Origin of Songhai

Songhai replaced Mali during the second half of the 15th century, it was originally known as Gao with its capital city at Kukiya.

Songhai started as a small principality around the 9th century on the riverbank of the Niger and Senegal rivers.

The empire was situated in an area that was suitable for growing crops and rearing animals, it was also suitable for fishing because of the Niger and Senegal rivers.

By the 9th century, Gao had become terminus of the Trans-Saharan trade, thus the people of Gao became great traders especially after the introduction of camels. The ruling dynasty of Songhai was known as the Za and the major towns were Gao and Kukiya

Gao remained part of Mali until 1375 when it declared itself independent.

It remained a small principality until the coming to the throne of Sunni Ali in 1464. This transformed the small state into a powerful empire of Songhai.

Reasons for the Rise and Expansion.

Songhai rose and expanded because of a strong army. Sunni Ali built a strong military force which became the most respected in the region. He was able to defeat the Tuaregs and captured Timbuktu which gave him control over the Trans- Saharan trade. He was also able to defend his state from the Mossi in the south.

Secondly favourable political conditions led to expansion of Songhai empire. The Tuaregs who captured the northern part of Mali were oppressive and exploitative. For this reason the people of Timbuktu invited Sunni Ali to rescue them. This created a favourable political atmosphere for Songhai.

Thirdly, the Trans-Saharan trade played an important to the growth of Songhai empire. The Trans-Saharan trade was extended in Hausa land between the 14th and 15th century, Songhai became a focus or terminus for trade route giving it a chance to play the middle man roll in the trade.

Fourth factor was the good geographical position. Songhai was located on a fertile area (Savannah belt) which was suitable for the growing of crops and people could easily fish in the rivers of Niger and Senegal.  

Also having the able leaders contributed to the rise and expansion of Songhai empire. Songhai was blessed with good leaders like Sunni Ali, during his reign, the empire expanded in all directions while under Askia Mohammed, Songhai developed commercially and diplomatically.

However, though the rise of Songhai is attributed to the above, it is important to note that without leaders like Sunni Ali and Askia Mohammed, probably Songhai would not have reached its peak of glory.

For several centuries before European colonization, much of West Africa was a product of two civilizations - indigenous African culture and the impact of Islam.  This duality included the great Mali Empire which flourished at its height from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries.  The dual legacy of Africanity and Islam also included the Songhai Empire which flourished from 1325 until the Moroccan invasion of 1588-91.  Geographically, Songhai once extended from today's Republic of Mali to today's Nigeria.  Songhai's history overlapped with the history of the Mali Empire.

The most historically significant city produced by these two empires was the city of Timbuktu, which over the centuries has commanded more fascination among historians than almost any other intellectual center in the history of Black Africa.  Timbuktu became the best positive celebration in the Black world of that old triumvirate of "God, gold and glory."  This triumvirate was in subsequent centuries to be usurped by European imperial colonization, but from the fourteenth century to the 1590s God, gold and cultural glory converged onto the destiny of Timbuktu.  The foundations of the culture was the dual legacy of Africanity and Islam.

We define the classical period of Timbuktu as the era when Timbuktu flourished under the aegis of the Songhai empire (1325 to 1591) and the Mali Empire (1100 to 1700) - two overlapping imperial periods.  But the legacy of scholarship in Timbuktu continued in subsequent centuries as well.

The interaction between Africanity and Islam was greatly facilitated by the continuing links between West African Empires and the Maghreb in North Africa, especially with Morocco.  The links were often intellectually precious, but the links also included such moments of hostility and greed as the Moroccan invasion of 1588-1591.

The career and importance of Sunni Ali (1464-1492)

Sunni Ali was considered the founder of Songhai. He was also known as Ali Kolen. He came to the throne in 1464.

He was a tactful, courageous and ambitious leader who ruled Songhai for a period of 28 years.         

On coming to the throne, he consolidated his position by building a strong army. This consisted of the infantry, the cavalry and a powerful fleet of canoes which were manned by the Sorko fishermen. Sunni All was preparing himself for conquests.

He immediately embarked on the career of conquering. He turned, his attention northwards, he took advantage of the invitation of the people of Timbuktu as an excuse and he captured it in 1459.

In 1473 he captured the prosperous town of Jenni having resisted for 7 years, 7 months and 7 days. He also annexed Kata that was-once a province of Mali. Those-who resisted were ruthlessly punished and those who submitted were treated with generosity.

He also established an effective system of government, he divided the empire into provinces and appointed new governors to these areas especially those which resisted his rule for example Hombori region. Those that easily accepted his rule were left with their traditional rulers but they were supposed to pay annual tributes and taxes.

Sunni Ali tolerated Islam, though he was a Moslem, he was not in practice. In fact, he did not promote islam as a religion and he remained indifferent.

Sunni Ali did not promote trade, instead he disrupted it. This is because he spent most of his time expanding the empire without developing trade.

Sunni Ali was a tyrant, ruthless, cruel and ungodly. He was described so because he was very hostile towards the Moslem scholars in Sankore university in Timbuktu who undermined his authority.

Nevertheless, Sunni Ali remains a respected empire builder. By the time of his death in 1492, Songhai stretched from the Niger in the East to Jenne in the West and from Timbuktu in the north to River Volta in the south.

Unfortunately, Sunni Ali drowned in River Niger in 1492 when he was returning from a military expedition against the Fulani. Within a period of 28 years, Sunni Ali had converted the tiny state of Gao into a huge empire of Songhai. It is no wonder that he was clever politician, a brave soldier and an able administrator.

The career of Askia Muhammed the Great (1493-1528)

He is referred as the greatest of the kings of Songhai. Under his rule, Songhai reached its greatest height of power and might. He was the successor of Sunni Ali and he ruled from 1493-1528. Originally, he was called Mohammed Toure Ibn Baker. Before he became King, he was one of Sunni Ali's trusted generals in the army.'

He was not a member of the royal family of Songhai (the Za dynasty). He came to power through a coup d'etat which he organised with assistance of a pro-moslem faction. At the battle of Angoo he defeated his rival, the son of Sunni Ali, he entered Gao in triumph and proclaimed himself king.

He established a state council of ministers to assist and advise him, he appointed the commander in chief of the army Known as Balama. The chief of the navy was called Hi-Kay and the chief tax collector was called Farimudya.

Like Sunni Ali he created a national standing army. They strengthened both the infantry and cavalry making them full time professional army. He used the army to expand the empire, maintain law and order and ensuring that taxes and tributes were paid.

He encouraged trade and commerce by creating a stable and peaceful atmosphere. With this security, more traders were attracted to the empire of Songhai. He also standardized the system of weights and measures. He created market inspectors to promote honest trade dealings. He also established a system of banking and credit.

In education he made positive developments. Moslem scholars were encouraged to come to the empire, he built 150 Quoranic schools in Timbuktu. He also improved on Sankole University thus making Timbuktu a centre of scholarships in Western Sudan, Two of the great historians scholars like Mohamoud Kati and Abderahman were two products of Sankole University.

In agriculture, he Improved and constructed new wells and canals to bring water to the desert regions, in a similar manner, he also encouraged blacksmith industry, cloth weaving and sail mining from Taghaza.

Besides the above, Askia consolidated his position on the throne. He ensured that his children or family line became the future ruler of Songhai. He therefore established the Askia dynasty and destroyed the Sunni or Za dynast.

He used islam as a unifying factor. He invited devout Moslems to his palace and gave them gifts. He appointed some of these as advisers and judges.

In 1497 he made a pilgrimage to Mecca, this won him respect and legitimacy for his dynasty. He also won himself the title of the Caliph of the black. He became the Islamic loader of Western Sudan.

He bought a hostel in Cairo for Sudanese pilgrims going to and from Mecca. He came back with Islamic scholars who also served as advisers, administrators and Judges. He was also given the title of Hajji.

Like Sunni Ali, he also embarked on a series of military expeditions to expand the empire for example he declared a jihad on the Mossi of the south but he was defeated. He extended his campaigns to the pegan Mandingo and the Fulani in the West and the Berbers and the Tuaregs in the North.

He also turned his attention to the east, he conquered Agades and reduced the Hausa States of Katsina, Zana and Kano to a tributary state of Songhai.

He was an-excellent and shrewd administrator. He expanded the existing traditional political system, divided the empire into provinces each administered by a governor who was normally a relative or a close friend. In towns like Jenne and Timbuktu, he appointed majors. By the time of his death, Askia Mohammed had ruled Songhai for 36 years. He became blind and his son killed him. He was called the greatest because Songhai Empire was the most powerful during his reign.

The decline of Songhai

The decline was rapid especially after the reign of Askia Mohammed. Several reasons have been advanced to explain this decline. These were both internal and external.

Incompetent leaders led to the fall of Songhai. The successors of Askia lack-.d courage, wisdom, competence and experience to maintain the empire for example Musa the eldest son of Askia deposed his father, this caused bitter feelings and rivalry which inevitably weakened the empire.

Internal disputes also led to the fall of Songhai. Towards the end of Askia's reign, he became blind and was deposed. This was followed by a period of succession, disputes, dynastic rivalry and civil strife lasting 20 years. This weakened the central administration and sowed seeds which disintegrated the empire.                    

Divisions between moslems and non-moslems contributed to the decline of Songhai. Since the days of Askia Muhammad and Sunni Ali, the empire of Songhai was divided into moslems in the West with their centre at Timbuktu and pagans in the East. The division created internal convicts and weakened the empire.

Weakness of the army contributed to the decline of Songhai. This was mainly a result of numerous civil wars that took place after the reign of Askia the great and probably the political incompetence of the leaders after for example Kebbi, a vassal state successfully rebelled against Songhai but the army failed to suppress the rebellion and it was defeated.

The extent of the empire contributed to the decline of Songhai. Songhai had grown too big to be effectively administered from one centre. To make matters worse, it consisted of people of different beliefs, cultures and language thus Songhai needed men or leaders of courage and strength to administer such a vast empire

The Moroccan invasion of 1590 led to the fall of Songhai. The sultan of Morocco who was jealousy of the gold trade of the Sudan and the salt mines of Taghaza sent his army and attacked Songhai.

Lack of superior weapons led to the fall of Songhai. Songhai could not compete with a better army as that of Morocco. They were well trained, disciplined and above all well equipped with guns and muskets. Even then, these were unknown in the region of Songhai thus its decline.

The Fulani Tuaregs attacks led to the fall of Songhai. With the Moroccan invasion there was, anarchy in Songhai followed by chaos and outside tribes took advantage of this example. The Fulani and Tuaregs attacked and raided Songhai. This sealed the fate of Songhai as once the largest Negro empire known in the history of Western Sudan.

Popular Questions

1.       (a) Explain the origin of Songhai.

(b) What were the contributions of Sunni Ali?

2          (a) What factors led to the rise of Songhai?

(b) What were the achievements of Askia Mohammed?

3             (a) What was Sunni All's contribution in the founding of Songhai empire?

(b) Explain the downfall of this empire by 1595.