Student Question
Compare Leo Africanus's description of Timbuktu to al-Bakri's Roads and Kingdoms.
Quick answer:
Abu Ubaydallah al-Bakri and Leo Africanus both write about the ancient kingdom of Ghana in Africa. Leo, however, concentrates on the city of Timbuktu, which was not yet built when al-Bakri was writing. Leo directly experienced the African life about which he wrote. Al-Bakri received his information secondhand. They both include details about the royal court, food and drink, currency, war, and religion, although al-Bakri tends to provide more thorough details, especially about religion.
Before we compare and contrast the descriptions of Africa prepared by Leo Africanus and Abu Ubaydallah al-Bakri, we should first briefly examine the lives of these two men. Leo Africanus was born in Granada in 1485 but lived in Africa for many years and traveled widely on diplomatic journeys with his uncle. He actually saw the places about which he writes; for him, Africa is a personal experience. Leo was baptized as a Christian and lived at the court of Pope Leo X, where he wrote his history.
Abu Ubaydallah al-Bakri lived about four hundred years before Leo, so his writings depict many of the same places but in a very different era. The city of Timbuktu that Leo describes in detail didn't even exist when al-Bakri wrote! Al-Bakri was born in Cordova in Spain, and he never actually went to Africa. He learned about the continent from previous historians...
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(whose works are now lost to us) and by interviews with traveling merchants. He tried to be accurate in his accounts, certainly, but he lacks Leo's firsthand experience. Al-Bakri was born and remained a Muslim, and his religious perspective influenced his writings.
In his description of Timbuktu, Leo Africanus writes about the houses and shops of the city and some of the customs of the people. He notes the people's interest in business and in accumulating wealth. He also speaks of the abundance of “sweet water” and food but the lack of salt (which is extremely expensive). He covers the magnificence of the royal court in some detail, remarking on the king's army and war-making and the way people show the king respect. Leo also explains that Timbuktu is known as a city of learning, is home to many teachers, and has a brisk trade in books. Commerce is carried out with gold nuggets and cowrie shells, he adds. The people in Timbuktu seem peaceful and happy and spend their evenings dancing and playing musical instruments; except, of course, for the slaves.
Like Leo, Abu Ubaydallah al-Bakri writes in detail about customs, honor, and military might of the royal court of Ghana (an ancient kingdom that once encompassed the current Mali and Mauritania). He explains even more than Leo does about the royal succession (the crown passes to the son of the current king's sister) and about individual kings like Tunka Manin, who was blind yet powerful (mostly because hardly anyone knew he was blind). Al-Bakri includes much more information about religion than Leo, comparing and contrasting the Muslim and pagan practices (with a clear preference for the Muslim). He speaks about royal burial customs, as well, and about manners of dress. Like Leo, al-Bakri notes that the region contains “sweet water” and plenty of food. Salt, however, must be imported. The area's currency is gold dust and gold nuggets (the latter reserved for the king).
Both historians, then, focus on the details of life in the same region of Africa. Their accounts present similar information although al-Bakri is more thorough, but since al-Bakri wrote over four hundred years before Leo, the religious practices of the region were significantly different in his day. Both Leo and al-Bakri, however, provide important sources about medieval Africa.
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