How Mali’s Most Famous King Built A Decentralized Kingdom
4 lessons from Malinese history to create better micropayment and Web3 solutions
Sundiata Keita, founder of the Mali Empire, reigned over West Africa in the 13th century. He created a decentralized kingdom by incorporating regional chiefs as allies & delegating power to local authorities. This ensured efficient governance & increased loyalty.
Decentralized technologies are gaining popularity. Blockchain-based micropayments & Web3 solutions, such as decentralized apps (dApps), are changing the way we transact & communicate online. But like any system, they require efficient governance.
Sundiata’s approach can teach us valuable lessons about effective governance in decentralized systems.
Lesson 1: Incorporate stakeholders as allies
In decentralized systems, stakeholders can range from developers to token holders. Incorporating their input and feedback can improve system governance and adoption.
Lesson 2: Delegate power to local authorities
In a decentralized system, power is spread among participants. This avoids the concentration of power and increases efficiency.
Lesson 3: Create a system of checks and balances
In decentralized systems, there may not be a central authority to enforce rules. Creating a system of checks and balances ensures that participants are held accountable.
Lesson 4: Focus on community building and collaboration
A decentralized system is only as strong as its community. Creating a culture of collaboration and inclusiveness can foster innovation and growth.
Sundiata Keita's decentralized kingdom was successful because he was able to incorporate regional chiefs as allies and delegate power to local authorities. By doing this, he ensured efficient governance and increased loyalty. In the same way, decentralized technologies can benefit from Sundiata's approach. By following the lessons of incorporating stakeholders as allies, delegating power to local authorities, creating a system of checks and balances, and focusing on community building and collaboration, we can create better micropayment and Web3 solutions.