The Gbara or Great Assembly was the deliberative body of the Mali Empire, which ruled much of West Africa during the Middle Ages. It was first formed in 1235 on the orders of Sundiata in the Mandinka oral constitution known as the Kouroukan Fouga. Function The Gbara was made up of 32 members from around 29 mostly Mandinka clans.(External Link) Members of these clans had aided Sundiata in his overthrow of Soumaoro Kante and were given a voice in the government of the new Manden Federation or Mand… (More on Gbara)