11th–17th century Muslim dynasty in northwestern Africa
The Keita dynasty ruled pre-imperial and imperial Mali from the 11th century into the early 17th century.[1] It was a Muslim dynasty, and its rulers claimed descent from Bilal Keita (also known as Bilal ibn Ribah), despite Bilal having been of Abyssinian origin.[citation needed]
Bilal Keita was a freed slave who accepted Islam and became one of the Sahabahs of Muhammad. Bilal Keita bears the distinction of being the first muezzin in Islam. According to Mandinka/Bambara accounts invented after their conversion to Islam and passed down by djelis (Muslim chroniclers), Bilal had seven sons, one of whom settled in Manden (Mandinka traditional territory). This son, Lawalo Keita, had a son named Latal Kalabi Keita, who later sired Damul Kalabi Keita. It was common in most royal dynasties to try to link their origins to some divine or religious personalities and was common across cultures and religions. Damul Kalabi Keita's son was Lahilatoul Keita and the first faama of the city of Niani. It is through Lahilatoul that the Keita clan becomes a ruling dynasty, though only over the small area around Niani.
There would be nine faamas of Niani prior to the founding of the Mali Empire. Its first mansa would be Sundiata Keita. This is when Mari Jata is crowned and Keita becomes a clan name. A couple of generations after him, his great-nephew, Mansa Musa Keita I of Mali, made a celebrated pilgrimage to Mecca.[2] The dynasty he belonged to remained a major power in West Africa from 1235 until the breakup of the Mali Empire around 1610. Rivals from within the clan founded smaller kingdoms within contemporary Mali and Guinea. Today, the surname Keita belongs only to one royal family in Africa. Of the members of these modern "daughter dynasties", the late politician Modibo Keita and the musician Salif Keita are arguably the most famous.
^Imperato, Pascal James; Imperato, Gavin H. (2008-04-25). Historical Dictionary of Mali. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6402-3.
^Cooley, William Desborough (1841). The Negroland of the Arabs Examined and Explained: Or, An Inquiry Into the Early History and Geography of Central Africa. London: J. Arrowsmith. pp. 63–64.
The Keitadynasty ruled pre-imperial and imperial Mali from the 11th century into the early 17th century. It was a Muslim dynasty, and its rulers claimed...
which there is accurate written information is Sundiata Keita, a warrior-prince of the Keitadynasty who was called upon to free the local people from the...
Third Dynasty. Egyptologist, Flinders Petrie, believed the dynasty originated from Sudan based on the iconographic evidence whereas S.O.Y. Keita, a biological...
Sundiata Keita (Mandinka, Malinke: [sʊndʒæta keɪta]; c. 1217–c. 1255, N'Ko spelling: ߛߏ߲߬ߖߘߊ߬ ߞߋߕߊ߬; also known as Manding Diara, Lion of Mali, Sogolon...
specifically name) disappeared leading an expedition into the Atlantic Ocean. KeitaDynasty List of people who disappeared mysteriously at sea Levtzion, N. (1963)...
Khaldun in his Kitāb al-ʻIbar. Sakura was not a member of the ruling Keitadynasty, and may have been formerly enslaved. He usurped the throne following...
Predecessor Muhammad Successor Magha Born Late 13th century Mali Empire Died c. 1337 Mali Empire Spouse Inari Kunate House Keitadynasty Religion Islam Maliki...
oral traditions of genealogical recording predominate. Members of the Keitadynasty of Mali, for example, have had their pedigrees sung by griots during...
only four years before being succeeded by his uncle Suleyman in 1341. KeitaDynasty Meaning 'Maghan the Sorcerer, Ibrahim the Handsome' in Mandinka. Gomez...
the numerous sharifian families of North Africa, the Keitadynasty of Mali, the Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia, the De Souza family of Benin, the Zulfikar...
of this honoured Negro." List of non-Arab Sahabah Zayd ibn Harithah KeitaDynasty List of expeditions of Muhammad Bilal: A New Breed of Hero, a 2015 animated...
family. Jagiellons Julio-Claudian dynasty House of Karađorđević KeitaDynasty Khun Lo dynasty Banū Khuzaʽah Hawaiian houses House of Kalākaua House of Kamehameha...
Keita or Keïta may refer to: Keita (given name) Keita (surname) Keitadynasty, a ruling lineage of Mali Keita Department, a region of Niger Keita, Niger...
each component. Keita, S. O. Y. (1992). "Further studies of crania from ancient Northern Africa: An analysis of crania from First Dynasty Egyptian tombs...
his death, he was succeeded by his brother Maghan II.. Mali Empire KeitaDynasty Gomez, Michael (2018). African dominion : a new history of empire in...
see the Kingdom of Portugal under Southwest Europe Mali Mali Empire: Keitadynasty (complete list) – Mahmud IV, Mansa (1590s–1600s) Kénédougou Kingdom...
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