The Saadien Fulani ruler of Morrocco. By Elijah Shabazz (Ilyas Shabazz Bah)

Traveler's log: 
Marrakech
November 17, 2015
3:30 p.m

After making prayers at the historic Koutoubia Mosque (stay tuned for photos insha Allah) -established by the Almohads in the 12th Century and still stands today- I continued on my quest to visit the Saadien tombs.

Now some historians in the "Afro-Centric" circles may scratch their heads and wonder why would a Descendant of West Africans vist a tomb of a "White Arab" that invaded and conquered Mali in the 16th Century?

Good Question.

After using my Arabic to navigate through the streets of Marrakech I finally made it to the Saadien tombs. It is one of the main tourist attractions here in Marrakech, so naturally there was a line to get in.

A little rebel sprung up in me and though I saw the small entry fee and the short line of Europeans- I refused to stand in line to see the tombs of my ancestors!

So I ignored the clerks and walked straight towards the tomb sites. As I walked I heard "hey!" I pretended to no to hear and kept walking. I defiantly thought "if he wants these 10 little dirhams he just has to come get it!"

So he catches up with me and I felt so bad. As with most Morracans, he was so polite and unassuming. He said in a very kind tone  "hey you forgot to pay" so I went back, paid the 10dh and continued on with my visitation. Besides the keepers of the tombs do deserve compensation. But I was overcome by my little rebel and I couldnt help it.

So I went inside and asked "which is the tomb of Layla?" . The main tour guide for visitors had no idea. So I said in Arabic "Layla ummi Al Mansur". There was another gentlemen who was there who knew. He said yes "Layla Masuda" her tomb is there. He pointed me in the direction and it was the biggest and beautiful of all the Saadien tombs. Rightfully so becaused buried there was also Ahmad Al Mansur -who commissioned the building of the tombs for his parents, his Mother Layla Masuda is buried next to his Father. When he passed away he was also buried next to them.

I wanted to get more information about Layla so asked is there a library where I can do research. He directed me to a Biblioteque named "Al Ghazali". I was excited, I wanted to go immediately. He says but its closed today because of the Holiday. So I had to contain my excitement and wait until the following day.

Traveler's log: November 17th 11:00 am

I set out to visit The palace of Ahmed Al Mansur known as the "El Badi".  With intentions of also visiting the bibliotheque which was close by. I was directed by a very Brown Man, the ones known simply as "Marrakechi" of which I have been called also during my visits here. I had to pass through the Souq (Market)-which was alive with activity- in order to get to the El Badi.

In the Center of the Market there was a Music video shoot, Gnawa dancers, henna artists, snake charmers, etc,. Among other spectacles -there were Monkey handlers. One of whom, heckled me for a photo in order to solicit a donation.

With a Monkey?!!! Nah, I'll pass.

He kept insisting, and insisting and his monkey began tugging on my shirt! All I could think about is that Woman who no longer has a face because, of a monkey handling/housing friend. I got away from him like he was carrying the next mass epedimic in his hand!

I continued on to the ruins of the El Badi QaSr (Palace). There was no rebel in me today. As I approached the payment booth two of the staff simultaneously looked at me with the expression that says "don't we know this guy?". I went to the booth, payment ready but the response I received was similiar to the ones that I get when one of my Fula Brothers pick me up in a cab: "Your Money is no good here! You're family".  The clerk smiled at me, refused my payment and waved me in.

I then entered the ruins of what was once one of the Most Magnificiently built palaces in Morrocco. Built by an ancestor who has been re-casted in Western literature as a "White Arab" and his Mother as a "Black concubine".

Of all Saadiens Al Mansur is noted as being the Greatest. His political Sagaciousness was able to play the British and the Turks against each other to ward off the Turkish invasion of Marrakech and Fez. He also, had grand plans to reconquer Southern Spain and even Colonize America. Though he didnt live long enough realize any of those visions, he didnt accomplish what became a sore point among Afro-centric academics which as "the Arab Conquest of the Songhay empire".

Okay, now that we have gotten pass particulars of my trip, such as the Monkey business at the Market, lets discuss a few points of History. 

If you have time.

Firstly, the Saadien dynasty emerged from the Draa Valley in the Sous region of Southern Morrocco which is known for its nomadic Berber tribes. Yes, they claimed Arab nobility, but so have the Fulani, Haratin, Songharis and others. It was something many rulers did for legitimacy purposes and it wasnt all lies.

 Many of the tribes of the North have intermixed with the Arabs during the Ummayad North African conquest. This is particularly true of the Fulani who are listed in the Encyclopedia of Arab tribes as being from the family if Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H.),  the Fulani also claim descendancy from Uqbah ibn. Nafi of the Ummayyads and the DNA of certain Fulani groups have traces of Arab admixture.

However, Touaregs, Fulani, Songharis, etc, are proudly West African and have an ancient history here in Africa. 

So back to the Saadien dynasty who also claim Arab descent. However, the Draa valley from which they originate is known for its Dark Skinned inhabitants! So this whole Story of "White Arab Conquest of Timbuktu" yet another fiction of Western academia.

To add to this myth the British translator of the 17th century Tarikh as Sudan (Which is translated as the History of the Blacks) John O. Hunwick, refused to translate Es Sadi's (author of Tarikh es Soudan not to confused with Saadien) history of Morrocco. His reasoning was that this had nothing to do with "Sudan (Blacks)". Even though, Morrocco was controled by Blacks since the Almoravids period all the way up to the dynasty which preceded the current one.

However, the only thing John O. Hunwick mentions was that Es Sadi states Ahmed Almansur's mother was Layla Masuda was a Fulani "-Concubine".

Since, he wouldnt translate it I went to the Arabic manuscript to read for myself. After consulting my Arabic lexicon and mulling over every word dealing with the lineage of Al Mansur, I have found no mention of her being a concubine to Al Mansur's Father "Muhammad Ash Sheikh". 

The Devil is a Liar..

In fact Es Saadi list's Layla's Father as being a Fulani of stature in Sous Morrocco and that he was a Neighbor of the Elder Saadi Muhammad Ash Sheikh. Layla herself, is said by historians to have been "Well known".  These descriptions by contemporary writers does not fit one of a side-chick, pregnant and barefooted, closet cocubine to me.
 
This has always been the way of Western Academia to back project White Supremacy into the past. Even the famous Morrocan Gnawa musicians -some of whom sing  of their Fula, Bambara, Hausa, heritage- are said to be descendants of a Massive "trans saharan slave trade". They, like Black Americans were taught to believe they were always in an inferior position so they carry themselves as such in modern post Colonial Morrocan society.

Yet, there is absolutely no evidence they were brought here during a slave trade. To the contrary there is plenty evidence they were a part if the Noble and Ruling classes from the Almoravid period until the colonization period.

So, with that being said the Saadien conquest was yet another African conquest of Timbuktu, as many other African groups have conquered. Significant, for the Fulani because, they suffered great oppression under previous Songharis administrations, especially the grest Sonny Ali. 

Thus, the conquest of this Son of a Fulani Mother reads as poetic justice.

Back to Marrakech

So I finally, found this Grand "Biblioteque" named al Ghazali, which really wasn't Grand at all. It was naught but a little Mom and Pop shop with a collection smaller than my personal library. So I asked this apparently Arab and European descendant did he carry any books about the History of the Saadien dynasty. He looks at me with a puzzled look on his face, asks his co worker, then goes pull a Neo Morrocan history book of the shelf, that didn't have not near a paragraph of the 100 year reign of the Saadien dynasty in Morrocco.

Well, why woud he? It's our History, not his.

Ahmed Al Mansur, The Saadien Fulani ruler of Morrocco.