The Bambaras from Djenné with Kaladjan
Koulibaly, established their nation along the Niger River, and founded the town
of Ségou-Koro, the capital of the Bambara state. Bortolot (2003) says that
Ségou evolved from a simple social structure, characterized by hunting and
farming, to a more complex city dominated by a dynasty system. One of
Koulibaly’s descendants, Mamary Coulibaly, became the chief of the Bi-Ton, and
later took the name Biton. Biton spread terror, organised the army and
restructured the association into a city. He expanded the territory from Segou
Koro to Timbuktu. Under his rule, the Macina and Djenné trading centers became
a part of Ségou. Timbuktu was not part of Ségou. It remained autonomous and
paid tribute to Biton. After Biton’s death in 1755, one of the Coulibaly family
slaves, Ngolo Diarra, obtained power to control the Bambara kingdom and
established the Diarra dynasty. Ngolo Diarra ruled Ségou until the 19th
century. He moved the kingdom’s capital from Segou-Koro to Ségou, close to the site
of the current city. Diarra continued Biton’s conquest and extended the kingdom
from Guinea to Timbuktu.
Conquest
In 1860, El
Hadj Oumar Tall conquered the
city and influenced the population to become Muslim.
