In this provocative book, Daly argues that militarism in Africa has historically been about more than power grabs.

A heavy guilder’s tax was imposed on everything that passed through the empire, in or out. In four centuries, Mali expanded its territory, influence, and culture thanks to a well-trained imperial army ...

The army announced that it arrested two people, Mahamad Ould Erkehile "alias Abu Rakia," and Abu Hash, describing the latter as "chief of first order." What did Mali's military say?

The empire was central to several key trading routes, and with the support of a well-trained army, Mali became a strong and powerful empire. Under the leadership of Mansa Musa, 1312 - 1337 ...