El clima escolar y convivencia con valores

The discussion on Ghana/ Mali Empires will not be complete without mention of the Songhai Empire. The Songhai Empire was the largest and last of the three major pre-colonial empires to emerge in West Africa. Gao, which was founded around 800 A.D was made its capital in the 11^th (eleventh) century. Gao was a small Niger River trading center.

It was also home to the famous Goa Mosque and the place where Askiya Muhammad was buried. As the city and region grew in importance, the Malian Empire incorporated both as it expanded across the West African savanna.

Islam began to spread in Songhai some time in the 11th century when the ruling Za or Dia dynasty first accepted it. It was a prosperous region because of its booming trade with Gao, its capital. The Songhai had long been a major power in West Africa subject to the Mali Empire’s rule by the 13th century and later freed itself by the end of the 14th century when the dynasty was renamed Sunni. The frontier of Songhai now expanded and in the 15th century, under the leadership of Sunni ‘Ali, who ruled between 1464 and 1492, the most important towns of the Western Sudan, came under the Songhay Empire. It was however, when Mali’s power began to deteriorate in its central part that Songhai began to use that opportunity, during the reign of Sunni Ali (d. 1492), to expand its territory thereby conquering Mena in 1465 and later captured Timbuktu. Songhai expanded, from Gao on the Niger River, in all directions until it stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to what is now Northwest Nigeria and western Niger. The cities of Timbuktu and Djenne were the other major cultural and commercial centers of the Empire. The Songhai’s major trading partners were the Merenid dynasty in the Maghrib (north-west Africa) and the Mamluks in Egypt.

Sunni ‘Ali was known for syncretism on which Muslim elites and scholars in Timbuktu challenged him. The famous family of Agit, of the Berber scholars, held the post of the Chief Justice. They were known for their fearless opposition to the rulers and they also challenged him. In his lifetime, based on this, he took scholars of Timbuktu as his enemies.

It was after his demise that Islamic activities and respect for scholars were accorded great honour. His successor, Sunni Bar, was asked by Muhammad Ture, a military commander, to come and make an open confession of his faith in Islam. His reluctance to make the public confession made him to be ousted by the military commander who in turn established a new dynasty in his own name, called the Askiya

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dynasty. Sunni ‘Ali may be compared with Sundiata of Mali, and Askiya Muhammad Toure with Mansa Musa, a champion of the cause of Islam. On Askiya’s coming to power, he established Islamic law and arranged a large number of Muslims to be trained as judges. He gave his munificent patronage to the scholars and gave them large pieces of land as gifts. He became a great friend of the famous scholar in West Africa, Muhammad Al-Maghilli. It was because of his patronage that eminent Muslim scholars were attracted to Timbuktu, which became a great seat of learning in the 16th century. Timbuktu has the credit of establishing the first Muslim University, called Sankore University, in West Africa. The University’s name is commemorated till today in Ibadan University where a road to staff residential Quarters has been named after it “Sankore Way”. Under Askiya Muhammad (1493-1529), the Songhai’s borders extended far beyond any previous West African empire while its state patronized Islamic institutions sponsored public buildings, mosques and libraries. The Songhai Empire ended when Morocco conquered the state in 1591. The fall of the Songhai marked the decline of big empires in West Africa.

While the presence of Islam in West Africa dates back to eighth century, the spread of Islam in regions that are now modern states of Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and Nigeria, was a gradual and complex process.

SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE

Discuss the emergence of Islam and its impact in Songhai Empire.

4.0 CONCLUSION

The credit of the beginning of Islamic faith in Ghana, Mali and in Songhai was given to those itinerant North African traders who were Muslims. They carried along their commercial activities with their faith.

West Africans who were interested in their religion embraced it without being forced on them. This is contrary to what the Orientalists wrote on Islam that it came into West Africa with sword on the right hand and the Quran on the left hand.

5.0 SUMMARY

In this unit, we have treated the emergence of Islam in medieval Mali and Ghana and gave an insight into Songhai Empire. We have also discussed how Islam entered into these two ancient empires through the contributions of some scholars and rulers in such places as Timbuktu and Gao. Ruler of these regions contributed immensely to the growth and spread of Islam in their territory until these Empires collapsed.

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6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT

1. Discuss the beginning of Islam in Ghana and Mali.

2. Describe the impact of Islamic thought in Ghana and in Mali.

3. Outline some West African rulers that contributed to the growth of Islam and its thought in Ghana and in Mali.

4. Expain how Songhai Empire was founded and mention two persons who were among its important rulers with their contribution to Islam in the area.

5. Mention three places where Islamic impact is being felt in Mali till today.

7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING

Hunwick, J.O. (2006). West Africa, Islam and the Arab Worlds.

Princeton: Markus Wiener Publishers.

Trimingham, J.S. (1970). A History of Islam in West Africa, London:

Oxford University Press.

Doi. I. A. (1984). Islam in Nigeria,. Zaria: Gaskiya Corporation Limited.

Mallam Muhammed Belly. (1982). The African Landmarks Islam.

Tema: Ghana Publishing Corporation.

Muhammad Rida (1975). Muhammadu Rasulu Llahi. Beirut: Dar al- maktabah al- ‘Ilmiyyah.

Doi. I. A. (2006). Islam in West Africa.

http://spice.stanford.edu

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