Government
After all Askiya's military expeditions which expanded the Songhay domination over a larger area than either Ghana or Mali, Askiya Muhammad decided to establish a political organization. Askiya realized he could not govern this vast and diverse empire with force alone. Although his army remained strong and powerful, he wisely put into place a centralized government. He appointed governors to manage the operations of five provinces; each reported to Askia directly.
The king had in his service members of twelve clans, living on twenty-four estates. From them he received personal services or products. Every clan was required to send a son or daughter to serve the king. One clan sent the king bodyguards and men- and ladies-in-waiting for the royal household.
There were five royal estates that provided the king with weapons and ironwork. Every family on the estate was required annually to deliver to the king one hundred spears and one hundred arrow tips. Families in two river groups were expected to enrich the royal storehouse with ten packets of dried fish. They were also required to man the boats that took the king or the royal family along the waterways. The remaining estates were called fanfa. They were required to raise and harvest crops and care for the royal stables.
Although Askia Muhammad's authority was absolute., he kept in his service learned men who counseled him on a wide variety of subjects, including the appointment of ministerial posts, much like the president's cabinet. In Songhai, the commander of the navy was called the hi-koy, and the dyina-koy was the commander of the army. The hari-farma was the minister in charge of navigation and fishing, the fari-mundyo was the chief tax collector, the waney-farma was the minister in charge of property. The korey-farma was the minister of foreigners, and the sao-koy was in charge of the forests. Askia also divided the empire into four regions - Dendi, Bal, Benga, and Kurmina - and appointed viceroys or commissioners to govern them.
Each town and village had an appointed mayor. All appointees were Muslims, especially judges--qadis--who were administrators of Islamic law, but Askia Muhammad, who was considered the spiritual leader of the Songhay, was the judge of the highest appeal.
Askia encouraged debate and listened to several points of view before making a decision. He was also a supporter of the arts. As soon as his borders were safe, he rebuilt Timbuktu and restored the Muslim scholars to their previous positions. Under his rule, the three principal cities of the empire -- Gao, Timbuktu, and Jenne -- reached a new level of economic security. Visitors from places as far away as India came to these cities. Students came to study at the universities under highly respected professors.
The king had in his service members of twelve clans, living on twenty-four estates. From them he received personal services or products. Every clan was required to send a son or daughter to serve the king. One clan sent the king bodyguards and men- and ladies-in-waiting for the royal household.
There were five royal estates that provided the king with weapons and ironwork. Every family on the estate was required annually to deliver to the king one hundred spears and one hundred arrow tips. Families in two river groups were expected to enrich the royal storehouse with ten packets of dried fish. They were also required to man the boats that took the king or the royal family along the waterways. The remaining estates were called fanfa. They were required to raise and harvest crops and care for the royal stables.
Although Askia Muhammad's authority was absolute., he kept in his service learned men who counseled him on a wide variety of subjects, including the appointment of ministerial posts, much like the president's cabinet. In Songhai, the commander of the navy was called the hi-koy, and the dyina-koy was the commander of the army. The hari-farma was the minister in charge of navigation and fishing, the fari-mundyo was the chief tax collector, the waney-farma was the minister in charge of property. The korey-farma was the minister of foreigners, and the sao-koy was in charge of the forests. Askia also divided the empire into four regions - Dendi, Bal, Benga, and Kurmina - and appointed viceroys or commissioners to govern them.
Each town and village had an appointed mayor. All appointees were Muslims, especially judges--qadis--who were administrators of Islamic law, but Askia Muhammad, who was considered the spiritual leader of the Songhay, was the judge of the highest appeal.
Askia encouraged debate and listened to several points of view before making a decision. He was also a supporter of the arts. As soon as his borders were safe, he rebuilt Timbuktu and restored the Muslim scholars to their previous positions. Under his rule, the three principal cities of the empire -- Gao, Timbuktu, and Jenne -- reached a new level of economic security. Visitors from places as far away as India came to these cities. Students came to study at the universities under highly respected professors.