Kassi

Kassi (fl. 1352) (also called Qasa) was an empress of the Kingdom of Mali

Principal wife and paternal cousin of Suleyman, Kassi ruled jointly with her husband, as was traditional. Ibn Battuta wrote, "the queen is his partner in the kingship, following the custom of the blacks. Her name is mentioned in the pulpit". Having one's name read in the pulpit during Muslim services in the mosque is an honor due only to an actual sovereign, not a mere consort. Qasa was one of twenty female Muslim rulers who met the Muslim criteria of sovereignty.

She was extremely popular with the royal court, which counted many of her relations among its members. But she soon fell out of favor with her husband, who preferred a commoner named Bendjou. Eventually, he divorced her to marry the latter. The noble ladies of the court took Kassi's side, continuing to recognize her legitimacy and refusing to honor the new royal wife. Such insubordination – they threw earth on their heads to honor Kassi while throwing earth on their hands to insult Bendjou – soon angered Suleyman and his new wife, to the point that Kassi was forced to seek sanctuary in the mosque.

The coup d'état happened in 1352 or 1353. Kassi was the mother of Kassa, who succeeded Suleyman briefly before being replaced by his cousin Mari Diata II.