Ibrahima Sori

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Ibrahima Sori, also known as Sori Maudo (Sori the Great), was a Fulani leader who headed the Imamate of Futa Jallon in what is now Guinea. He took power around 1751 after the death of his cousin Alfa Ibrahima and worked to strengthen Fulani military control over the region.

Sori’s main goal was to control trade and gain slaves to supply goods and weapons from Europe. He promoted warfare to capture slaves and allied with the king of Solima. In 1762, their forces invaded Wassoulou but were defeated, and the alliance with Solima later fell apart. Solima then allied with rivals to raid Fulani lands. The Fulani defeated the Solima in 1776 and established Fulani supremacy.

After the victory, Ibrahima Sori took the title almami, becoming known as Sori Maudo, or “Sori the Great.” He ruled a theocratic state organized into nine provinces, each led by a cleric who answered to him. Religious matters were centered in Fugumba, while Timbo served as the political capital, with the help of a council that collected taxes and enforced Sharia law.

The council grew jealous of his power and opposed him. Sori entered Fugumba, executed councillors who resisted him, and called a general assembly that confirmed his authority. The military faction held real power until his death in the late 18th century. He was succeeded by his son Sa’id, who ruled until the late 1790s when he was killed and replaced by a descendant of Alfa Ibrahima; other sons, Abdul Qadir and Yahya, later held the office as almami. The leaders of the Fulani usually chose the almami from clerical descendants of Alfa Ibrahima or from a military line descended from Ibrahima Sori.