Who established the Tukulor empire?

The Tukulor empire was established by Al-Ḥajj ʿUmar, also known as Umar Tal, in the 19th century. He was a Muslim religious leader and military commander who sought to establish an Islamic state in West Africa. He was born in what is now Senegal and became a student of Islamic scholarship in his youth. In 1852, Umar Tal began a series of military campaigns to conquer neighboring regions, including the Bambara and Wolof peoples. He established the Tukulor Empire, which encompassed a large part of present-day Senegal, Gambia, and Mauritania. The empire was based on Islamic principles, and Umar Tal was known for his strict adherence to Islamic law. Umar Tal's rule was characterized by his attempts to spread Islam and his efforts to modernize the empire. He established schools and encouraged trade and agriculture. However, his strict enforcement of Islamic law, including the abolition of practices such as animism and slavery, was controversial and led to conflicts with neighboring peoples. Overall, Al-Ḥajj ʿUmar was the leader who established the Tukulor Empire through military conquest and sought to establish an Islamic state based on strict adherence to Islamic law.