Tengella (1490-1512)
The state began as a violent migration of Fula nomads from Futa Djallon into the Gambia led by Tengella, their first king or manga, in 1490. His attack was directed against the remaining Atlantic provinces of the Mali Empire. Though without a fixed headquarters, Tengella's following grew so large that he was referred to as the "Great king of the Fulos" or the "Great Fulo" in Portuguese documents of the same period. From the Gambia he led his forces northeast against the growing Songhai Empire where he was defeated and killed in 1512. Afterwards, power was passed to his son, Koli Tengella.
Read more about this topic: Empire Of Great Fulo