. During his time as Emperor, Simba used his western knowledge to instigate the gradual transformation of Mali into a more modern state. 

The previous system of Mali's government, established under the empire of Mansa Musa, effectively collapsed due to the power struggle known as the Keita-Sefawa War. The Empire had effectively split over a multitude of issues, ranging from political, religious and ethnic in origin. Simba struggled for control in opposition to his uncle, Mansa Dawud I of Bornu, and eventually reached the peaceful settlement known as the Treaty of Kano in 1391. The terms of the Treaty of Kano succeeded at evenly dividing the power of Mali between the two states, effectively creating a government of dual monarchs.

Legacy