Vai oral histories suggest multiple migrations from the Sahel. One story suggests the Vai emerged from among supporters of Sumanguro defeated by Sundiata in 1235.
Another tradition traced the group’s origin to an expedition sent by the Mali empire in 1300 AD. A third claims the Vai descended from the son of a Malinké ruler who was expelled from Musadu at an unknown date. A fourth points to the Kamara family from Mali, who arrived around 1550.
Footnote: Massing, 1985, pp. 36-38; Ellis, 1914, pp. 27-28; Fairhead, 2008; Person, 1968, p. 242; Person, 1987, p. 249; Geysbeek, 2002; Korvah, 1960, pp. 31, 33; Korvah, 1995; Jones, 1987; Fairhead, Geysbeek, Holsoe and Leach, 2003, p. 136.
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