Editing Mali Empire (section)

=== Equipment ===
The army of the Mali Empire used of a wide variety of weapons depending largely on where the troops originated. Only ''sofa'' were equipped by the state, using bows and poisoned arrows. Free warriors from the north (Mandekalu or otherwise) were usually equipped with large reed or animal hide shields and a stabbing spear that was called a ''tamba''. Free warriors from the south came armed with bows and poisonous arrows. The bow figured prominently in Mandinka warfare and was a symbol of military force throughout the culture. Bowmen formed a large portion of the field army as well as the garrison. Three bowmen supporting one spearman was the ratio in Kaabu and the Gambia by the mid-16th century. Equipped with two quivers and a knife fastened to the back of their arm, Mandinka bowmen used barbed, iron-tipped arrows that were usually poisoned. They also used [[Early thermal weapons#Flaming arrows, bolts, spears and rockets|flaming arrows]] for siege warfare. While spears and bows were the mainstay of the infantry, swords and lances of local or foreign manufacture were the choice weapons of the cavalry. Ibn Battuta comments on festival demonstrations of swordplay before the ''mansa'' by his retainers including the royal interpreter.<ref>{{harvnb|Charry|2000|p=358}}.</ref> Another common weapon of Mandekalu warriors was the poison javelin used in skirmishes. Imperial Mali's horsemen also used iron [[Military helmet|helmet]] and [[Mail (armour)|mail armour]] for defence<ref name=law>{{cite journal|author=Robin Law|title= Horses, Firearms, and Political Power in Pre-Colonial West Africa, Past and Present|issue=1|year= 1976|pages= 112–132|doi=10.1093/past/72.1.112|journal=Past and Present}}</ref> as well as shields similar to those of the infantry.