Mali empire, trading empire that flourished in western Africa from the 13th to the 16th century. Mali rose to the apogee of its power under Mansa Musa (1307–32?). It later outgrew its political and military strength and by about 1550 ceased to be import
Niani, village, northeastern Guinea. It lies on the left bank of the Sankarani River (a tributary of the Niger). A former administrative centre of Kangaba (a small state subservient to the old Ghana empire), it was named the capital of the new empire of