Mansong Diarra

Mansong Diarra (c. 1790–1808), also rendered Monzon Jara, was the faama of the Bambara Empire. Son of king Ngolo Diarra, he the throne of Ségou following his father's death in battle. He earned renown as a great warrior, with defeats against several other groups, including Kaarta, Massina, Dogon, and Mossi.

Mungo Park, passing through the Bambara capital of Ségou in 1797 recorded a testament to the Empire's prosperity under Mansong: "The view of this extensive city, the numerous canoes on the river, the crowded population, and the cultivated state of the surrounding countryside, formed altogether a prospect of civilization and magnificence that I little expected to find in the bosom of Africa."

Mansong himself provided Park with a gift of 5000 cowries to help him on his travels.

His son Da Diarra would succeed him after his death.