Tiramakhan Traore
Tiramakhan Traore was Sundiata Keita's greatest general, celebrated in the Epic of Sundiata as the military mastermind who conquered the Senegambia region. After the king of Jolof insulted Sundiata by confiscating his horses and sending him ox-hides to make shoes, Tiramakhan marched his army through the Gambia River valley. The greatest battle was against King Kikikor of the Bainuk people in Kaabu (Guinea-Bissau), a powerful sorcerer who could transform into a beast. Protected by Mandinka gris-gris, Tiramakhan killed Kikikor with a spear blessed by Sundiata. Kaabu was annexed into the Mali Emp