Passion or Profession: Founder of the Mali empire

Period: c. 1210–c. 1260

A Mandika prince, Mari Diata came to power after a leader of the Soso Empire killed his father. Mari Diata retaliated by uniting various Mandika chiefs in order to defeat the Soso Empire. He then took the name Sundiata Keita—Sundiata means “lion prince” and Keita is the name of his dynasty—and forged the Mali Empire. Gold mines and control of trade routes helped the empire grow rich.