Circa 1346-1390
Wazir Of Mali

From Slave to Ruler. Born a slave in the Mali court, Sandiki—in an act of loyalty that was presumably expected of such slaves—took over the rulership of the Malian empire at a time of civil war and instability from succession disputes. When Mansa Musa II, an ineffective leader, died in 1387, he was succeeded by a brother, Mansa Magha II, who was killed within a year. To preserve the rulership for the Keita dynasty, Sandiki first married the widowed queen mother and then usurped the throne. Mobilizing the army, he expanded the reach of the Malian Empire beyond the territory of the Songhai people, attacked the town of Takedda, and restored the confidence of the merchant businessmen in the security of the caravan trade routes.

Source:

J. F. A. Ajayi and Michael Crowder, eds., The History of West Africa...