Uli II (mansa)
Encyclopedia
Mansa Uli II also known as Gbèré, was the twentieth mansa
("king of kings") of the Mali Empire
. He ruled over the realm during the latter half of the 15th century.
According to the oral traditions preserved in Dioma, Gbèré was the youngest of two brothers from Niani
who liberated Dioma from a Fula
invasion. Gbèré is a Mandinka
name meaning "red" in reference to one's skin tone. After this success, his brother was crowned mansa. Gbèré ascended to the throne under the royal name Uli II following his brother's death.
began sending raiding parties along the Gambian coast for exploration as well as exploitation of its natural resources
(products as well as people). What is now the Gambia, then known to Mali as the Tinkuru (province) or Bati, was still firmly in imperial hands. The raiding expeditions ended in disaster for the Portuguese with many killed by poison arrows. Portugal's Diego Gomez
sought more peaceable relations with the people of the coast and established contact with the Mali Empire. Other European explorers, such as the Venetian
explorer Alvise Cadamosto, also recorded contact with a still-powerful Mali Empire along the coast in 1454.
Mansa
Mansa is a Mandinka word meaning "king of kings". It is particularly associated with the Keita Dynasty of the Mali Empire, which dominated West Africa from the thirteenth to the fifthteenth century...
("king of kings") of the Mali Empire
Mali Empire
The Mali Empire or Mandingo Empire or Manden Kurufa was a West African empire of the Mandinka from c. 1230 to c. 1600. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa I...
. He ruled over the realm during the latter half of the 15th century.
According to the oral traditions preserved in Dioma, Gbèré was the youngest of two brothers from Niani
Niani
Niani may refer to...* Niani District, along the banks of the River Gambia, in the Central River Division of The Gambia. Named after the Niani tribe of The Gambia.* Niani village, in north east Guinea....
who liberated Dioma from a Fula
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
invasion. Gbèré is a Mandinka
Mandinka
Mandinka, Mandika or Mandingo may refer to:*the Mandinka people of West Africa*the Mandinka language*Mandingo , a bestselling novel originally published in 1957*Mandingo , a 1975 film based on the novel of the same name...
name meaning "red" in reference to one's skin tone. After this success, his brother was crowned mansa. Gbèré ascended to the throne under the royal name Uli II following his brother's death.
Portuguese contact
Beginning in the 1450s, PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
began sending raiding parties along the Gambian coast for exploration as well as exploitation of its natural resources
Natural Resources
Natural Resources is a soul album released by Motown girl group Martha Reeves and the Vandellas in 1970 on the Gordy label. The album is significant for the Vietnam War ballad "I Should Be Proud" and the slow jam, "Love Guess Who"...
(products as well as people). What is now the Gambia, then known to Mali as the Tinkuru (province) or Bati, was still firmly in imperial hands. The raiding expeditions ended in disaster for the Portuguese with many killed by poison arrows. Portugal's Diego Gomez
Diego Gómez
Diego Sebastián Gómez is an Argentine professional footballer. He currently plays in the Ligue 2 for Angers SCO.-External links:...
sought more peaceable relations with the people of the coast and established contact with the Mali Empire. Other European explorers, such as the Venetian
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
explorer Alvise Cadamosto, also recorded contact with a still-powerful Mali Empire along the coast in 1454.
See also
- Mali EmpireMali EmpireThe Mali Empire or Mandingo Empire or Manden Kurufa was a West African empire of the Mandinka from c. 1230 to c. 1600. The empire was founded by Sundiata Keita and became renowned for the wealth of its rulers, especially Mansa Musa I...
- Keita DynastyKeita DynastyThe Keita Dynasty ruled pre-Imperial and Imperial Mali from the 12th century into the early 17th century. It was a Muslim Dynasty, and its rulers claimed descent from Bilal. Bilal was a freed slave who accepted Islam and became one of the Sahabas of the Prophet Muhammad. Bilal bears the...