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| Songhai | |
|---|---|
| c. 1430–1591 | |
 | |
| Capital | Gao |
| Common languages | Songhai Arabic Tuareg |
Songhai was a state in Western Africa that was founded by Berber tribes before its leaders assimilated into the native Sudanese population. Under the native Songhai rulers who succeeded the Berbers, it conquered or vassalized all the other states of West Africa and captured Timbuktu in 1469. The Mandinka-led Manden (Mali) Empire conquered parts of the Songhai state in the 15th century, but the Songhai defeated Manden in 1501 and made it a vassal state.[1]
Culture
Due to its commercial contact with Egypt, the Songhai adopted Islam as well as the Egyptian custom of embalming dead rulers.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sík Endre (1970). The History of Black Africa, vol. 1: 'The Peoples of Black Africa before the End of the 15th Century; The Sudanese Peoples'. [PDF]