Muslim ruler of a state in Mali (1848–64). Born among the Tukolor people, he established the Tukolor empire. He set out on the pilgrimage to Mecca c.1820, where he was designated caliph for Black Africa. He established himself in the Senegal River area and in 1854 proclaimed a jihad (holy war) against all pagans. He created a vast Tukolor empire, but failed to win many converts. He became a harsh ruler. In 1863 he captured Timbuktu but soon lost it to a combined force of Fulani and Tuaregs. He was killed in 1864 but the Tukolor empire survived until 1897, ruled by his son Ahmadu Seku.