Page 70 - Empires of Medieval West Africa

t h e s o n g h a y E m p i r e

other sons of Askia Muhammad had held high offices and titles. Dur-
ing the 34-year reign of Askia Daud, as these important offices became
vacant, he usually appointed his own sons to the positions. In this way, Askia Daud’s
Askia Daud gradually eliminated from high office the descendants of Accomplishments
other sons of Askia Muhammad. From Askia Daud’s time forward, all Askia Daud reigned for
the Askias were his descendants. more than 30 years.
During that time, he
Nevertheless, after his death in 1582, warfare broke out among reorganized the Songhay
the brothers competing for power. The winner was Askia Muhammad army and won victories
al-Hajj (r. 1582–1586). He is notably different from the other Songhay over Tuareg raiders of
rulers because he never organized a military campaign. Soon after he the Sahara and many
took power, he developed a painful medical condition on the lower part neighboring non-Muslim
of his body that kept him from leading his troops. peoples to the south.
Daud also fought off
He also never killed any of his brothers. But after nearly four and a invaders from all direc-
half years, they became impatient with his poor health. In 1586, Askia tions who tried to cap-
al-Hajj was replaced by his brother Muhammad Bani. Al-Hajj died soon ture the rich resources
after. of the Inland Niger Delta.
He succeeded in most of
his military campaigns,
aSkia MuhaMMad Bani although a struggle with
the Moroccan sultan
When Muhammad Bani (r. 1586–1588) became Askia, one of his broth- Muhammad al-Shaykh
ers complained that the most foolish of their father’s sons had become caused the temporary
ruler. This brother, and several others who had agreed with him, were loss of the salt mines at
killed by Muhammad Bani as soon as he was in power. Taghaza in 1557.
During Askia Bani’s reign, the town of Kabara was the scene of Askia Daud was
events that lead to a civil war. This war eventually spelled disaster for the widely praised for memo-
rizing the Quran and for
Songhay Empire. Kabara is Timbuktu’s port on the Niger River. Two of supporting learning and
the most powerful men in Songhay lived there. One was Alu, the chief of religion. As part of this
the port, and the other was Muhammad Sadiq, the military commander. support, he is said to
Sadiq was a son of Askia Daud and was popular with the leading have established public
men of Timbuktu. Alu was an officer in the service of Askia Bani. libraries in his kingdom.
The Timbuktu historian Ibn al-Mukhtar (17th century) describes Alu
as “an oppressor . . . and a stubborn tyrant” (quoted in Hunwick). In
1588, Alu whipped and jailed one of Sadiq’s men. Sadiq responded by
killing Alu.
Sadiq took all of Alu’s property and declared a revolt against Askia
Bani. Accompanied by other Songhay commanders, Sadiq began to
march the army toward Gao. The Songhay historian Abd al-Rahman al-
Sadi (b.1594), in his Tarikh al-Sudan (History of Sudan), wrote that when
the Askia heard they were coming, he said, “May God curse kingship, for
it is a source of humiliation and degradation” (quoted in Hunwick).

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