Western Sudanic Africa constitutes a large and diverse region. This volume only attempts to cover certain parts of it—those where sufficient research has been done, and where a strong manuscript tradition exists. To a large extent this also reflects the areas where Islamic scholarly and literary traditions have been most prominent.

One of the key centres of Islamic scholarship, from a millenium ago right down to the twentieth century, has been Timbuktu; and not only the city itself—though this was the inspirational heart—but also the neighbourin…