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Mansa Musa's Lost Canal: The Niger Irrigation Project of 1326
In 1326, Mansa Musa launched an ambitious irrigation project to carve a canal from the Niger River near Koulikoro, aiming to transform the Sahel into a breadbasket. This episode explores the engineering vision, the role of the farba (provincial governors), and the jeliw (griots) who preserved its memory. Drawing on accounts by al-Umari and the Tarikh al-Sudan, we examine why the canal failed—whether due to geological challenges, Songhai resistance, or shifting imperial priorities. We also discuss the broader context of Mali's hydraulic projects, including the use of foggara-like tunnels…
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