Samori Touré: The Lion of the Mandinka and Master of Resistance
Samori Touré: The Lion of the Mandinka and Master of Resistance Samori Touré: The Lion of the Mandinka and Master of Resistance Samori Touré (c. 1830 – June 2, 1900) was a legendary West African military and spiritual leader, known for founding the Wassoulou Empire and leading one of the most formidable anti-colonial resistances against French expansion in the 19th century. His story is a testament to the strength, resilience, and brilliance of African resistance movements during the era of colonial conquest. Early Life and Rise to Power Born in the early 1830s in what is now Guinea, Samori belonged to the Mandinka ethnic group. His early years were shaped by the political and military conflicts that followed the decline of great African empires such as Mali, Songhai, and Wagadu (Ghana). These regions had earlier been influenced by Islamic expansion through invasions led by Arab and Berber traders and warriors during the Almoravid and later campaigns across the Sahel. Samori’...