Faama is a Mandinka word meaning "father," "leader," or "king". It was commonly used within the area of

pre-imperial Mali The history of the Mali Empire begins when the first Mande people entered the Manding region during the period of the Ghana Empire. After its fall, the various tribes established independent chiefdoms. In the 12th century, these were briefly c ...

. The title spread into areas conquered by Mali and was later used by the

Bamana Empire Bambara or Bambarra may refer to: * Bambara people, an ethnic group, primarily in Mali ** Bambara language, their language, a Manding language ** Bamana Empire, a state that flourished in present-day Mali (1640s–1861) * ''Bambara'' (beetle), a ...

and the

Wassoulou Empire The Samorian state, also referred to as the Wassoulou empire, Ouassalou empire, Mandinka empire or Samory's empire, was a short-lived West African state that existed from roughly 1878 until 1898, although dates vary from source to source. It span ...

of Samori Toure and non-Mandinka groups in the Kenedougou Empire. Both ''faama'' and '' mansa'' are word for king, but ''faama'' is a martial ruler and ''mansa'' is a mystic ruler.

References

Bamana Mali Empire History of Africa Royal titles Faamas {{africa-hist-stub

See also

References