It established a largely decentralized commercial empire based upon linkages by merchant houses protecting trade routes throughout the region.

[1] Starting in the 16th century, Dyula speakers, an important branch of the Mandé, migrated from the declining Mali Empire into the area and founded the city of Bego.

The documented history shows that in the early 1700s, Seku Wattara (sometimes written as Sekou or Sekoue), a Dyula who claimed descent from the Malinké Keita lineage and who had studied the Qu'ran and engaged in commerce before becoming a warrior, deposed and killed an important leader in Kong, Lasiri Gbambele, by uniting the forces of a number of Dyula leaders in the area.

Oral history traditions provide additional details but vary greatly in their discussion of the founding of the Kong Empire.

[2] A common telling claims that Seku came from the town of Tenegala, a city 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) and larger than Kong at the time.

[2] This oral tradition claims that in 1710 Lasiri used his power to suppress Islam in Kong and embrace the indigenous Nya cult.

His son, Kere-Mori, asserted authority but Seku's brother Famaga refused to recognize his claim and so took control over large parts of the northern settlements and operated out of Bobo-Dioulasso.

[5] Importantly, the warrior class created in the Empire, the sonangi, were not adherents to Islam and as time grew on, largely lived in separate communities practicing animist faiths.

"[7] Ethnic relations remained largely split between the Mandé merchants and urban citizens and the Senufo agricultural population.

[3] These agreements made Kong a key target for attacks from Samori Ture as a front in the Mandingo Wars between the Wassoulou Empire and the French.

In 1897, Samori defeated the last forces of Kong and burnt the town to the ground causing members of Seku's royal house to flee to the north.

[2] The remaining members of Seku's royal house took refuge in the Black Volta region where they divided territory creating what the French called "Les Etats de Kong.