People of Songhay
The Songhay Empire was composed of many different peoples who made their livelihoods from the Niger River and its bordering islands. The Sorko people "Masters of the River" were fishermen who built and operated boats and canoes. The Gow people relied on hunting such river animals as crocodiles and hippos. People known as the Gabibi "Masters of the soil" farmed the rich lands bordering the river. After a long history of conflict, the Sorko fishermen defeated the Gabibi. The Sorko established the kingdom of Al-Kawkaw whose capital was Dendi, located along the Niger River about halfway between the river's great bend and its confluence with the Benue River.
A different legend was recorded by Muslim writers who lived in Timbuktu, an important city near the Niger River. According to them, the Songhay people worshiped a monster fish-god that wore a ring in its nose and was the spiritual guardian of the river. It is even said that a stranger from the east came to Gao and killed the creature. This could be a storyteller's way of telling how a chief of the Tuareg people of the Sahara Desert came from the east and conquered the leader of the Niger River boatmen.
The camel-riding Tuareg were among the earliest people of the region. They periodically rode out of the Sahara to establish camps near the Niger river. There, they stored their trade goods and conducted business with others who used the river. Some of these Tuareg camps eventually grew into towns and cities. And later on, the City of Gao which is a wealthy trading city became a kingdom.
Over the years, Songhay people had undergone changes. Through intermarriage and the blending of customs and languages, they had absorbed the Tuareg so that Berber and Songhay cultures had merged like two rivers that formed the Niger. However, they maintained their language which is the Songhaic.
A different legend was recorded by Muslim writers who lived in Timbuktu, an important city near the Niger River. According to them, the Songhay people worshiped a monster fish-god that wore a ring in its nose and was the spiritual guardian of the river. It is even said that a stranger from the east came to Gao and killed the creature. This could be a storyteller's way of telling how a chief of the Tuareg people of the Sahara Desert came from the east and conquered the leader of the Niger River boatmen.
The camel-riding Tuareg were among the earliest people of the region. They periodically rode out of the Sahara to establish camps near the Niger river. There, they stored their trade goods and conducted business with others who used the river. Some of these Tuareg camps eventually grew into towns and cities. And later on, the City of Gao which is a wealthy trading city became a kingdom.
Over the years, Songhay people had undergone changes. Through intermarriage and the blending of customs and languages, they had absorbed the Tuareg so that Berber and Songhay cultures had merged like two rivers that formed the Niger. However, they maintained their language which is the Songhaic.
Sunni Ali, the Sorcerer King
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Sunni Ali is the greatest hero of Songhay legend. He was the ruler of Songhay during the Sunni dynasty. According to Songhay storytellers, courageous ruler who built the Songhay empire and a sorcerer who had magical powers which is why he is known as the "Sorcerer king".
Ali grew up in a community who practiced the religion of their ancestors; worshiping spirits and showing respect for their ancestors. They were among the best educated people in their society. They communicated with the spirit world to determine the causes of problems that arose in their community. Once the spirits had helped them identify the problems, traditional priests performed sacrifices in honor of the spirits.
Later, when he came to the throne, he ruled over the Muslim traders and scholars who lived in the cities. Sunni Ali governed effectively by maintaining his association with both Islam and the religion of his ancestors. Ali, then became Sunni of Gao and the lands surrounding the city in about 1464. An ambitious ruler and military leader, Sunni Ali began his expansion of Gao by attacking the neighboring people who often raided areas that the Songhay regarded as their territory. Among those he attacked were the Massi, the Tulani and the Dogon.
Once Sunni Ali had cleared Gao of its most immediate dangers, he turned his attention and his army to conquering Timbuktu, the second most important city in the region. In 1468, Sunni Ali drove the Berbers out of Timbuktu and took the city without a fight. He killed most of its Muslim inhabitants. Unlike the leaders of Mali, Sunni Ali was not a devout Muslim, and he was in constant conflict with the leaders of the Muslim community. Islamic writers have described Sunni Ali as a ruthless and power-hungry tyrant. No words can capture the complete hatred the Muslims had for him. He did ravage the Muslim community, but he was no more tyrant.
With the capture of Timbuktu, Ali headed to Jenne, an important marketplace and gateway to the gold, ivory, and kola nut production of the forest regions of the south. Jenne had never been conquered, but Sunni Ali captured it after a seven-year military blockade. By the end of the fifteenth century, he had secured most of the Middle Niger region.
When Sunni Ali died, his son Sunni Baru succeeded him. Like his father, Sunni Baru was unsympathetic to the Muslims. As a result, many Muslims, who were afraid of losing power, influence, and trade, joined forced to overthrow him. The leader of the Muslims, Askia Muhammad, overthrew Sunni Baru shortly after his first-inauguration.
Ali grew up in a community who practiced the religion of their ancestors; worshiping spirits and showing respect for their ancestors. They were among the best educated people in their society. They communicated with the spirit world to determine the causes of problems that arose in their community. Once the spirits had helped them identify the problems, traditional priests performed sacrifices in honor of the spirits.
Later, when he came to the throne, he ruled over the Muslim traders and scholars who lived in the cities. Sunni Ali governed effectively by maintaining his association with both Islam and the religion of his ancestors. Ali, then became Sunni of Gao and the lands surrounding the city in about 1464. An ambitious ruler and military leader, Sunni Ali began his expansion of Gao by attacking the neighboring people who often raided areas that the Songhay regarded as their territory. Among those he attacked were the Massi, the Tulani and the Dogon.
Once Sunni Ali had cleared Gao of its most immediate dangers, he turned his attention and his army to conquering Timbuktu, the second most important city in the region. In 1468, Sunni Ali drove the Berbers out of Timbuktu and took the city without a fight. He killed most of its Muslim inhabitants. Unlike the leaders of Mali, Sunni Ali was not a devout Muslim, and he was in constant conflict with the leaders of the Muslim community. Islamic writers have described Sunni Ali as a ruthless and power-hungry tyrant. No words can capture the complete hatred the Muslims had for him. He did ravage the Muslim community, but he was no more tyrant.
With the capture of Timbuktu, Ali headed to Jenne, an important marketplace and gateway to the gold, ivory, and kola nut production of the forest regions of the south. Jenne had never been conquered, but Sunni Ali captured it after a seven-year military blockade. By the end of the fifteenth century, he had secured most of the Middle Niger region.
When Sunni Ali died, his son Sunni Baru succeeded him. Like his father, Sunni Baru was unsympathetic to the Muslims. As a result, many Muslims, who were afraid of losing power, influence, and trade, joined forced to overthrow him. The leader of the Muslims, Askia Muhammad, overthrew Sunni Baru shortly after his first-inauguration.
Askiya Muhammad, the Great
![Picture](/uploads/1/8/8/7/18870030/252067.jpg)
One of Sunni Ali's army commanders was Muhammad Abu Bakr Toure. The Toure were originally a clan of the Soninke people, whose connection with Islam dated back centuries. Muhammad Toure was a devout Muslim. He had objected to Sunni Ali's brutal treatment of the Muslims when he conquered Timbuktu.
In 1943, only fourteen months after Sunni Ali's death, Muhammad Toure and the troops loyal to him defeated the army of Sunni Baru. They ended the Sunni dynasty.
Muhammad Toure became the first askiya. Askiya was a rank in the Songhay army. When Muhammad became king, he took askiya as his title and as the name of his new dynasty. From that time on, all the kings of Songhay are known as askiya.
In 1943, only fourteen months after Sunni Ali's death, Muhammad Toure and the troops loyal to him defeated the army of Sunni Baru. They ended the Sunni dynasty.
Muhammad Toure became the first askiya. Askiya was a rank in the Songhay army. When Muhammad became king, he took askiya as his title and as the name of his new dynasty. From that time on, all the kings of Songhay are known as askiya.