Africa's kings created and ruled over some of the world’s greatest ever kingdoms from Benin to Mali. Kings such as Sundiata Keita and Euware the Great developed global partnerships and traded gold and salt, which became a source of immense wealth.

Art and culture were central to many of the kingdoms' identities and a huge part of their legacy; unfortunately, most of the great art pieces sit in European museums as remnants of colonial pasts.

Their defining eras were known to be pivotal in transforming society, no more so than Haile Selassie celebrated for his commitment to education and the abolition of slavery. From as early as the ninth century right up until the twentieth century African Kings shaped the course of their kingdom's future. Here are 10 influential kings in African history:

Mansa Musa I of Mali

Ruled the Mali Empire, which at the time included Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mauritania, and of course Mali, from 1312 to 1337. Mansa Musa amassed an insane amount of wealth that would, even today make him the richest man alive, with a fortune of approximately $400 billion.

His famous pilgrimage to Mecca showed off his vast wealth and announced his name on the world stage. Mansa Musa traveled 4000 miles with a massive entourage of 60,000 men. Under his reign, Mali’s capital city Timbuktu became the centre of trade, education, culture and Islam and one of the most famous cities in the world.

Sundiata Keita

Founder of the Mali Empire, ruling from 1235 to 1255. Sundiata Keita was born into a noble family, from the Malinke kingdom, Kangaba which was part of the Ghana Empire and ruled by the tyrant, Sumanguru.

Sundiata Keita clandestinely put together a loyal army that eventually went to battle with Sumanguru to challenge his power and won. In his victory he was able to gain control of neigbouring regions, chipping away at the Ghana empire until it was eventually ruined. The consolidation of all his conquests formed the Mali empire. Mali was able to profit and build its wealth being situated near the rivers of trade routes and the peaceful manner of Keita’s reign attracted merchants and decades of stability.

Sundiata Keita is also famous for creating one of the first ever human charters, the Manden Charter, also known as the Kouroukan Fouga, to ensure peace within a diverse nation, the abolition of slavery, education, and food security.Mansa Musa is his most famous descendant.

Shaka Zulu

Also known as Shaka kaSenzangakhona, was the brilliant military strategist King of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. He was the illegitimate son of the Zulu King Senzankakhona kaJama, who treated him and his mother abhorrently forcing them to leave their home. A brilliant military strategist, Shaka revolutionized Zulu warfare and greatly expanded the kingdom's territory. At the height of his reign, he commanded over 50,000 warriors.

Shaka Zulu got his military chops as a warrior for the Mthethwa Paramountcy, the young man’s prowess made him stand out, and was soon promoted to General, establishing a new and refined military system. Although we have come to know him for his victorious battles, early on his approach was tactical diplomacy to forge alliances with neigbouring tribes and build his army. At the height of his power, he commanded an army of over 50,000 warriors, leading his men in battle to expand his empire and hegemony.

He famously revolutionized warfare by introducing the "buffalo horns" formation, a tactical strategy that allowed for rapid enemy encirclement. He also replaced traditional long throwing spears with short-handled stabbing spears called iklwa, which proved more effective in close combat, and standardized weaponry by introducing larger, stronger shields to complement this new fighting style. Shaka Zulu was assassinated by his half brother in 1828.

Ewuare the Great

Also known as Oba Ewuare I was King of the Benin Empire and founder of its “Imperial Era”, in what is now Southern Nigeria from 1440 to 1473. Ewuare claimed the throne by violently overthrowing his brother, in a coup so bad that destroyed much of Benin City.

His rebuilding of Benin is what has largely secured his legacy centuries on and earned him the title Ewuare the Great. The city would have been an impressive sight that reflected its wealth and power. Enclosed by massive walls—four times longer than the Great Wall of China—the city featured orderly streets and large houses, with the royal palace occupying about a third of its area. This expansive complex included interlocking courtyards, richly decorated wooden pillars adorned with brass plaques, and a distinctive peaked shingle roof topped with a snake ornament.

Ewuare expanded the Empire and established a rich art culture with craftsmanship that included the use of ivory, wood and symbolically of the era, bronze to create the Oba bronze heads and adorn buildings.

Ezana of Axum

Ezana of Axum ruled the Kingdom of Aksum from approximately 320 to 360 AD. During his rule, Ezana significantly expanded Aksum's influence and prosperity. He conducted successful military campaigns, notably conquering the Kingdom of Kush around 350 AD, that cemented Aksum's regional dominance. Ezana's reign marked a crucial turning point when he embraced Christianity, becoming Aksum's first Christian monarch and establishing it as the state religion.

His reign is one of the most documented of all the Axum rulers, with various inscriptions, particularly the Ezana Stone, which has trilingual records of his reign in Ge'ez, Greek, and Sabaean. His conversion to Christianity had lasting effects which can still be seen in Ethiopian practices today.

Osei Tutu

One of the founders of the Asante (Ashanti) Empire ruled from 1701 to 1717. Osei Tutu, with the help of his priest, united various Akan speaking chiefdoms into a powerful empire making Kumasi its capital. Osei Tutu was the first Asante king to throne the legendary Golden Stool, which was a symbol of the spiritual connection between the gods and the Asante people. As King, he continued to expand the Asante empire through war and grow its wealth through trade.

Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia

Was the last Emperor of Ethiopia reigning from 1930 to 1974. Haile Selassie was pivotal to the transformation of Ethiopia by modernizing the country while preserving its rich cultural heritage. He introduced reforms like a new constitution, abolished slavery (put a pin in it), and invested in education (especially for girls) and infrastructure, doing so with the instrumental help of his wife Menen Asfaw.

Selassie was a champion of Pan-Africanism and was crucial in establishing the Organization of African Unity in 1963, which is still headquartered in Addis Ababa. He led Ethiopia's resistance against Italian invasion during World War II and their ultimate expulsion from the country in 1941.

With the Italians out Haile Selassie could focus his energy on what he considered the country’s Achilles heel. Slavery was deeply engrained in its society within different ethnic groups. Emperors before him had tried to abolish it but failed. Haile Selassie’s conviction for a progressive Ethiopia delivered the decisive abolition of slavery in 1942. Due to his lineage with the biblical King Solomon, the Rastafarians regard Haile Selassie as the Black Messiah.

Cetshwayo kaMpande

Last king of an independent Zulu nation, ruling from 1872 to 1879. And yes, he is related to Shaka, only just, being his half-nephew. He inherited the military prowess and strategic brilliance the Zulu’s had become infamous for and with this successfully unified the Zulu nation and expanded its territory. His reign was marked by a period of peace and prosperity and presided over a strong and disciplined Zulu army.

However, Cetshwayo's reign was cut short by the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, a conflict sparked by British colonial ambitions. Despite the Zulu's initial victories, including the famous Battle of Isandlwana in 1879, the British eventually defeated the Zulu forces. Cetshwayo was captured and exiled to South Africa. Although he was eventually returned to Zululand, his kingdom was never fully restored.

Tenkamenin

Ruler of the Ghana Empire from 1062 to 1076 CE. Tunka Manin was known for his love of justice and his economic policies that increased trade, especially in salt and gold. Tenkamenin introduced one of the first ever tax systems, however rather than use it as a means for his gains, he collected what would be used to benefit the people of his kingdom. Although his reign was short Ghana reached great heights during his rule.

Béhanzin of Dahomey

The last independent ruler of the Kingdom of Dahomey, modern day Republic of Benin, reigned from 1889 to 1894. Named Kondo at birth, he changed his name to Béhanzin, which meant "The King Shark" upon his crowning. Always pictured with his pipe, he was considered to be a very shrewd man who was protected by his fierce and legendary female warriors known as the Amazons popularised in the Hollywood blockbuster Woman King. His reign was defined by his steadfast opposition to French colonial ambitions, as he sought to preserve the sovereignty of his nation against the tide of European imperialism that was sweeping across the African continent.

Behanzin, the final monarch of the Dahomey kingdom, ascended to the throne in 1889 during a tumultuous period in West African history. Born in the mid-19th century, he inherited a realm renowned for its military prowess, including the legendary female warriors known as the Amazons. Behanzin's reign was defined by his steadfast opposition to French colonial ambitions, as he sought to preserve the sovereignty of his nation against the tide of European imperialism that was sweeping across the African continent. The king's efforts to maintain Dahomey's independence ultimately proved unsuccessful in the face of superior French military technology and resources. After a series of fierce battles, Behanzin was forced to surrender in 1894, bringing an end to the independent Kingdom of Dahomey.