Songhai: The Original Sahel Alliance

The amazing story of how the region was unified by one visionary

We’ve been talking a lot about the Sahel Alliance and how it’s transforming the region of West Africa. I recently stumbled on a part of ancient African history that correlates directly with that part of the continent.

It seems there was a Sahel Alliance in ancient times and it was led by a man not dissimilar from those spearheading the current movement.

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Now, back to the Songhai! THE MERC

When we look back at African history, many of us are familiar with empires like Mali or Egypt. But buried deeper in the annals of history is the Songhai Empire, one of Africa’s most powerful and expansive civilizations.

At its height in the 15th and 16th centuries, Songhai controlled vast trade routes, mastered military strategy, and developed a rich cultural life, rivalling any empire in Europe or the Middle East. Yet today, its story remains less well-known—a chapter of history that, for many of us, has been lost but deserves to be remembered.

The Early Days of Songhai: A Strategic Birthplace

The Songhai Empire was born along the fertile banks of the Niger River in what is today Mali and Niger. This location was no coincidence—situated at the crossroads of trans-Saharan trade routes, Songhai benefitted from access to goods, ideas, and cultures flowing in from all corners of the continent and beyond.

As early as the 9th century, the kingdom of Songhai was already thriving as a regional power, supported by a strong economy based on agriculture, fishing, and commerce.

But what truly made Songhai remarkable was its role as a trading hub. With gold, salt, and slaves passing through its territory, Songhai became a key player in a thriving network that connected West Africa with North Africa and Europe. As trade grew, so did the empire's influence, setting the stage for its future expansion.

Sunni Ali: The Architect of Songhai’s Rise

It wasn’t until the 15th century, however, that Songhai began to rise as a dominant empire. The man responsible for this transformation was Sunni Ali, one of the most brilliant military strategists in African history. When Sunni Ali came to power in 1464, Songhai was still under the shadow of the Mali Empire, which had once controlled the entire region. Sunni Ali had a vision to change that.

Over the course of his reign, Sunni Ali built a powerful army and navy, using the natural defenses of the Niger River to his advantage. He launched aggressive campaigns to reclaim key cities from Mali, including Timbuktu and Djenné, which were crucial to controlling the trans-Saharan trade routes. Sunni Ali's forces swept through West Africa, uniting disparate regions under Songhai's control and turning the empire into a regional powerhouse.

But Sunni Ali’s brilliance wasn’t just in his conquests. He recognized the importance of uniting the diverse peoples of Songhai under a common system of governance. Sunni Ali maintained a delicate balance, respecting the traditional religious practices of various communities while also encouraging the spread of Islam. This flexibility helped to ensure the stability and loyalty of his subjects, allowing Songhai to flourish as a multi-ethnic empire. I may do a separate post on Sunni Ali as he is quite an influential figure in the region.

Askia the Great: Songhai’s Golden Age

Following Sunni Ali’s death, his successor Askia Muhammad I—also known as Askia the Great—took Songhai to even greater heights. Askia’s reign (1493–1528) is often considered the golden age of the Songhai Empire. While Sunni Ali was known for his military prowess, Askia Muhammad was a visionary administrator and a devout Muslim who focused on governance, education, and Islamic scholarship.

One of his first major acts as ruler was to formalize the legal system, incorporating Islamic law to help unify the empire. Under Askia’s leadership, Songhai became a centre of learning, attracting scholars, poets, and artists from across the Islamic world to places like Timbuktu and Gao. Universities and libraries thrived, making Songhai a beacon of knowledge that rivalled cities like Cairo and Baghdad.

Askia also expanded the empire’s territorial reach. His military campaigns pushed the borders of Songhai further than ever before, stretching from modern-day Niger to the Atlantic coast. This vast territory was held together by a highly organized administrative system, where local rulers were appointed by the central government to ensure loyalty and efficient governance.

Songhai was now the largest empire in West African history—its wealth, political structure, and intellectual life were a testament to African ingenuity and leadership.

Trade, Wealth, and Power: The Lifeblood of Songhai

Trade was the lifeblood of the Songhai Empire. The empire controlled the gold and salt trade, which were among the most valuable commodities of the era. Gold was mined in the southern regions of the empire, while salt was transported across the Sahara from the north. These goods were traded not only across Africa but also with Europe and the Middle East, making Songhai a major player in the global economy of its time.

But it wasn’t just material wealth that made Songhai influential. The empire also controlled intellectual trade—ideas, culture, and religion flowed freely through the cities of Songhai, particularly Timbuktu, which became a centre of Islamic scholarship.

Timbuktu’s scholars were renowned throughout the Islamic world, and its libraries held thousands of manuscripts on subjects ranging from astronomy and medicine to theology and law. This intellectual wealth made Songhai not only a political and economic force but also a cultural beacon that attracted people from far and wide.

In the next instalment, I will tell you about the fall of the Songhai empire and what was the Moroccan invasion of 1591.