From burying kings with live humans to exacting justice by drinking poison; here are four customs of ancient Ghana Empire

Burial of Kings

Al-Bakri said: “When their king dies, they construct over the place where his tomb will be, an enormous dome or saj or (teak) wood. Then they bring him on bed covered with a few carpets and cushions and place him inside the dome. At his side, they place his ornaments, his weapons and the vessels from which he used to eat and drink, filled with various kinds of food and beverages. They place the men who used to serve his meals. They close the door of the dome and cover it with mats and furnishings. They then assemble the people who heap earth upon it until it becomes like a big hillock and they dig a ditch around it until the mound can be reached at only one place.” The people of ancient Ghana the writer added “sacrifice victims to their dead and make offerings of intoxicating drinks.”

All the tombs of the kings were in the same place surrounded by a thicket. It was the same place gods of the state were kept.

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This concludes a look at the governance, inheritance system of ancient Ghanaians, kings’ palace, court etiquette, use of drums as well as burial of the king.