This book gives a lot more background not only to the manuscripts and African Arabic literature, but also to the scholars and the region and the context.
The Tata, African Anti-Colonialism defensive walls in Sikasso, Mali
When I visited Sikasso I was keen to try and see the walls. It was quite tricky as they are not well marked, despite being significant archaeological remains.
I was going through my old diaries the other day and I found entries from a trip to the south of Mali in Africa some years ago.