Mali
A Story In Pictures
The nation was called Mali.
Mali became a legendary empire- a place of power
and great wealth!
The Country Of Mali
• Mali is located in
western Africa.
• Many people think the
outline of the country
looks like a “toilet.”
• A variety of regions
can be found in west
Africa.
Regions Of West Africa
• The region farthest north
is the Sahara Desert.
• South of the Sahara is a
region called the Sahel.
(this is much like a
desert, but with more
grasses)
• Below the Sahel is the
savanna, a large
grassland.
• South of the savanna is
the rainforest region.
The Sahara Desert
Salt was mined in
the deserts of the
Sahara.
The Niger River
• The Niger River runs
through the Empire of
Mali, and brings water for
drinking.
• The Niger River also
gave farmers plenty of
good soil called, SILT, in
which to grow their crops.
Architecture in Mali
Buildings were created from sun dried mud made
from sand.
Mansa
A king was called a MANSA.
The mansas became rich and powerful kings. They
collected taxes from the citizens of their empire.
Sundiata, better known as the
“Lion King,” saved Mali and
brought back peace. Under his
rule, Mali became rich.
Mansa Musa, another
great king, helped Mali
grow in size. He was known
as, “the King of Africa.”
Camels
Camels were Mali’s treasures.
They helped make Mali rich, because they carried the GRAND
cargo.
Camels preparing to make their slow,
steady way across the Sahara loaded
down with goods on their way to the great
markets.
Camels carrying Mali’s
finest treasures.
A camel caravan
A caravan is a group of camels that travel together carrying
goods.
They were often traveling to trade centers.
Camels were the trucks and trains of Mali often bringing goods from
far away lands to trade. However, camels were well adapted for life
in the desert. They have special eyes and feet, and they can drink
lots of water at a time!
Griot
A griot was a storyteller.
Most of Mali’s history was told as stories. Griots often told
stories using music and dance.
“The instrument that I
play is called a KORA. I
strum the strings like a
guitar.”
I am a griot.
I am a teller of stories, and a singer of
songs.
I am the keeper of memories and
laws.
I am the teacher of kings and
children.
I hold the whole story of my country in
my head and in my heart. I want to
share it with you!
A Mud Cloth
Each piece of mud cloth tells a story. No two pieces are
alike and each pattern or color combination has a meaning.
The symbols used, their color and shape, as well as the
arrangement reveal the secrets of the story.
More Mud Cloths
Adding the symbols to the cloth.
A completed “mud cloth”
Salt
Salt was mined in the Sahara.
The slabs were loaded onto camels and sent to
trading centers.
Miners mining salt.
These are slabs of salt ready to be exported by camels to a
trading center.
Trading Routes in Mali
Off to TIMBUKTU!
Timbuktu
Mali citizens on their way to the markets in
Timbuktu to trade their goods.
Trading in Timbuktu
Malians trade their goods at the markets.
Religion
The people of Mali were “Muslims” and followed
the ways of ISLAM, their religion. The worshipped
at temples called “mosques.”
Mecca
Mansa Musa, a famous king, took the Islam religion
very seriously. One thing they wanted every Muslim
to do was to journey to Mecca once in his or her
lifetime. Mecca is a holy city in Saudi Arabia. The
journey, called a hajj, was a trip that was more than
3,000 miles from Mali. Can you imagine riding a
camel that far?