Latest / Timbuktu: Africa's Forgotten Center of Knowledge — Fexingo History / The Timbuktu Scholar Who Preserved Africa's Written Heritage
Transcript
- Lucas: So, Luna, we've talked a lot about Timbuktu's scholars and their astronomical and legal work. But one of the most important things they did was write history — their own history. And there's a chronicle called the Tarikh al-Fattash that's absolutely essential, but it's also got a bit of a controversy attached to it. Luna: The Tarikh al-Fattash — that's the one by Mahmud Kati, right? Lucas: Exactly. Mahmud Kati, a scholar from Timbuktu, born around 1468, of Soninke origin. He lived through the height of the Songhai Empire under Askia Muhammad and then the Saadian invasion. He started compiling this chronicle, and it was continued by his grandson, Ibn al-Mukhtar. It's a family project spanning generations. Lucas: But here's the thing: some modern historians have argued that parts of the Tarikh al-Fattash might have been tampered with or even forged in the 19th century. It's a pretty heated debate. But first, let me tell you what's in it, because it's a goldmine. Luna: What does it cover that the Tarikh al-Sudan doesn't? Lucas: Well, both chronicles cover similar ground — the Songhai Empire, the rise of Askia Muhammad, the intellectual life of Timbuktu. But the Tarikh al-Fattash has unique details about the early history of the Songhai kings, like Sunni Ali, and it gives a lot of space to the scholars of Djenné and the Niger Bend. It also includes lists of scholars and their genealogies, which is incredibly valuable for understanding the transmission of knowledge. Lucas: And it's not just dry facts. There are anecdotes, like the story of Askia Muhammad's pilgrimage to Mecca and how he consulted with the Egyptian scholar al-Suyuti. That's in there. Luna: I remember you mentioned al-Suyuti in the episode about the diplomat. So Mahmud Kati was a contemporary of Ahmad Baba? Lucas: Yes, older actually. Mahmud Kati was born a generation before Ahmad Baba. He was a qadi and a respected scholar. He started writing the Tarikh al-Fattash around 1519, but he died in 1593, right after the Saadian invasion. His grandson took over and finished it in the 1650s. Lucas: And that's where the controversy comes in. The manuscript we have today is a 19th-century copy, and some scholars, like the French historian Octave Houdas, noticed that certain passages seemed to glorify the Askia dynasty in a way that might have been politically motivated. There's even a theory that the 19th-century copyist, a man named al-Hajj al-Mukhtar, added or changed parts to legitimize his own family's claims. Luna: So the chronicle might be partially fabricated? That's a serious charge. Lucas: It is. But other historians argue that the core of the text is authentic and that the later additions are minor. The debate is still unresolved. But what's undeniable is that the Tarikh al-Fattash, along with the Tarikh al-Sudan, gives us a window into medieval West Africa that we wouldn't have otherwise. These are voices from the past, writing about their own world. Lucas: And the manuscript itself has a dramatic story. During the Saadian invasion in 1591, many manuscripts were destroyed. But the Tarikh al-Fattash survived. It was kept in Timbuktu for centuries, eventually ending up in the Mamma Haidara Library. In 2012, during the jihadist occupation, it was smuggled out along with thousands of other manuscripts to Bamako. Luna: So it's a survivor in more ways than one. Lucas: Exactly. You know, this show is entirely listener-supported, and that's a deliberate choice. We don't run ads, so we can focus on stories like this one — stories that deserve careful attention. If you'd like to help keep it that way, you can find us at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. Luna: Yeah, it's a small way to make sure these deep dives keep happening. Lucas: So back to the chronicle. The Tarikh al-Fattash also includes a fascinating description of the wealth of the Songhai Empire under Askia Muhammad. It says that when he came to power, the treasury had so much gold that they used it to pay for the construction of mosques in Gao and Timbuktu. Luna: That's incredible. And it's all coming from a local source, not a foreign traveler. Lucas: That's the key. Ibn Battuta visited earlier, but these chronicles are written by people who lived there, who knew the rulers and scholars personally. They give us an insider's perspective. For example, the Tarikh al-Fattash describes how Askia Muhammad reformed the currency, introducing a standard gold coin called the mithqal. Lucas: It also records the names of hundreds of scholars and their teachers, creating a kind of intellectual genealogy. That's how we know that Timbuktu's scholars were connected to centers of learning as far away as Cairo, Fez, and even Mecca. Luna: So it's not just history; it's a map of knowledge networks. Lucas: Exactly. And the Tarikh al-Fattash is especially important for the early history of the Songhai state. It describes the origins of the Songhai people, their conversion to Islam, and the reign of Sunni Ali, who was a controversial figure. He was a warrior king who conquered Timbuktu but had a tense relationship with the scholars. The chronicle doesn't shy away from that. Lucas: There's a passage where it says Sunni Ali was both feared and respected. He could be brutal, but he also patronized learning. That's a nuanced portrait. Luna: It's refreshing to get that kind of complexity from a single source. Lucas: Absolutely. And the chronicle also details the administrative structure of the empire — the governors, the tax collectors, the army. It's a primary source for understanding how the Songhai Empire functioned. Lucas: One of the things I love is that it includes poetry. There are verses praising the scholars, and even a poem about the founding of Timbuktu. It shows that history was not just a record but also a form of art. Luna: Do we know how many original copies of the Tarikh al-Fattash exist? Lucas: Only a handful. The most famous one is in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, brought there by the French colonial administration. But there are also copies in Timbuktu, in private libraries like that of the Mamma Haidara family. Those are the ones that were smuggled out in 2012. Lucas: The fact that these manuscripts are still in existence is a testament to the dedication of Timbuktu's families. They've kept them for centuries, often in harsh conditions. And now, with digitization projects, they're becoming accessible to scholars worldwide. Luna: So the legacy of Mahmud Kati lives on. Lucas: It does. And it's worth remembering that the Tarikh al-Fattash is not just a historical document; it's a symbol of African intellectual heritage. It challenges the idea that Africa had no written history before colonialism. Here's a chronicle written by Africans, for Africans, about their own past. Lucas: I think that's something we can all appreciate. Luna: Definitely. Thanks for bringing this story to light.