• It the history of West Africa, Samori distinguishes himself as a leader who waged the longest war of resistance against the European encroachment.
• For 16 years Mandinka managed to resist French conquest mainly because he had created an intact state well organized socially, economically, militarily and with an effective political administration system.

• The reason for such a success was because of his state building genius and a determined resistance to defend Mandinka independence to the end of being given a title ‘The Napoleon of Sudan’ some historians calling him ‘the greatest West African of the nineteenth century.
• He has been described as the finest example of the African personality in its struggle to retain independence.
• It was quite obvious that as a soldier Samori’s best means of dealing with European encroachment was to adopt direct military confrontation against the French rulers.
• His failure to the formidable forces of colonialism will not take away the Mandinka commitment and determination to remain independent from the French.
• Samori should therefore be credited for his attempt to defend his Mandinka Empire by means necessary, his better understanding than other African leaders of his time the importance of defeating the European enemy at his own game by adopting modern firearms.
• He correctly decided to engage military confrontation at a time when other African leaders of his time backed down surrendering independence through collaboration.
• He was a skilled military leader and strategist despite some mistakes for example the long, costly siege of Sikasso and losing most battles against the French due mainly to the technological advantage with modern weapons.
• Avoided capture for exceptionally a long period.
• Understood better than most African leaders of his time the importance of acquiring advanced military equipment.

• He understood better than most African Leaders the importance of uniting against European invaders given the instance of hid bid for alliance with the Tukolor.
• There are diverse interpretations to Samori’s legacy including the view that he was a cold- hearted slave master interested in spoils of plunder that ever has been said or shall be said about him.
• Some historians claim that Samori, through his ruthless tactics, caused even more suffering to the African peoples concerned than the French did.
• Despite his ruthlessness as a military leader, he showed a genuine concern for the subjects in his empire and especially for the welfare of the members of his army.
• Samori stressed on education and in his newly conquered villages his first concern was for the mosque the school and the teacher.
• Samori took a personal interest in the schools and made education compulsory for the children of officials.
• The army was also a means of converting and educating people into the Islamic faith.it is generally agreed that Samori won his soldiers whole-hearted devotion partly by his personality.
• Partly by his genuine concern for their welfare, which showed itself in many ways: the wounded were well cared for, the dead decently buried and the disabled were helped to return to civilian life, with suitable employment’
• However his achievement speak louder of his state building genius which established a solid empire typical to African state making of the time.
• It is said that Samori provided the brick and mortar constructing a sophisticated vast empire known in the history as the Mandinka Empire. He indisputably was a brilliant administrator and organizer.

• This was clearly shown in the sophisticated, efficient organization of his empire and in the remarkable achievement of transferring an entire empire from the west to the east.
• Samori encouraged trade and commerce by abolishing many customs charges among the small state, thereby making trade easier.
• Despite having both supporting and opponent merchant class like the Dyula commercial states of Sikasso and Kong resisted him. Perhaps because his empire posed a serious threat to their trade existence. Yet the commercial towns of Kankan and Odienhe supported him.
• In general the merchants resented the tight control Samori hand over agriculture and markets, but at the same time they benefited from the increased exports which Samori encouraged in exchange for weapons and ammunitions.