Songhai Empire

The Songhai Empire was a powerful state in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries. At its height, it was one of the largest African empires in history. The empire was named after the Songhai people, who were its main ethnic group and ruling class. Important cities such as Timbuktu and Djenné became centers of trade and learning during this time.

The empire began when Sonni Ali made Gao its capital. Before that, the area had been part of the Mali Empire. As Mali grew weaker, the Songhai took control and grew stronger. Under leaders like Sonni Ali and later Muhammad Ture, also known as Askia the Great, the empire became very rich and powerful.

Askia the Great made many changes to help the empire grow and stay strong. However, after his rule, the empire faced many problems, including fights for power and civil wars. These problems made the empire weaker. In 1590, a army led by Judar Pasha from Al-Mansur attacked and defeated the Songhai at the Battle of Tondibi. After this battle, the Songhai Empire fell apart and could no longer control its lands or trade routes.

History

Early inhabitants

Further information: Songhai people

Long ago, between the 9th and 3rd centuries BCE, many groups of people came together to form the Songhai identity. They lived around the growing town of ancient Kukiya. The first people to settle in the area of Gao were the Sorko people. They lived on the banks of the Niger River and made boats and canoes from cailcedrat tree wood. They fished, hunted, and used their boats to carry goods and people. Another group, the Gao people, were also there. They hunted river animals like crocodiles and hippos.

The Do people were farmers who grew crops on the fertile land near the river. Before the 10th century, these early groups were taken over by stronger Songhai speakers on horses, who took control of the area. Over time, all these groups began to speak the same language and became known as the Songhai.

Gao and Mali

Further information: Za dynasty and Gao Empire

The earliest kings of Gao are not well known, but we know about them from an old cemetery near the village of Saney, close to Gao. Stones there show that these kings ruled in the late 11th and early 12th centuries and were called Malik. Other stones tell of a second group of rulers called zuwa. Stories and legends tell us about the start of the Za dynasty. One story says the founder was Za Alayaman, who came from Yemen and settled in Kukiya.

The Sanhaja tribes lived near the Niger River and set up trading places. Over time, traders from North Africa joined them. Both groups traded with the river people. The Songhai chiefs took control of this trade, especially around Gao. By the 10th century, Gao was a small kingdom. Around 1300, it grew rich enough to catch the attention of the Mali Empire. Mali took over Gao, took taxes, and controlled its trade until the 1430s. Then, problems in Mali made it hard for them to keep control of Gao.

Independence

After the death of Mansa Sulayman in 1360, fights over who should be the next ruler weakened the Mali Empire. This helped the Songhai people become independent under Sunni Muhammad Dao. In the 1460s, Sonni Sulayman Dama attacked an area called Méma, which belonged to Mali.

Sonni Ali

Further information: Sonni Ali

After Sulayman Dama died, Sonni Ali became ruler from 1464 to 1492. He believed in the traditional ways of his people, which upset some teachers who followed different beliefs.

Sonni Ali expanded the empire by taking over many lands. He fought the Mossi people to the south and the Dogon people to the north. He took over the city of Timbuktu in 1468 after the people there asked for his help against attackers. He also tried to take Djenné, but the people fought back. After a long siege, he finally took the city in 1473.

Sonni Ali’s rule brought great wealth to the Songhai Empire, making it richer than Mali at its peak.

Askia the Great

Further information: Askia the Great

After Sonni Ali died, Askia the Great took over. He organized the lands that Sonni Ali had taken and made the army stronger. Askia believed strongly in learning and built schools and mosques. He also traveled to Mecca, a very important place for people of his faith, and gave away gold to show the wealth of his empire.

Askia made many changes to improve his empire. He set up ways to collect taxes and make sure everyone followed the rules. He also built canals to help with farming and trade. Under his rule, trade grew, and the empire became very powerful.

Decline and Saadian Invasion

Further information: Saadian invasion of the Songhai Empire

In 1528, Askia's children fought over who should be the next ruler, which weakened the empire. After Emperor Askia Daoud died in 1583, fights over leadership split the empire.

In 1591, leaders from Morocco sent an army to take over Songhai. They used new weapons and defeated the Songhai forces at the Battle of Tondibi. They then took over important cities like Gao and Timbuktu, ending the Songhai Empire’s power. The empire broke apart into smaller kingdoms.

Organization

The Songhai Empire started in the area between Timbuktu and Gao. As it grew bigger under leaders Sonni Ali and Askiya, it was split into three main military zones.

The first zone, called the kurma, was where the Balama, the empire's defence minister and top general, was based. This area included western provinces such as Mali, and had garrisons and a naval fleet at the port of Kabara. The Kurma Fari, acting as governor, lived in Timbuktu, the provincial capital.

The second zone was the capital city of Gao, where the emperor lived with central garrisons and a large fleet. The Hikoy, the empire’s admiral, commanded more than a thousand ships from Gao’s port. Major military campaigns often began here. The Tondi farma helped govern the southern province of Hombori, while the Surgukoy, the Amenokal of Tademekat and chief of the Berbers, managed the northern Saharan provinces with a Camel cavalry army.

The third zone, led by the Dendifari, governed the eastern province of Dendi. This governor kept watch over eastern areas including the Hausa kingdoms, with a fleet based at the port of Ayorou.

At its peak, the Songhai Empire covered parts of modern-day Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Mauritania, Senegal, many Guinean Coast countries, and Algeria. Its influence reached as far as Cameroon, spanning many cultures and peoples including Mandé peoples, Gur, Dogon, Berbers, Arab, Fula, Wolof, Hausa, Soninke people, Akan people, and Yoruba people.

Culture

At its peak, Timbuktu became a busy place where people from different lands traded goods. It was also a center for learning, especially about Islam.

The Songhai Empire grew rich from trade. Caravans traveled across the land, and boats moved along the Niger River carrying goods. Important items traded included gold, salt, ivory, and feathers. The empire had special ways to protect traders and set fair prices for goods.

People in the Songhai Empire had different jobs based on their families. Some worked with metal, others fished, and some built things. Leaders were at the top, followed by free people and traders. Some people were captured in wars and worked on farms.

Leaders used rules based on Islamic teachings to keep order. Local judges helped solve problems and decide what punishments were fair. The king sometimes stepped in for very serious matters.

The empire was governed by a royal court that appointed leaders for different areas. These leaders had to follow the empire's rules but could make their own decisions for their people. The empire grew stronger under leaders like Askia Muhammad, who supported learning and helped those in need.

Military

The Songhai Empire had a strong army that included a navy, cavalry on horses and camels, and foot soldiers. They even trained bulls to charge at their enemies and used birds to bother opposing armies. The soldiers wore strong armor and carried swords, arrows, and shields.

The empire had three main military areas, each with its own army. The emperor led the central army, while other leaders managed the rest. During battles, the closest army would join the emperor’s forces. The soldiers were a mix of free people and captives.

Navy

The Songhai Empire had a navy on the Niger River, started by Sonni Ali. The navy was led by a commander called the Hi-koi. They had many ports along the river where boats could stop. Some of these boats were big enough to carry heavy loads, like many people or animals.

List of rulers

Names and dates come from a book called African States and Rulers from 2005.