Part V: Paradise Lost
It had been two years since the death of the emperor and ascension of Kaya Maga. During these years, the new leader opened the empire to traders from all over the world thus making Niani the west African central trading hub—rivalling even their toughest competitor the Ashanti of Ghana. The silk road facilitated the flow of products from the north, Asia, Europe while more southern routes were built to further expand the empire’s reach towards the rest of Africa. The higher prosperity was soon noticed by groups with more vindictive intentions. While the emperor worked tirelessly to consolidate his power others conspired to dethrone him.
The beginning of the decline came with the return of the Portuguese. This time they had brought an armada of ships to take anything that was not offered. The army began rampaging through north Africa and then sailed towards Mali to resolve an old quarrel. Mansa Moussa’s message to King Phillip eighteen years prior could not be left unanswered. The intelligence gathered by the emperor’s spies had forewarned Kaya Maga of the impending doom and so he began preparation to meet the assailer on the battle field. Conscious gravity of the situation, the emperor ordered the evacuation of rural areas by bringing everyone to the city behind the safety of the palace walls.
Sembema who was now military chief led the defending force of ten thousand strong. The Malian army was composed of two thousand archers, two thousand cavaliers, Five thousand infantry soldiers and a thousand reservists. The opposing group had five thousand men and encompassed three thousand infantry soldiers, five hundred cavaliers, a canon squadron and a thousand reservists. Despite the meagre Portuguese forces, the Malian army was swiftly decimated. The battle lasted two days and made over ten thousand dead—amongst which nine thousand Malian soldiers. The superiority in number was reduced to cinder by the sheer power of the military technology and tactical expertise. Sembema was captured and imprisoned with a thousand men.
Those who survived and evaded capture hastily rode towards the empire to inform the emperor of the disaster that had befallen them. The first survivor to arrive found Kaya Magain the war room with his military counsel. The bloodied soldier ran into the room and fell on his knees from exhaustion.
“Forgive me my emperor, but the army was completely shattered.”
Taken aback by the message, the emperor in rage pounded on the table.
“Where is Sembema?”
Still tearing up and pouring blood the man replied
“Almost everybody is dead, my lord.”
“I did not see him.”
“I am a rear scout and I rode as quickly as humanly possible to warn you our most formidable force was squashed without much effort and the army of white devils is coming to obliterate the city.”
“It appeared as if they were waiting for us.”
“They knew exactly where our armies will be and how to best attack them.”
“Their weapons released small and big balls that would easily cut through our most elite forces.”
“I am sorry sire” said the man as he crouched in front of the emperor.
Puzzled the emperor ordered the scout to be taken away for treatment while he addressed the war counsel.
“We have a traitor in our midst.”
“Other than my war counsel, Sembema and I alone knew the routes, strategies, tactics of our great army.”
“We must find the collaborator.”
“Also begin to evacuate the city.”
SamoryKoulibaly, once military chief now war counsellor to the emperor hesitantly uttered feeble words to probe for more information.
“My apologise sir, but where should we go?”
Without hesitation, the emperor replied:
“We go back home”
“The people of Mali are nomads and the desert our home.
“Long before we begin building lavish houses, we lived in tents and slept under the blue moon”
“Now we have become soft, perhaps this is a reckoning.”
“Stop wasting precious time and begin the evacuation of the city.”
“Gather all able-bodied to protect the capital during the retreat.”
“Bring my shield and sword I will stay behind to defend the city.”
The emperor’s heart was pounding twice as hard as it did during the coronation because he feared for his people’s safety. The city walls were made of sand therefore unable to withstand powerful assaults. He understood it would be a suicide mission for anyone who stayed behind. However without such a hindering force to slow down progress the conquering white army would completely annihilate the entire population.
