Mohammed Bagayogo facts for kids

Mohammed Bagayogo was a very important scholar from Timbuktu, a famous city in Mali, West Africa. He was part of the Juula people, a group known for being skilled merchants and wise scholars.

Early Life and Education

Mohammed Bagayogo was born in Djenné in 1523. His father, Mahmud Bagayogo, was a respected judge, known as a Qadi.

As a young person, Mohammed studied with a great teacher named Aḥmad b. Muḥammad b. Sa’īd. He learned about important Islamic law books, like the Mukhtasar, the Mudawwana by Sahnun, and the Muwatta Imam Malik. He studied alongside his brother, Ahmad.

Becoming a Scholar

Later, a powerful ruler named Askia Daoud wanted Mohammed to become the judge of Djenné, just like his father. But Mohammed did not want this job. His father had also refused the same offer from an earlier ruler, Askia Ishaq I.

Mohammed and his brother hid in a mosque for several months to avoid the appointment. Eventually, they managed to escape to Timbuktu with their teacher.

Life in Timbuktu

In Timbuktu, Mohammed Bagayogo became a respected teacher himself. He taught the famous scholar Ahmed Baba at the Sankore Madrasah. This was one of the three main learning centers in Mali during West Africa's "golden age," which lasted from the 12th to the 16th centuries. The other two important schools were the Sidi Yahya Mosque and the Djinguereber Mosque.

By 1583, Mohammed Bagayogo was a very important leader in Timbuktu. After the death of the main judge, Al-Qadi Aqib ibn Mahmud ibn Umar, Mohammed stepped in as the unofficial judge. He made decisions and settled disagreements in front of the Sidi Yahya Mosque.

Challenges and Later Life

In 1588, Mohammed Bagayogo and most people in Timbuktu supported a rebellion against the ruler Askia Muhammad Bani. This rebellion was led by a group called the Balma'a.

After the rebellion, the next ruler, Askia Ishaq II, punished many people who had been involved. However, Mohammed Bagayogo was able to survive these difficult times. He passed away on July 7, 1593, in the old part of Timbuktu.

Legacy and Writings

Mohammed Bagayogo is remembered not only for his great knowledge but also for his strong stand against the Moroccan forces who took over Timbuktu. He refused to cooperate with them.

Many of his writings have been saved as old manuscripts. These are kept at the Ahmed Baba Institute, which is a special place that holds many important African writings. Some of his manuscripts are also found in museums in France.

Today, there is a project to turn these old manuscripts into digital files. This will help people learn even more about the rich culture that thrived in Mali during the medieval period.