“Ghana is the title given to their kings, but the name of the kingdom of Awkar. In this year 1067 [or 460 of the Islamic calendar], their king is Tunka Manin who came to the throne in 1063. He rules an enormous kingdom, and wields strong power”This is an account of al-Bakri, an Arab chronicler through the information he had form the Andalusian traders.
The kingdom of Ghana should not be confused with the present Republic of Ghana, in fact, the kingdom was different from the present Ghana in terms of ethnicity and territory. It was situated some 400km northeast of the present Ghana. In its territory, was now north Senegal and south Mauritania.
Further west was the state of Tukrur in Senegal valley. A coastal route leading to Morocco via Sjilmasa opened it to the north.
Roots.
The origins of Ghana up to now remain a mystery to everyone. When it came to existence
