Samory Touré, Legend of African Resistance

Samory Touré, man of vision and determination bacame a legend of Africa resistance.

In the heart of West Africa, the influential figure in the seventeenth century destruction the establishing of Europe rule in Africa.

Whiles the Asante Kingdom of Ghana fought against the British, many individual and societies also fought against the French administration. Two most notable of leaders were Samory Touré of Guinea and Ba Bemba.

Samory Touré,the grandfather of President Sekou Touré was perhaps the most famous fighter against the French.

He was born at Sanankoro in Guinea in the year 1880. His mother was taken captive by a local Chief and, when the young Samory Touré went to try get her back, he himself was made prisoner and taught to be a warrior. As much as he bacame famous and when he returned to Sanankoro in 1874, Touré was made a Chief of the village.

As a devout Moslem and enemy of the French he soon began to extend his territory. In 1881 Samory Touré fought against the French at Kita which is now Mali but he was unsuccessful and he later made a treaty with the French, promising to keep a promise to keep his force south of Niger. Samory next made a raids in many directions but gradually the French managed to block his advances to the west and the north and he was forced to moved southward and east. It was probably at this time that he took to the slave -raiding for which he is still remembered by the northern people of Ghana.

In 1898, he was joined in his fight against the French by Ba Bemba, Chief of Kenedougou who had a strong fortress at Sikasso now Mali.

The French found it very difficult to take his fortress.  Ba Bemba and his men fought very bravely but at last the French succeeded in entering the fort. Ba Bemba saw what was happening, his leg wounded; in pain he went inside and said to the chief of his guard: ‘shoot me; do not let me taken by the white men ’. His guard hesitated and then fired. Ba Bemba slipped to the floor covered with blood and snatched the riffle from the guard. He then killed himself. The guard too commited suicide.

After taking Sikasso,the French were able to continue the war against  Samory.

Samory Touré the legend of Africa resistance fought tiressly against the French but they eventually managed to capture him in the same year, by a surprise raid on his camp, at Guelemou, near Liberia. Samory Touré was taken to saint Louis in Senegal where  he attempted to commit suicide and was deported to Gabon.

Oral tradition have it that with Samory Touré death that brought the Western Sudanese State to  an end.Samory Touré had fought against the French for eighteen years.

He was brought to Kayes,  on December 22nd 1898 he was condemned to exile, despite his wish to return to southern Guinea.

Samory Touré died on June 2nd 1900.