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The Songhai Empire was a state located in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries. At its peak, it was one of the largest African empires in history. The state is known by its historiographical name, derived from its largest ethnic group and ruling elite, the Songhai people .
Songhai architecture or Zarma architecture refers to the traditional Sahelian architectural style of the Songhai people in West Africa. The architecture typically encompasses mud-brick buildings, flat roofs, and distinctive designs reflecting the cultural and historical aspects of the Songhai civilization .
It is considered the heartland of the Songhai people and the sanctuary of their ancient pantheon and priestly class and the place in which the original lineage of the Sonni dynasty retreated after the coup d'etat of 1493 creating a secret society of magicians, the Sohance. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The language, society and culture of the Songhai people is barely distinguishable from the Zarma people. [70] Some scholars consider the Zarma people to be a part of and the largest ethnic sub-group of the Songhai. [71] Some study the group together as Zarma-Songhai people. [72] [73] However, both groups see themselves as two different peoples ...
The Songhai Empire, c. 1500. The Songhai people are descended from fishermen on the Middle Niger River. They established their capital at Kukiya in the 9th century AD and at Gao in the 12th century. The Songhai speak a Nilo-Saharan language. [122] Sonni Ali, a Songhai, began his conquest by capturing Timbuktu in 1468 from the Tuareg.
Notably, they trace their lineage to the ruling dynasties of the ancient Songhai Empire. [3] In Niger and Burkina Faso, differentiating the Songhaiborai from the Zarma people poses a challenge, as both are subgroups within the same language family, sharing a very similar dialect and culture. Despite the significant commonalities, the ...
The Sohance are known to be the priestly class and guardians of ancient Songhai culture. They are mainly concentrated in the western part of what is now Niger, where they settled after their ruling dynasty was ousted from power by Askia Muhammed. The area that they settled is still known as the Songhai country. [3] [4]
This connection allowed West African empires like Ghana, Mali, and Songhai to flourish as they traded gold, salt, ivory, and slaves for goods from the Mediterranean world, such as textiles and horses. Notable trading hubs such as Timbuktu, Gao, and Djenne became renowned centres of wealth, learning, and culture.