About Mahmud Kati
Lived 1468 – 1593. Mahmud Kati was a Malian historian.
Al Hajj Mahmud Kati (or Mahmoud Kati) (1468? – 1552 or 1593) was an African Muslim Songhai scholar. He is traditionally held to be the author of the West African chronicle Tarikh al-fattash, though the authorship is contested.
Kati grew up in Kurmina but lived most of his adult life in Timbuktu. In August 1583, he documented a meteor shower. His tomb is the second largest in Timbuktu, after that of Mohammed Bagayogo, and is a site of pilgrimage.
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Important facts
People in Mahmud Kati's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Mahmud Kati?
Malian historian
When was Mahmud Kati born?
Mahmud Kati was born in 1468.
When did Mahmud Kati die?
Mahmud Kati died on 1 September 1593.
What was Mahmud Kati's occupation?
Mahmud Kati was a historian.
What nationality was Mahmud Kati?
Mahmud Kati was Malian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mahmud Kati. https://biography.guide/mahmud-kati/
MLA: "Mahmud Kati." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mahmud-kati/.
Chicago: "Mahmud Kati." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mahmud-kati/.
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