From Toledo to Timbuktu: The Case for a Biography of the Ka'ti archive, and its Sources

Timbuktu's Fondo Ka'ti archive, once overlooked, emerges as a pivotal historical artefact when approached through archival biography. This study reveals that the archive's unique construction and 'life' offer fresh insights into the entangled processes shaping history, highlighting hybridities in both archives and identities. Unlike traditional studies focusing solely on manuscript content, this research treats the Fondo Ka'ti as an active participant in its historical context, assessing its conditions of production and reciprocal influence on surrounding environments. Such a perspective sets new standards for source-based histories, challenging conventional narratives and illuminating alternative pathways to understanding Sub-Saharan Africa's pre-colonial written tradition.

Molins Lliteras, S. (2013). From Toledo to Timbuktu: The Case for a Biography of the Ka’ti archive, and its Sources. South African Historical Journal, 65(1), 105–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/02582473.2013.763402