Kayes

The upper Senegal country around Kayes belonged to Khasso, a region extending along both banks towards Bafoulabé. Its communities developed through interaction between Fulani pastoralists and Malinke farmers, retaining traditions from both. Kayes lay within this older political landscape before the growth of the later colonial city.

Séga Doua, ruling from 1681 to 1725, established the Khasso-Bambera kingdom. Demba Séga, who ruled from 1758 to 1796, brought it to the height of its power while fighting the Massassi Bambara of neighbouring Kaarta. His death was followed by rival factions, the Bambara capture of Koniakary in 1800 and civil war. In the early nineteenth century, Hawa Demba restored an independent centre of Khassonke power on the river's left bank, with Médine as his capital. The river corridor thus connected farming and pastoral communities with repeated contests over royal authority.