Mari Jata (Sundiata Keita)
ماري جاطة
c. 1255 CE · c. 653 AH
Founder of the Mali Empire and the greatest of the western Sudanese kings; in their tongue jata means lion and mari means king. He defeated the Susu and wrested from them the old kingdom of Ghana, ruling from the Niger to the Atlantic.
At a glance
- Roles
- Ruler
- Counted among
- Sunni
- Era
- The Mongol and Post-Mongol Era
- Region
- West Africa & Sahel
- Review
- Draft Completeness 1/5 · Help complete it
Life in time
Overview
Mari Jata, founder of the Mali empire and, according to Ibn Khaldun, the greatest of the kings of the Western Sudan. In their language "Jata" means lion, and "Mari" means king. 1
His conquests
He overcame the people of Sosso and wrested from their hands the old kingdom of the people of Ghana. He ruled from the Nile to the Atlantic Ocean. 1
His death and succession
Ibn Khaldun did not fix the year of his death. The approximate date in the data is derived and needs an additional source. He was later succeeded in rule by Mansa Musa.
Connections
- Predecessor of
- Mansa Musa
- Founder of
- Mali Empire
- Ruler of
- Mali Empire
People and things also explored
Mansa Sulayman· Mansa Musa· Mali Empire· The hajj of Mansa Musa· Ghana Empire
Sources
- Kitab al-Ibar of Ibn Khaldun
Cite this page
islam.museum contributors. “Mari Jata (Sundiata Keita)”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/person/mari-jata/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-10-17.